Our offices will be closed from XX.XX.25 to XX.XX.26.

About Us

Van Meerbeeck, one for all, all for one.

With over 150 years under our belt, we’ve built up a wealth of expertise. What started as a small family business has grown into a large family. We’re more ready than ever to tackle the challenges of many more years. To achieve this, we dedicate everything to our service. We want to take care of our customers’ needs in every way.

We do this through strict quality control of the products we purchase, by training our employees to become true experts, by thinking proactively, by keeping up with the times digitally and through an ingrained innovation mentality.

Nothing is a given for us. We continue to work hard and motivate ourselves by challenging ourselves. “How can we do even better?” is a question we ask ourselves every day. This helps us grow as a company, but also as individuals.

1875
Emile van Meerbeeck Sr. (1847 – 1923)
establishes itself as an ironmonger at Vlaanderenstraat 3 in Antwerp.
1875
1918
Emile van Meerbeeck Jr. (1887 – 1951)
takes over the company and moves to Welvaartstraat in Antwerp.
1918
1919
Frédéric Deffontaine
A veteran, like Emile van Meerbeeck Jr., becomes a partner. (They married cousins ​​Berthe van de Put and Mia de Herdt.)
1919
1927
The company is moving
The company moves to Haantjeslei in Antwerp.
1927
1944
Establishment of a private limited company (SPRL) with a capital of 1 million BEF. Managing directors: Emile van Meerbeeck and Frédéric Deffontaine.
1944
1951
Death of Emile van Meerbeeck
After his death, his widow, Berthe, took over management.
1951
1954
Death of Frédéric Deffontaine
Luc Deffontaine, his son, becomes Director. Claire de Beule-Deffontaine becomes co-director.
1954
1968
Immo VM S.A
Oprichting van Immo VM N.V. Aankoop van het terrein aan de Terbekehofdreef 1 in Wilrijk.
1968
1985
New general manager
Serge van Meerbeeck is appointed General Manager of VM Metalen.
1985
1997
Acquisition of land in Hoogstraten
VM Immo acquires the adjacent building in Hoogstraten to build a new warehouse of more than 5,000 m²
1997
2002
Reorganization of family businesses
Major reorganisation of the family businesses (VM Metalen & VM Export): establishment of VMD Invest (holding).
2002
2007
Partnership (50/50) in Project ‘C’, which will become VMC.
2007
2009
Acquisition of Metal Gent
Acquisition of Metal Gent and transfer of management to Michel Deffontaine.
2009
2017
Sale of the stake in VMC
2017
2018
Acquisition of AC Plast (later VMD REAL ESTATE) by VMD Invest. Sébastien Collart takes over management of VM Export.
2018
2023
Acquisition of Staal Service Vlaanderen in Mechelen by VM Metalen.
2023
2024
Nicolas Caeymaex is appointed General Manager of VM Metalen.
2024
2025
Van Meerbeeck Metalen celebrates its 150th anniversary
Van Meerbeeck Metalen celebrates its 150th anniversary together with all colleagues from the group
2025