The dynamic nature of the shipbuilding industry is reflected in the history of Van der Giessen. The study focuses on why Van der Giessen survived during periods in the history of Dutch shipbuilding when other yards went bankrupt or were liquidated. The answer is sought by analyzing the decisions and initiatives of the owners and management to deal with pressing issues such as an economic crisis, changes in the market, or new methods and developments in the shipbuilding process.
By switching to iron and steel as building materials, Van der Giessen took full advantage of the growing traffic on the Rhine after 1865. Forty years later, the yard began building seagoing steamers and developed into one of the largest shipyards in the Netherlands. In the early 1960s, the market forced a merger with the De Noord shipyard. Despite massive subsidies from the Dutch government, the company was closed in 2004. The study contributes to the disciplines of business, maritime and social history, complemented by technical aspects.
