New building Besselink light on largest business park eastern Netherlands

With the expansion and new construction of Besselink Licht, Duiven's Centerpoort-Nieuwgraaf business park, which attracts millions of visitors each year, is getting a real eye-catcher. The design was made by Palazzo, also a Duiven company. Construction has now started. The renovated Besselink Licht will open in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Although sprung from an originally Arnheim family business, Besselink Licht has been a fixture at Centerpoort-Nieuwgraaf for years. The idea of expansion arose in 2017 when "neighbor" laundry Lips+ quit and offered the land for sale. Besselink Licht was immediately interested, but there was one complication: the plot was not allowed to be sold to individuals. This problem was solved with the help of the Duiven municipality by relocating Light Depot, Besselink Licht's outlet store at the Hornbach location. "The municipality was incredibly cooperative, they really gave maximum support," says Marcel de Vries, who runs the company together with his brother-in-law Paul Besselink.

Transparent and durable design

The expansion/new construction is a design by architecture firm Palazzo, which already has a million square meters of commercial space to its credit (including in Duiven the MediaMarkt, Beter Bed and the Wholesale House). Palazzo director Martin Kemper: "We have designed a transparent building that will become a spectacular showroom for Besselink Licht's lighting products due to its all-glass facade."

On the first floor will be two thousand-square-foot units, one of which is already leased, plus a 600-square-foot unit that will be connected to the 2000-square-foot upper floor. This portion will be used by Besselink Licht itself, possibly along with a home furnishings store. Sustainability was a key design consideration. Among other things, a heat pump and solar panels on the roof ensure that the building can provide for its own energy needs. There will be no gas connection.

Substantial investment

The building plan requires a substantial investment by Besselink Licht, but Marcel de Vries is not worried. Visitors entering Centerpoort-Nieuwgraaf from Rivierweg will always pass the new Besselink Licht due to the one-way traffic. For them, with Loods 5 and Hornbach, it is the first eye-catcher on their way to Ikea, Makro, Mediamarkt or another major crowd puller. According to Marcel de Vries, Besselink Licht already benefits from its location on the main traffic artery of the Duiven business park. "The number of visitors for Centerpoort-Nieuwgraaf has been rising for years, even on an ordinary Monday it is busy in our store." There will be 112 private parking spaces at the property.

Own factory in China

Besselink Licht operates in an industry with a lot of competition, because every hardware store and home improvement store has a lighting department. For Besselink Licht, this was reason several years ago to establish itself in China, where virtually all lighting products are produced. The company from Duiven has its headquarters in Hong Kong and its own branch (Tangla Lighting) in the metropolis of Dongguan, where Paul Besselink now lives. The products are mostly supplied to DIY stores throughout Europe. Besselink Licht itself sells its own brand Home Sweet Home and outlet products at Centerpoort-Nieuwgraaf. A second outlet called Light Depot is located in Arnhem.