VDL Berkhof

VDL Berkhof is a Dutch manufacturer of travel and buses and part of the VDL Groep. The company was founded in 1970 under the name Carrosseriefabriek Berkhof started with ten employees in the first year and a half with only the repair of buses. By 1982, the number of employees grew to 80 were built coaches primarily on DAF chassis.

In 1985, the production was relocated to a new, 10,000 -square-foot factory in Valkenswaard. Meanwhile, there were employed 132 people. In 1989 the work was extended by a further 10,000 square meters, the capacity was 350 vehicles per year.

In 1989, the bus manufacturer Hainje in Heerenveen Netherlands with an annual output of 120 vehicles with a staff of 180 people added. The brand name was abandoned in favor of the result Berkhof.

In 1994, the Belgian manufacturer VDL Jonckheere was acquired in Roeselare, a bus manufacturer with an output of 400 vehicles per year and 500 employees. The Berkhof Groep thus reached 1,200 employees

In 1997, the group of companies of Berkhof Groep Berkhof Jonckheere Groep was renamed. In 1998 she was acquired by the VDL Groep, however, carries officially only since 2003 VDL Berkhof the name.

In Valkenswaard are still the coaches, including the type Berkhof Axial, in Heerenveen, the buses, including Berkhof Ambassador 200 type manufactured. There are also other locations of bus production, but within the group of companies VDL. In addition to buses provides Berkhof also produces trolleybuses.