The History of The Dutch Polish Business Club in Wielkopolska is quite interesting.

 

When the communistic occupation was over in 1989 and the borders were open, foreigners came to Poland looking for more possibilities in trade and transport. Soon there where many Dutch, German, Danish, French, British, Irish etc. They did not speak Polish and their cultures were different. When the work was done there wasn’t really a nice place to go to in the city centre.

 

The foreigners felt the need to exchange information, everything was new to them and nothing was the same as in their own countries.

When a man from Belgium opened a pub in the old market square in Poznan, foreigners had found their meeting place, ‘Harry's Pub’. For many years this was ‘THE’ place to meet for all foreigners in the Wielkopolska region. In those years more pubs and restaurants opened their doors and Harry sold his. There was no meeting place anymore and everyone went his own way. But the need to exchange information was still there. Some initiatives where taken throughout the years, but without any long term results.

 

Then, in the year 2004, a few Dutch people, Coen Meijer, Theo Tiegelaar, Kees van Rijn, and Willem van Loon met each other. All of them had experience concerning business in Poland. Their idea was to found an association in which business and social activities could meet. This formula turned out to be a great combination.

 

The Dutch Polish Business Club Wielkopolska has been active for five years now and has proved to be a platform for Dutch as well as for Polish entrepreneurs in the Wielkopolska region.

  

 

Kees van Rijn

Chairman