Dijkstra Draisma, a Frisian construction company, was awarded the prestigious King Willem I Prize on Monday evening.
Translated by Traci White
The Leeuwarden Courant writes that the biennial award recognises large and small-to-medium-sized enterprises in the Netherlands. Dijkstra Draisma won the award in the small-to-medium-sized category for their pioneering implementation of robotics and making construction more sustainable.
Dijkstra Draisma beat out AAE, a high tech machine building company in Helmond, and Apollo Group, a transport systems manufacturer in Coevorden. The Frisian company has branches in Dokkum and Bolsward.
On Monday evening, Biense Dijkstra, the director of Dijkstra Draisma, accepted the award in the Stadsschouwburg Nijmegen. The prize was presented by Mona Keijzer, the state secretary for economic affairs, and Klaas Knot, the director of the Dutch Central Bank.
Merchant King
The King Willem I Prize was created in 1958 and is named after the so-called “Merchant King”, Willem I. The prize recognises companies that are excelling in their field as “super entrepreneurs”.
The Leeuwarder Courant reports that Dijkstra Draisma is regularly recognised with prestigious awards. The company has been named a Best Managed Company for seven years running. Two years ago, the company won a Duurzaam Bouwen Award (Sustainable Construction Award) and an FD Gazelle Award for being one of the fastest growing businesses in the Netherlands: in that year, Dijkstra Draisma employed 325 people and had a turnover of 108 million euros, with a net profit of 3 million euros.
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