More than a year after the start of the cooperation between Freight Line Europe B.V. (FLE) and Transportbedrijf Joh. van der Haas B.V. (Van der Haas), the joining of forces has been successful. The two organizations strengthen each other's services, jointly expand their reach across Europe and, in doing so, safeguard the continuity of the family-owned business Van der Haas. In 2026, the partnership entered a new phase, marked by the retirement of three members of Van der Haas' management board.
© Transportbedrijf Joh. van der Haas B.V.Left to right: Chris Hans van der Hout (FLE), Dick van der Haas, Jan-Paul van der Haas, Edwin Zuijderwijk (FLE)
Synergy in quality and reach
For over 70 years, Transportbedrijf Joh. van der Haas B.V. has specialized in plant transport. Distribution, groupage and the logistical handling of plants and nursery products form the core of its services. FLE provides temperature-controlled logistics solutions, primarily for fruit and vegetables. Thanks to this complementary expertise, both companies are able to jointly serve a broader segment of supply chains across the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Dick van der Haas, former member of the management board at Van der Haas, sees the cooperation as an opportunity for growth without compromising quality: "What started with one horsepower — my father's horse and cart — has grown into a modern transport company with around 20,000 horsepower. Despite growth and change, one thing has always remained paramount: quality and service. By consciously holding on to our specialization and embedding our DNA within the organization, we have always remained distinctive. Together with FLE, we confidently continue along this path."
Retaining customer satisfaction and expertise
A key reason for the cooperation was the lack of succession within Van der Haas. In the meantime, daily operations and organizational structures have become increasingly integrated with those of FLE. Both organizations now operate from a single location in Maasdijk, while teams and departments are gradually growing closer together.
The existing team remains fully intact, including active family members within the organization. For customers, this means continuity in people, working methods and quality, combined with a strengthened network and greater operational capacity.
Management transition due to retirement
At the turn of the year, three members of Van der Haas' management board retired: Jan-Paul van der Haas, Dick van der Haas and Aad Spruit.
Chris Hans van der Hout, Managing Director of FLE and Van der Haas, comments: "On behalf of the entire FLE and Van der Haas team, we thank Jan-Paul, Dick and Aad for their undeniable contribution to the company's success. Their focus on quality and customer-oriented approach has made Van der Haas a well-established name in the market. We are proud to safeguard the continuity of this family business and our shared no-nonsense mentality, enabling us to seize opportunities in worry-free transport for our customers."
Ready for the future
In 2026 and beyond, FLE and Van der Haas will continue to invest jointly in further optimization of processes, collaboration and services. The focus remains on further relieving customers across various sectors, while maintaining specialization, personal service and clear control within the logistics chain.
For more information:
Transportbedrijf Joh. van der Haas B.V. 
Email: [email protected]
vanderhaas.nl/en/
Freight Line Europe
Email: [email protected]
www.fle-nl.com
