History

In 1970 Heylen was founded by owner Denis Heylen. It started out as a small showroom in Peer, in the province of Limburg, and in a few decades grew into the leading Belgian furniture distributor. Heylen now owns 4 showrooms for the public in general in Peer, Kortenberg, Lokeren and Eynatten. Our company currently employs about 200 staff. Furniture is delivered daily to all corners of the Benelux and the German state Nordrhein-Westfalen.

1970 On 29 March 1970 Heylen opens its doors for the first time.

1971 Denis Heylen exchanges a sofa suite for a second-hand lorry: the fleet is born. The hiring of 2 sales people doubles the workforce.

1973 Heylen expands. A 1800 m² showroom and 1800 m² warehouse are added. The facade is extended to an impressive length of 100 m.

1974 Denis Heylen organises a competition in which customers can win a car (Vauxhall). The showroom is flooded with customers.

1975 The fleet evolves together with the list of customers. The interim count: 8 vehicles.

1976 The regional zoning plans in Belgium are changed, which makes expansions a legal agony from now on. However, we still manage to expand with another 5000 m².

1977 A brand-new loading platform guards loaders and unloaders against serious back problems and increases the loading and unloading speed.

1978 Denis Heylen invests in TV ads and selects a student for the main part in his first Dutch TV commercial. This unknown talent will later make it as host and TV personality Ron Brandsteder.

1979 The ratings prove it: the commercial is watched by 9 million people and literally puts Peer on the map.

1980 An international market survey demonstrates that Peer, after Antwerp and Brussels, is the most famous Belgian city in the Netherlands. Many companies jump on the bandwagon called “Peer”.

1982 With the help of the local authorities, a Dutch furniture firm illegally sets up business next to Heylen.

1983 Heylen exceeds the cape of 100,000 visitors.

1984 Denis Heylen’s ambition cannot be stopped. In 1984 he opens a second furniture business in Kortenberg, within the Brussels-Leuven-Mechelen triangle.

1987 The Heylen fleet has grown considerably over the years. We now have more than 18 lorries driving on the European roads.

1988 Heylen creates a furniture boulevard where everyone finds something to his/her liking: from designer furniture to antique furniture.

1990 More and more celebrities appear in the Heylen TV commercials. Jacques Vermeire and Wendy van Wanten even get married for Heylen, as well as doctor Jan and Ingrid from the TV series Medisch Centrum West, Frank Dingenen, Luc Appermont, Walter Capiau, Carry Goossens and Goedele Liekens also appear.

1992 In order to grow on the domestic market, Heylen opens a third shop in Lokeren.

1993 Heylen has grown from a sole proprietorship into an internationally respected Furniture specialist. In Belgium Heylen is even named the largest furniture distributor.

1994 About 500,000 Belgians, Dutchmen and Germans visit the Heylen showrooms.

1995 On the occasion of the 25th anniversary Heylen releases the CD "Wedding Classics". Will Tura appears together with his daughter in a TV commercial.

1996 The NV Heylen and subsidiaries now have more than 200 employees.

1998 Heylen obtains the much sought after ISO 9001:2008 quality label as the very first and only furniture distributor in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The certificate is a “Business Diploma” which is only issued to companies which meet the highest quality standards.

2000 Heylen continues with its expansion policy by taking over Möbel Meessen in Eynatten.

2006 In order to simplify the search for the right interior, Heylen created 10 living worlds or styles: Classics, City, Family, Discovery, Pure, Nostalgia, Rebel, Dreams, Kids Dreams and Together. By means of style and interior design advisers you select from a wide range of interiors matching your personality. The showrooms in Peer and Lokeren set the ball rolling.

2007 Integration of living worlds in the Kortenberg showroom.

2008 Renovation of the Eynatten showroom according to the living worlds concept.

2008 Opening of the Natuzzi Gallery on the Furniture Boulevard in Peer.

2010 Heylen’s 40th anniversary.