History

In 1936 the company "Van der Lijn&Co” was established, led by Mr Leon van der Lijn and Mr Max Lichtenstädler. The company expanded in the ensuing four years to become an employer to around 40 people. During the Second World War, all Jewish people involved in the company— the Van der Lijn family from which the company name originated and two other Jewish families—lost their lives.

After the Second World War, the government appointed an administrator for the company, because it made strategically important products and because the continuity of the economy in the northern part of the Netherlands was seen as crucial.

The new administrator was a local printer who eventually bought the company from the Joodse Nalatenschap (In English: Jewish Legacy). He combined the company with his sheet printing company and was able to achieve substantial growth by focusing on form-like products.

To ensure the continued existence of the company the owner, Mr Biesta, made the company into a foundation. When Biesta died in 1975, the foundation’s board appointed a director outside the company, which then had 170 employees. The director, named Mr Weitman, made the company grow to no fewer than 700 employees. This enormous growth was chiefly brought about by Mr Weitman’s innovative vision, which led to the latest technologies being implemented.

Due to changing market conditions and Lijnco not responding to these on time, the company underwent financial difficulties, ultimately resulting in bankruptcy in April, 1994. The buildings and their contents were taken over by the Heerema family in 1994. The company started up again under the leadership of Mr Pieter H. Heerema.

Lijnco took over the operations of Roelants Europrint in early 2007. The latter’s production of various ticketing, security and labelling products were integrated into Lijnco. Lijnco now has over 180 employees.