Jan Zeeman

Zeeman opened his first textile store in Alphen aan den Rijn in 1967. He worked with the formula of good textile for a low price; focusing on basic clothes. It turned out to be a successful formula. He sold 3.5 million underpants every year. He called his shops 'textile supermarkets' (in Dutch: textilesupers). In 1980, Zeeman became the largest after acquisition of 160 stores of textile trader Loek Brons. In the 1990s Zeeman opened shops in Belgium and Germany. When he retired, the textile supermarket chain had 1250 stores. In 1999 Zeeman retired as CEO of the family company. However, he continued working in the textile business. He housed all his companies in “Verenigde Ondernemingen Zeeman”; in short V.O.Zee referring to the Dutch VOC era. The eight-member board consisted of Jan Zeeman, his three sons and four non-family members. Until 2014, he was also a member of the Supervisory Board at the Zeeman Group.[1]

In 1999, the retail property was sold and leased back by the company. With the money, Zeeman founded the investment company Navitas, which invests in many Dutch companies and institutions such as Beter Bed and BinckBank, and care for the elderly and childcare. He also founded the real estate fund “Green” and was owner of the Eemplein shopping center in Amersfoort.[1]

The Zeeman Group had as of May 2020 nearly 1300 stores in seven European countries, including Spain and France. In the recent years, over 30 of the 500 Dutch textile supermarkets have been closed, while store branches have been opened in Southern Europe.[1]

Zeeman died on 2 June 2020, aged 78.[1]