Van Raam finalist Koning Willem I Award

Van Raam is one of the three finalists for the prestigious Koning Willem I Award 2020. Companies that have shown courage, perseverance, innovation, and sustainable business operations in recent years have a chance to win this award. The winner may welcome the Dutch Queen Máxima for a visit at their company. The award is seen as the most important award for companies in the SME sector. Read more in this article.

Award ceremony KW1 award Van Raam

The award ceremony

Queen Máxima have announced the winners of the Koning Willem I Award on Wednesday evening, November 25th at 20.00 hrs. By high exception, it was possible to watch this event life this year.. More information can be found on the website of the Koning Willem I Award (in Dutch).

During the ceremony it turned out that Van Raam unfortunately did not win the award, but we are very proud that we became one of the three finalists and we congratulate the winners of this award.

“We had a beautiful afternoon and evening. If you're in the finals of something like that, of course you want to win, but being nominated was also very nice!”
Van Raam finalist Koning Willem 1 Award
Jan-Willem Boezel (left), Marjolein Boezel (middle) and Ronald Ruesink (right) just after the announcement.

Announcement Van Raam finalist KWI award

On Thursday 22 October 2020, Marjolein Boezel, Jan-Willem Boezel and Ronald Ruesink, the three Van Raam directors, were surprised with the good news that Van Raam has become one of the three finalists in the category SMEs for the Koning Willem I Award (KWI award). As the Koning Willem I Foundation itself points out, the Koning Willem I Award is the ultimate award for good entrepreneurship and could be seen as the 'Oscars of Dutch business'. The prize is awarded every two years to a company in one of three categories: Large company, SME company and Sustainable Entrepreneurship.
 
The directors gathered, unfortunately without Jan-Willem, in the conviction that they would have an ordinary meeting. They were surprised with a video message from the Koning Willem I Foundation in which it was announced that Van Raam had become one of the three finalists.

Watch the video below and see how Marjolein and Ronald reacted to this big news:

Van Raam in finale Koning Willem 1 Award
Van Raam finalist Koning Willem 1 Award announcement
Van Raam finalist Koning Willem 1 Award handover
Koning Willem 1 Prijs finalist Van Raam
Van Raam finalist Koning Willem 1 Award certificate
Van Raam finale Koning Willem 1 Award flag
Van Raam finale and nomination certificate Koning Willem 1 award
Van Raam finalist Koning Willem 1 Award Marjolein and Ronald
Van Raam finalist Koning Willem 1 Award certificate Fun2Go duo bike
Van Raam received cake KW1 Award from Stravers
Flag finalist Van Raam Koning Willem 1 Award
Cake for Van Raam finalist KW1
“What a nice surprise and how great! Thanks to all the people working at Van Raam. This is such a wonderful compliment for all of us!”
Van Raam finalist Koning Willem 1 Award video

Van Raam one of the most beautiful companies in the SME sector

The jury consists of important people from within the Dutch business community with Queen Máxima as honorary chairman. They have chosen a total of 9 finalists, 3 from each category. Among others, Queen Máxima and Klaas Knot, the president of the Dutch Central Bank, have made the decisions. Van Raam has become a finalist in the SME category. The jury was very positive about Van Raam. They particularly praised Van Raam for their mission to give everyone, no matter their handicap the opportunity to exercise again. As the Jury said: “The company is distinctive in areas such as sustainability, innovation and HRM policy. Personal stories, special bonding with the employees and an eye for healthcare are paramount at Van Raam.”

They also mention that Van Raam is one of the three most beautiful companies in the SME category in the Netherlands, and they find it fantastic to see that Van Raam produces its bicycles in a modern, clean and virtually energy neutral factory. They call Van Raam the absolute forerunner in this specific market segment. The video that the management watched was made by the Koning Willem I Foundation. In this video Van Raam is revealed as one of three finalists. The other finalists are Anthura and Von Gahlen in the SME category. AWL, CSU and Dura Vermeer in the Large Business category. Gulpener Brewery, Kuijpers & Sons and Tony's Chocolonely in the Sustainable Entrepreneurship category.

Are you curious about the full story? Watch the video below:

“You have earned this place in the finals because you make it possible for people with a disability to cycle and exercise.”

Van Raam pitches for Koning Willem I Award

After Van Raam was nominated for the KWI award at the beginning of 2020, Van Raam was invited to pitch in front of the jury why Van Raam should win this award in the beginning of September. This pitch was held by the marketing manager, Marnix Kwant. Watch the pitch of Marnix in the video below:

“Mobility comes first at Van Raam.”

Queen Máxima visits winner

The ultimate winner will be announced at November 25th. Normally, this happens during a festive event. However, because of the coronavirus this is now done in a different way. Although different, it will certainly not be less festive. After this event, the honorary chairman of the Koning Willem I Foundation, Her Majesty Queen Máxima, visits the company that eventually receives the King Willem I Award.

Koning Willem 1 Award nominations SME 2020 Van Raam

More about the nomination for the KWI award

Van Raam is together with eleven other companies nominated for the Koning Willem I Award at the beginning of 2020. This took place in the provincial house of Den Bosch where Marjolein Boezel was present. Read in the article ‘Van Raam nominated for Koning Willem I Award’ about the Koning Willem I Award and about the Koning Willem I Foundation. Here you can also watch the video in which Van Raam is nominated. Click on the button to go to the article.

Van Raam nominated
Van Raam in finale Koning Willem 1 Award Fun2Go duo bike
Employees of Van Raam are very happy with this news and are cycling around proudly on the Fun2Go duo bike

Awards and prizes for Van Raam

In recent years, Van Raam has been presented with several special prizes and awards for which Van Raam is very proud and grateful. Take a look at some of these awards below or read all about them on the Hallmarks page on the website:

 

All awards
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