What Toolstation NL does

Toolstation NL is a Dutch multi-channel retailer specializing in tools, accessories, and building supplies, founded in 2006 by Mark Goddard Watts, co-founder of Screwfix Direct. The company serves professional tradespeople (Vakmensen) and serious DIY enthusiasts (Serieuze Doe-Het-Zelvers) through a combination of an e-commerce platform and a network of more than 100 physical retail stores distributed across the Netherlands and Belgium, with the broader Toolstation Europe operations also extending into France and the UK. Its stated mission is to offer a simple purchasing formula — online or in-store — with reliable and fast service, a wide assortment, and consistently low prices.

The operating model is a multi-channel retail concept originally developed in the UK, combining a small front-of-store retail area with a large back-of-store warehouse, a format replicated across all Toolstation locations and cited as the basis for the company's claimed efficiency in supply chain, inventory management, and pricing structure. Since 2019, Toolstation NL has been wholly owned by the publicly listed UK building materials distributor Travis Perkins PLC Group, which acquired full control of Toolstation Europe (covering Netherlands, Belgium, and France operations) following its earlier 2014 acquisition of Toolstation UK. Headquartered in Bleiswijk — relocated from Leiderdorp to Leiden in 2014 and again to Bleiswijk in 2018 to accommodate continued growth — the company employs 246 people and runs an active recruitment portal across stores, warehouse, and office functions.

Name

Toolstation NL

Legal name

Toolstation

Website

https://toolstationjobs.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Toolstation NL is a Dutch multi-channel retailer of tools, accessories, and building supplies serving professional tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts through 100+ physical stores and an e-commerce platform across the Netherlands and Belgium, wholly owned by Travis Perkins PLC Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hardware and Tools Retail

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic) (CRAIADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction, Home Improvement & Building Materials Marketplaces (CRAFABAO)

Keywords

• Multi-channel retail
• Tools and hardware
• Building supplies
• DIY retail
• Trade supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Leiderdorp

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Toolstation generates revenue through the sale of tools, accessories, and building supplies via both online platform and physical retail stores. The multi-channel approach allows customers to purchase through either channel with reliable and fast service.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Toolstation NL is a multi-channel retailer that sells tools, accessories, and building supplies to professional tradespeople and serious DIY enthusiasts. Customers can purchase through a network of more than 100 professional physical store locations across the Netherlands and Belgium, or through the company's online e-commerce platform, with fulfillment supported by a centralized warehouse in Bleiswijk. The offering is built around a simple purchasing formula of reliable and fast service, a broad assortment, and consistently low prices.

Product overview

Toolstation NL is a multi-channel retailer offering tools, accessories, and construction supplies. The company operates both online through its website and through a network of physical store locations across the Netherlands and Belgium. The product offering combines e-commerce functionality with a physical retail presence, allowing customers to purchase via either channel with fast service, a broad assortment, and low prices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tools, accessories, and building supplies (retail assortment)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Toolstation Europe (Toolstation SAS + Toolstation NV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerToolstation Netherlands operates as part of Toolstation Europe, which also includes Toolstation SAS (France, founded 2014) and Toolstation NV (Belgium, founded 2017). All European operations are now unified under Travis Perkins ownership since 2019.
• Mark Goddard WattscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of Toolstation Netherlands in 2006, also co-founder of Screwfix Direct. Established the multi-channel retail model based on the original UK store concept from a converted petrol station.
• Toolstation EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal Toolstation concept from UK. The multi-channel retail model originated in UK, with first store in a converted petrol station. This model was replicated for European expansion.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Screwfix: UK-based multi-channel trade and DIY retailer founded by Mark Goddard Watts (the same founder as Toolstation NL). Directly comparable in store-with-warehouse format, trade counter model, and value-pricing proposition; serves the same professional tradesperson and serious DIY segments.
• Praxis: Largest Dutch DIY chain with hundreds of stores across the Netherlands. Direct competitor in the same categories (tools, building supplies, accessories) and customer base, with a broader assortment and significantly larger scale than Toolstation NL.
• Bauhaus: European DIY and workshop retailer with stores in the Netherlands. Comparable in product categories (tools, building supplies, accessories) and in positioning around professional and serious DIY customers.
• Karwei: Dutch DIY chain part of the Intergamma group alongside Gamma. Competes with Toolstation NL on the same DIY and home improvement categories with a similar neighborhood store format and pricing orientation.
• Gamma: Well-established Dutch DIY retailer operating an extensive store network. Competes with Toolstation NL on tools, accessories, and building supplies, particularly in the DIY segment, with a strong household brand in the Netherlands.
• Hornbach: Major Benelux and European DIY and home improvement retailer with strong presence in the Netherlands. Competes directly with Toolstation NL on assortment, pro/DIY customer segments, and price-led positioning, with a deeper store footprint and stronger brand awareness.
• Leroy Merlin: Global French-headquartered home improvement retailer with a growing footprint in the Netherlands. Overlaps directly with Toolstation NL on tools, accessories, and building supplies, bringing significant scale and a broad private-label offering.

Others

• Amazon (Tools & Building Supplies): Massive e-commerce marketplace that increasingly competes in tools, accessories, and building supplies. Important indirect competitor to Toolstation NL's online channel and a structural threat to the multi-channel value proposition.

Broad incumbents

• Travis Perkins: Publicly listed UK builders' merchant and parent company of Toolstation NL. Operates a much broader trade-focused distribution business (builders' merchants, plumbing, civils) but includes the Toolstation brand as its retail/DIY arm, making it a direct sibling and broader industry comparable.

Emerging players

• Hilti: Premium professional power tools and construction equipment provider with direct sales and service model. Comparable in target customer (professional tradespeople) and tool category, though positioned more premium and direct rather than multi-channel retail.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/toolstation-nl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 Toolstation NL