What Joh. van de Zand does

Joh. van der Zand (legal name: Internationaal Bergingsbedrijf Joh. van der Zand B.V.) is a Dutch private limited company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Rijswijk, Netherlands. The company provides professional vehicle recovery, international repatriation, and specialized transport services for heavy vehicles (trucks and coaches above 3,500 kg) across 36 European countries, coordinated through a 24/7 central dispatch (meldkamer). Its core technology is a fleet of four heavy salvage vehicles equipped with hydraulic crane jibs and a proprietary mechanical attachment system called the VDZ System, which enables damage-free lifting and towing of motor vehicles, tractors, coaches, and semi-trailers. Complementary services include closed-transport delivery for exclusive and classic vehicles, and low loader transport for vehicles immobilized by authorities.

The company's revenue model is project-based professional services, with quote-driven pricing tied to vehicle type, distance, urgency, and specific handling requirements (e.g., hazardous materials, live animals, perishable cargo). It serves four primary customer segments: insurance companies requiring salvage coordination and damage documentation; transport and logistics operators needing emergency recovery; survey agencies handling accident investigations; and high-net-worth owners of classic and exclusive vehicles seeking discreet, insured transport. Go-to-market combines B2B enterprise field sales with direct-to-consumer emergency response, supported by a 24/7 phone line, a trilingual website, and content marketing through news and gallery channels.

The firm operates three Dutch facilities (Rijswijk headquarters, Waardenburg operations, Lexmond drop-off) and is a founding member of the Road Partners alliance alongside Vreugdenhil BV, Modern, and Collewijn Groep, which extends its service portfolio to EV/hybrid recovery, equipment rental, and auto transport. No external funding, parent company, or M&A activity is disclosed; the business appears founder- or family-owned under traditional Dutch BV structure.

Name

Joh. van de Zand

Legal name

INT. BERGINGSBEDRIJF JOH. VAN DER ZAND BV

Website

https://johvdzand.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Internationaal Bergingsbedrijf Joh. van der Zand is a Dutch private salvage and transport company, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Rijswijk, providing 24/7 heavy-vehicle recovery, international repatriation, and specialty car transport across 36 European countries using its own fleet and the proprietary VDZ crane system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vehicle Recovery and Transport Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Towing (488410), Motor Vehicle Towing (48841)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Accident Recovery, Winch-Out & Towing Services (Light/Heavy) (TLAKAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Towing, Recovery & Vehicle Storage (Collision-Related) (TLAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Vehicle recovery services
• Heavy vehicle towing
• International vehicle repatriation
• Classic car transport
• Low loader transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Rijswijk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Recovery Services: Professional recovery and salvage services for heavy vehicles (trucks and coaches > 3,500 kg) including national and international coordination. Revenue generated through service fees for emergency response, towing, and recovery operations.
2. Special and Classic Car Transport: Closed transporter services for exclusive, classic, and concept vehicles. Services include transport to car/motor shows, racing events, and film/photo shoots. Offers optional comprehensive transport insurance.
3. Low Loader Transport: Specialized low loader services for transporting immobilized vehicles to selected garages or home locations, particularly when vehicles are halted by local authorities.
4. Repatriation Services: International vehicle repatriation from abroad, including accident support, roadside repairs, damage documentation, and coordination with insurance companies and cargo experts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Joh. van de Zand is a Dutch vehicle recovery and transport company specializing in the salvage, repatriation, and transport of heavy vehicles (trucks, coaches, and vehicles over 3,500 kg) across 36 European countries. The company operates a 24/7 central dispatch center coordinating its own fleet of hydraulic crane-equipped salvage vehicles and an international partner network, and additionally offers closed-door transport services for exclusive and classic vehicles.

Product overview

Bergingsbedrijf Joh. van der Zand operates as a transport and salvage company offering four interconnected core services: Vehicle Recovery (nationale en internationale berging), Repatriation (repatriëring), Special and Classic Car Transport, and Low Loader Transport (dieplader transport). Services are coordinated through a 24/7 attended central dispatch with control rooms across 36 European countries. The company maintains its own fleet of heavy salvage vehicles with hydraulic crane arms and the proprietary VDZ attachment system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nationale & Internationale Berging (Vehicle Recovery) National and international salvage and recovery services for heavy vehicles such as trucks and coaches, coordinated from headquarters in Rijswijk with an extensive network of professional partners across 36 European countries.
• Repatriëring (Repatriation) Expert repatriation services for vehicles stranded abroad, including careful assessment of transport methods, accident support, roadside repairs, damage documentation, and coordination with insurance companies and cargo experts to bring vehicles back to the Netherlands without further damage.
• Special en Classic Car Transport Closed-door transport services for exclusive, classic, vintage, and concept vehicles, providing protection from weather, theft, and damage during transport to car shows, racing events, and photo shoots across Europe, with optional comprehensive transport insurance.
• Dieplader Transport (Low Loader Transport) Specialized low loader transport services for heavy vehicles including trailers and coaches, enabling safe loading without height restrictions and transport to selected garages or home locations, particularly when vehicles are immobilized by authorities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Minimizes delays and extra costs through efficient coordination of salvage operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vreugdenhil BVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBergingsbedrijf (salvage company) specializing in electric and hybrid vehicle assistance and hydrogen vehicle support. Partner in Road Partners alliance providing specialized EV/hybrid recovery services.
• ModerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoad Partners alliance member providing crane and tent rental services. Complements salvage operations with equipment rental capabilities.
• Collewijn GroepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoad Partners alliance member providing auto transport and facility services in mobility. Located in South Holland, Utrecht, and Gelderland regions.
• DON-opleidingenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining institution collaborating with Road Partners for employee education and professional development programs, building a larger knowledge network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Falck: Large European provider of roadside assistance, towing, and emergency services across multiple countries. Comparable in international towing/recovery scope and insurance-driven customer base, though broader in service portfolio and scale.
• ANWB Wegenwacht: Dutch roadside assistance division of ANWB, providing breakdown and recovery services across the Netherlands. Comparable in domestic dispatch and salvage capability, though focused more broadly on consumer passenger vehicles than heavy commercial recovery.
• ARC Europe: Pan-European network of automobile clubs and assistance providers covering towing and roadside services. Comparable in multi-country dispatch and B2B partnership model, operating as an alliance rather than an integrated fleet.

Direct peers

• Bergingscentrale Eurocross: Dutch-headquartered assistance and claims handling organization coordinating cross-border roadside and towing services in Europe. Comparable in international dispatch, insurance panel relationships, and 24/7 meldkamer operations.
• Collewijn Groep: Dutch auto transport and facility services group that is part of the Road Partners alliance. Comparable in transport logistics, vehicle handling infrastructure, and regional South Holland/Utrecht/Gelderland coverage.
• Vreugdenhil Berging: Dutch salvage and recovery firm and explicit Road Partners alliance member, specializing in EV/hybrid and hydrogen vehicle assistance. Directly comparable in heavy-vehicle recovery, central dispatch, and partnership-driven European coverage.
• Modern (Bergingsbedrijf Modern): Road Partners alliance member providing crane and tent rental supporting salvage operations. Comparable as a Dutch specialist complementing heavy-vehicle recovery workflows.

Regional players

• Pon Assistance: Netherlands-based roadside and towing assistance provider for retail and insurance customers. Comparable in domestic Dutch towing/recovery and emergency response, focused primarily on Benelux.
• IDG Groep (Bergingsdienst): Dutch vehicle recovery and towing operator. Comparable in domestic Dutch truck and passenger vehicle recovery with regional dispatch and fleet operations.

Emerging players

• Boskalis Berging (and heavy salvage peers): Heavier industrial and marine salvage operators overlap with Joh. van der Zand on specialized heavy-vehicle and incident response work, though they typically focus on larger-scale maritime/heavy salvage rather than road truck and coach recovery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Joh. van de Zand