From Local Roots to European Strength: Logistics That Moves More
Interview with Emiel Kriesels, Sales Manager of Raben Netherlands B.V.
From its Dutch roots to a strong European presence, Raben Group has become a key player in international logistics. A family-owned group operating across 17 countries, the company combines an extensive network with local expertise and a clear focus on innovation, digitalization and sustainability. In a complex market, proximity to customers remains a decisive success factor. In this interview, Emiel Kriesels, Sales Manager for the Netherlands, shares insights into the company’s development, its intermodal strengths and its approach to long-term customer relationships across Europe.
European Business: Mr. Kriesels, could you briefly outline your background and your role within Raben Netherlands?
Emiel Kriesels: I joined the company in 2003, when it was still BAS, a Dutch logistics company. After its acquisition by Raben in 2021 and the subsequent integration, I moved into my current role as Sales Manager Netherlands. Having worked in several operational departments, I know the business very well and am now responsible for strengthening our market position in the Netherlands.
European Business: Raben is often seen as a Polish company. What is the actual history behind the group?
Emiel Kriesels: Raben originally started in the Netherlands in 1931 as a transport company in Winterswijk. A key milestone came in 1991 with the expansion to Poland, from where the group grew across Europe through organic growth and acquisitions. In recent years, the Netherlands has again become a focus, with new sites in Heerlen and Hazerswoude and the takeover of DGO in Hoogeveen.
European Business: How is the company structured today?
Emiel Kriesels: Raben is a 100% family-owned business led by the third generation. Today, we employ around 13,000 people, operate in 17 countries across europe and run 175 depots, generating EUR 3 billion EUR in revenue. Despite this size, we maintain flat hierarchies, enabling fast decisions and close cooperation across all markets.
European Business: What are your core services?
Emiel Kriesels: Our core is network transport based on a hub-and-spoke model for palletized goods. At the same time, FTL and LTL transports are growing alongside our existing European network and beyond. Intermodal transport is another key area, further strengthened by the 2021 acquisition, which brought valuable expertise into the group, particularly for routes between the Benelux and Italy or Poland. In addition, we offer warehousing and contract logistics, directly linked to our transport services in the Netherlands, allowing customers to benefit from integrated solutions.
European Business: In which markets and industries are you active?
Emiel Kriesels: We serve a broad mix of industries, including automotive, electronics, FMCG, food and chemicals – essentially everything that fits on a pallet. Our own network covers most of Europe, complemented by partners in regions such as Scandinavia, France and Spain. Around 70% of our business is international, which underlines our strong European positioning.
European Business: How do you manage customer relationships and market presence?
Emiel Kriesels: We combine active sales, inside sales and strategic account management, but the real heart of customer interaction lies in our customer care teams, where most daily communication and coordination take place. This close proximity to the customer is a key differentiator. For key accounts, we assign dedicated contacts with in-depth knowledge of the customer’s business. Marketing is centrally guided but also locally driven, for example through a trade fair in Breda, while internationally Transport Logistic in Munich serves as a key platform.
European Business: What role do digitalization and sustainability play?
Emiel Kriesels: Digitalization is essential, also because skilled labor is scarce. We use customer portals, EDI connections and increasingly AI to automate processes such as order intake. Track-and-trace is standard, with shipments scanned at every hub and even trailers tracked in real time, including in intermodal transport. Sustainability is equally important: we are investing in electric trucks, our own charging infrastructure and energy-neutral buildings such as our site in Oss. We also run pilot projects, for example with IKEA. At the same time, we are gradually transitioning from diesel to HVO, electric mobility and potentially hydrogen, while also focusing on social responsibility and diversity. These efforts are recognized by our 2026 Ecovadis rating, which puts us with the top 2% of companies in the “Freight transport by road industry”.
European Business: What defines Raben’s culture and future direction?
Emiel Kriesels: Our strength is the combination of a large European network with the mindset of a family business. Accessibility is real – if needed, the owner will personally join customer meetings. People and long-term relationships are at the center of our approach, supported by a strong team spirit and a culture of trust. At the same time, we operate in challenging markets, particularly automotive and chemicals, shaped by geopolitical developments. Our goal is sustainable growth, continued investment in infrastructure and people, and further expansion across Europe while maintaining stability.