Van Hool '1947–н.ч.

1946

https://www.vanhool.be/en/history/1946

1947 - 1956

When the company started, there were 22 employees and 6 family members. The first coachworks were a great success, often inspired by the large American cars in terms of model and design. From the beginning, Van Hool strove to have its own identity and design. In the process, Van Hool quickly learned the meaning of flexibility. He understood that, when building chassis, in order to work rationally and turn out quantity, he would have to develop a basic model. Customers could still add their personal touch to their coaches.

A CIS (Special Commercial Coachwork) division was created, to fill the months when fewer buses and coaches were being built with other bodywork.

Due to a decline in the market in the early fifties, Van Hool went to the Belgian Congo in search of business opportunities, which led in 1954 to the first Van Hool coach bodies being shipped to Leopoldville. It was also the impetus for later activities in Africa in, among other places, Nigeria, Angola and Tunisia and particularly Algeria.

The first coach bodies were delivered to the Netherlands, which would slowly but surely become a true home market. Construction of a new factory on the other side of the road.

Delivery of the 1,000th Van Hool coach body. Almost 500 coaches were built.

https://www.vdlvanhool.com/en/about-vdl-van-hool/history