Společnost VDL Berkhof Heerenveen oslavila 100. jubileum 30.11. a 1.12.2007. Společnost vznikla v roce 1907 pod názvem Rijtuig en Wagenmakerij B. Hainje. Hainje se přeměnila na autobusového výrobce v roce 1922. Od 1.1.1989 se stala společnost součástí Berkhof Groep převzatou v roce 1998 VDL Groep. VDL Berkhof Heerenveen nyní spolupracuje s ostatními společnostmi VDL ve skupině VDL Bus & Coach.

První výrobní série autobusů se uskutečnila pro RET Rotterdam. Později byly vyvinuty městské busy CSA pro 9 velkých nizozemských měst - první byl v roce 1966 pro Amsterdam. Dalšími produkty byly minibusy Hainje, trolejbusy Premier, nízkopodlažní autobusy Premier SB250 a Jonckheere SB250. Nejúspěšnějším autobusem je Ambassador s 1800 prodanými vozy.

Oslava jubilea se konala na lodi Jules Verne za účasti zástupců VDL Berkhof Heerenveen, VDL Groep a státní správy.

TZ Eindhoven, 3.12.2007, VDL Bus & Coach bv VDL Berkhof Heerenveen bv. Překlad BUSportál. Kráceno.

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100th anniversary of VDL Berkhof Heerenveen

VDL Berkhof Heerenveen celebrated its 100th anniversary on Friday 30 November and Saturday 1 December. The company started in 1907 under the name Rijtuig en Wagenmakerij B. Hainje. Hainje made the transfer to bus manufacture from 1922 onwards. From 1 January 1989, the company became part of the Berkhof Groep which itself was then taken over in 1998 by the VDL Groep. VDL Berkhof Heerenveen now operates together with the other VDL bus companies under the name VDL Bus & Coach.

The first bus series production took place in 1951 for the RET in Rotterdam. The CSA city bus was developed later. This bus was intended for public transport in the nine major cities in the Netherlands. The first bus was delivered in Amsterdam in 1966. Other products were then developed such as the Hainje minibus, the Premier trolleybus, the Premier SB250 low floor bus and the Jonckheer SB250 low floor city bus. The Ambassador is the most successful bus. This lightweight public transport bus with its low instep is specially intended for the difficult conditions of city and regional transport. About 1800 Ambassadors have now been sold.

The celebration of the anniversary took place on the beautiful party ship Jules Verne which moored opposite the premises of VDL Berkhof Heerenveen. Marc van Doorn, Director of VDL Berkhof Heerenveen, opened the evening with a speech in which referred to the first years of the company. There were then speeches by Wim van der Leegte (President-Director of the VDL Groep) and Mr De Jonge (Mayor of Heerenveen) who congratulated VDL Berkhof Heerenveen on its 100th anniversary.

PR Eindhoven, 3 December 2007, VDL Bus & Coach bv VDL Berkhof Heerenveen bv