What you encounter along the way without noticing

ARTICLE POLICY & LEGAL

Emiel te Walvaart, Monday 2 March 2026

169 sec

Idea from 1996 grows into an established player in public space

What started in 1996 as a personal idea by André Verhees has grown over thirty years into a recognisable name in materials for tourist routes and public space design. With VERHEES PRODUCTS, he built a company in which functionality, lifespan and circularity are central, long before sustainability became widely established. Since 2016, successor Rogier Biekens has continued this course and further strengthened the company's circular approach.

Recycled mooring posts in the municipality of Best

In 1996, André Verhees registered VERHEES PRODUCTS with the Chamber of Commerce. 'I was looking for something that was sustainable, practical and future-proof,' he says. The first plans focused on importing robinia wood from Hungary. Verhees aimed to produce flooring, picnic furniture and posts, including route markers. He travelled to Hungary several times and built a network, but soon encountered a limitation: supply reliability. Especially in winter, supply proved unpredictable. 'From November to March it was simply uncertain. Building up large stocks was not yet an option.'

Unexpected turn: recycled plastic

The search for alternatives brought Verhees to Belgium, where he came into contact with producers of recycled plastic. The material appealed to him because of its long lifespan and low maintenance, although quality was not always consistent. 'One delivery was fine, the next disappointing. For structural applications, that had to improve.' To gain more control over raw materials, Verhees partnered with DKR (Deutsche Kunststoff Recycler). With more consistent input, it became possible to develop a more reliable end product suitable for professional use in public space.

André Verhees

Municipalities as launching customers

On this basis, VERHEES PRODUCTS started with picnic and street furniture, with municipalities as the first customers. 'Bench 1.7ML [now called "Bos", ed.] was one of the first I sold, among others to the municipalities of Cranendonck and Valkenswaard. It still gives me satisfaction to see those benches, often still in good condition after decades.' These early products became the company's calling card. Municipalities were looking for solutions that last long and require little maintenance.

'It still gives me satisfaction to see those first benches, often still in good condition after decades' - André Verhees

Breakthrough through tourist routes

The real breakthrough came through a tender from the Samenwerking Regio Eindhoven (SRE) for materials for tourist routes, including walking and equestrian networks. The contract was awarded to VERHEES PRODUCTS and marked a turning point. 'That project was the foundation. From then on, people increasingly knew where to find us.'
After this, demand grew. VERHEES PRODUCTS developed into a specialist in route materials such as posts and signage, often made from recycled plastic.
'When I cycle now, I still come across them,' says Verhees. 'Sometimes even the first ones, with municipal logos. Then you see how long such a product lasts.'

From Zeeland to the Wadden Islands

In the years that followed, VERHEES PRODUCTS supplied projects throughout the Netherlands, from Zeeland and Limburg to the Wadden Islands. Projects in Belgium and Germany also followed. Clients included municipalities, provinces, Staatsbosbeheer, landscape organisations, tourist offices and local foundations. The context differed, but the demand was similar everywhere: robust materials with a long lifespan and low maintenance needs.

Expanding range and custom work

In addition to route materials, the product range expanded to include traffic bollards, planters, traffic calming elements, bank protection and urn vaults. Custom projects, fishing platforms, decking structures and natural and biobased materials also became part of the portfolio. At the same time, VERHEES PRODUCTS continued working with wood and concrete. This allowed the most suitable material to be selected for each project, depending on function and environment.

Rogier Biekens

Acquisition in 2016

In 2016, an important transition took place. After the death of a business partner, André Verhees reconsidered the future of the company. He came into contact with Rogier Biekens, then director at HOLLANDIA Groengroep. 'We already knew each other from practice. The step was logical and we quickly reached an agreement.' The machinery moved from Hamont-Achel to Liempde and operations continued under the name VERHEES PRODUCTS.

Course continued, vision strengthened

Biekens continued the existing course, with a strong focus on sustainability and circularity. 'We only add products to our range that fit our story; otherwise we don't.'
In projects in Tilburg and Best, old plastic posts were taken back and processed into new planks and beams. 'We make the process transparent and tell the honest story.'

'We want to be involved at the design stage and return residual flows locally as much as possible' - Rogier Biekens

Looking ahead

VERHEES PRODUCTS aims to be involved earlier in projects, for example in the reuse of materials such as mooring posts. New applications are also being developed, including a circular guardrail and products made from recycled rubber. New product lines, such as outdoor furniture from the Field Green collection in collaboration with GreenMatter BV, are being further introduced in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The company's 30th anniversary is marked, among other things, with a commemorative bench named 'André'. 'We remain down to earth,' Biekens concludes. 'But it would be good if circularity and VERHEES PRODUCTS are increasingly mentioned in the same breath.'

This article was previously published on March 2, 2026 on the website of Stad + Groen.

Verhees Products Hollandia Groengroep GreenMatter BV

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