The right time for the Dutch Maritime Industry

How about timing...?! After being out of the business and travelling with my family for half a year, I returned last August. In the course of my absence I had concluded that I wanted to (co-)create a brilliant company based on the right set of values. And I was convinced that there would still be a nice spot in the maritime technological cluster for a good recruitment and contracting agency.

Although I felt strong about it, this conviction needed to be tested and I started contacting some old relations. The general sentiment was not so positive, to say the least. The types of phrases about the offshore and shipbuilding markets were most of the time along the lines of ‘…no good and will probably never be good again…’

We decided otherwise and started Van Storm this April. While we were setting up shop in the months leading up to our launch, the first flickering lights of a bright future already appeared. Now, after about two months of ‘Vanstorming’ we can say: ‘The Dutch maritime, shipbuilding and offshore markets are definitely making an upward swing.’ The oil price is allowing for decent investments in offshore development, renewable energy is soaring and fleet renewal is a topic in many (sub)segments. The Dutch industry is well placed to reap the benefits of this positive development, with its specialized shipbuilding industry and focus on complex projects. The need for conceptual and basic engineers and designers, project leads and technical specialists is big. So a great moment to come and join us.

Don’t miss the right timing. www.vanstorm.nl