Bontrup is 'driven by nature'
Nature is the basis of our products and a source of inspiration for how we work: robust, dynamic and focussed on the long-term. We work with nature by utilizing natural resources, such as gravity. Our raw materials come directly from the ground: stone from geological sources and crops from fertile soils. This way, we tap into nature's power. Just like nature, we strive for solutions that are energy-efficient, reliable, logical and future-proof - always with respect for people and the environment.
Mission
Bontrup provides society with essential natural products: high-quality stone and sustainable agricultural products, which contribute to strong, future-proof infrastructure and food supply. Our mission is to collaborate with partners to develop innovative solutions for the construction, infrastructure, maritime market, logistics and agriculture. Our people make the difference: craftsmanship, courage and teamwork make us flexible and effective in everything we do.
Vision
We believe in working with a long-term view: simple solutions where possible, reliable in everything. Bontrup dares to think big and innovative, but always with an eye for detail. We focus on practical, logical solutions that have proven value for customers and society. This is how we strengthen a sustainable economy and create added value throughout the entire supply chain - now and for future generations.
Heritage
1927
Wilhelm Bontrup moved from Dülmen (Germany) to Uden. He grew up on a farm and dreamed of owning his own business. Thanks to support from the local Catholic Church, he received farmland and was able to start his first farm at the age of 20.
1930
Wilhelm married the neighbor's daughter, from the 'Van den Berg' family. Together they ran the farm and were given the opportunity to buy 50 hectares of land in Sint Anthonis, under the condition to improve the soil and make it fertile. After a few years they succeeded and in 1933 they decided to sell half of their land to focus on their family. Ultimately they had 14 children, including Franz, the sixth in line.
1945
After the war, German residents in the Netherlands were considered enemies. Their property, including the Bontrup farm, was confiscated and Wilhelm spent several years in detention. In 1948, he returned and saw the farm's dilapidated state. Determined, he decided to rebuild. Shortly afterward, he moved with the family to Landhorst, where he made a fresh start with arable farming, eight cows and a few horses.
1950
Son Franz attended the seminary in Stevensbeek with the intention of becoming a priest. There he learned discipline, languages and science, but at sixteen he still opted for the farm. He combined daytime work with evening classes at the Business School in Boxmeer. His entrepreneurial spirit emerged early: he improved milk transportation to the factory by investing in a tanker truck, greatly reducing both trips and costs.
1960
Franz expanded his activities to include tractors and transport services for farmers in the region. In the 1960s, partnerships and acquisitions followed, including BOWIE (together with Van de Wiel Transport), and companies like Pijnappels, Den Ouden and Meurs. The fleet grew and Bontrup transported not only dairy products, but also feed, grain, gravel and limestone.
1976
Through assignments for AnkerSmit, Franz became involved in the extraction and transportation of gravel and sand. In 1976 he and his partner Suswein acquired a Belgian gravel company, which later became fully owned by Bontrup and was renamed Komatco. In the 1980s, he built an efficient network along the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal and was able to guarantee reliable supply, making Bontrup the most efficient aggregates supplier in the Benelux.
1986
The basis for the company's further growth was laid in 1986 when Bontrup became the exclusive export partner for the Benelux region for Scottish granite from Glensanda Quarry. With the establishment of Graniet Import Benelux at the Port of Amsterdam (1991) and later the Antwerp Stone Terminal, a strong international network was created.
1999
Franz realized that local gravel concessions were finite. He sought a sustainable solution and found it in Norway. In 1999, Bontrup signed an exclusive agreement for the development of Bremanger Quarry, with reserves exceeding one billion tons. The quarry was equipped with innovative, energy-neutral processes and can load the largest ships in the world. In 2001, the first ship set sail for Amsterdam.
2010
With the start of the Maasvlakte 2 project, Bontrup took its first major step in the maritime construction sector. For the expansion of the Port of Rotterdam, the company made a significant contribution to the innovative 'cobble beach' sea defence - a world first in sustainable coastal design. In less than 18 months over four million tons of Bestone® rock was delivered from Bremanger Quarry by large self-unloading vessels. This project marked Bontrup's entry into the marine construction market and the beginning of a new, successful pillar within the company.
2025
Entrepreneurship runs deep in the family's DNA. Generation after generation, Bontrup has sought smart, sustainable solutions that create long-term value. Today, Peter and Bram Bontrup focus their family business on sustainable infrastructure, offshore projects, logistics and agriculture. With approximately 1,000 employees in over 25 countries, Bontrup is known worldwide as a reliable partner. Their philosophy is clear: people and performance take precedence over processes. This approach makes Bontrup flexible, innovative and successful - a family business whose reputation is linked to responsibility, sustainability and trust.
Code of Conduct
How we operate responsibly is laid out in our Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct describes our way of working and the behavior that characterizes every Bontrup employee. It helps us make the right choices in our daily work, enhance our performance and build and maintain trust in our company. This is how we protect our strong reputation together.
