Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
The Schagen Group is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1951, the Zwolle-based road construction company has grown into a family-owned business with multiple operating companies in infrastructure, construction, and project development. On Saturday, September 12, the organization celebrated its 75th anniversary with colleagues and retired employees.
The history of the Schagen Group began in 1951, when Cor Schagen founded Wegenbedrijf C. Schagen in Zwolle. Four years later, he took a bold step. He purchased a ten-hectare plot of land in Hasselt—far more than he needed—and built a workshop there. This visionary thinking laid the foundation for the family business’s growth. According to Managing Director Jonathan Schagen, the third generation in the family business, this perfectly illustrates what the Schagen Group has stood for over the past 75 years.
Jonathan Schagen: “My grandfather thought big and dared to make choices that others might have shied away from. That entrepreneurial spirit and forward-looking mindset are still part of who we are. Generations after him have shown that same courage in their own way.”
The acquisition of Salverda Bouw in ’t Harde by brothers Aat and Johan Schagen in 1988 is a case in point. This move allowed the organization to expand its operations. The brand-new carpentry shop and the construction of the new company building in Deventer also demonstrate that the Schagen Group is willing to invest in the future.
Although the organization has changed over the years, the Schagen Group’s guiding principle has always remained the same: building lasting relationships with employees, clients, and partners. It is therefore not unusual for colleagues to remain with the company for decades and for multiple generations of a single family to work at the Schagen Group.
Jonathan Schagen: “To me, a family business isn’t just about the Schagen family. It’s about the professionals who, together, make up the company. It’s about colleagues who have enjoyed working here for years and who inspire their children or family members to come work here too. That might just be the best compliment we could ever receive.”
An anniversary is a time to reflect on the past, but above all to look ahead. Thanks to long-standing partnerships with clients, the organization looks to the future with confidence. The challenge lies in further professionalizing the organization without losing the character of a family business.
Jonathan Schagen: “For us, growing big has never been a goal in and of itself. It’s the result of the relationships we maintain and the opportunities we’re given to do what we do best. I hope that in 25 years, we’ll still be working together the same way—with enjoyment, responsibility, and professionalism.”
On Saturday, September 12, the Schagen Group celebrated its anniversary with a party for employees, retired colleagues, and their partners.
