Beijnes
Beijnes was a Dutch manufacturer of carriages, railway vehicles, buses, and trams that operated from 1838 until 1963.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Beijnes was a Dutch industrial manufacturer whose business developed from a Haarlem carriage workshop into one of the Netherlands' important producers of railway passenger vehicles. Founded in 1838 by J.J. Beijnes, the company initially made and repaired horse-drawn vehicles. Its early growth was tied to the expansion of the Dutch railway system, particularly the Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij (HIJSM), later commonly associated with the Hollandse IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij or HSM. Beijnes' location in Haarlem, close to the railway station and major transport connections, helped it secure railway-related work as the country's rail network expanded. The company entered railway production in the 1850s. In 1855, its carriage and railway-vehicle works obtained an order for four charabancs, marking a significant transition from traditional coachbuilding to railway manufacture. Strong demand led to the construction of a new factory opposite Haarlem railway station, with the first stone laid in 1858. The firm later expanded its production facilities, including a twin hall opened in 1896 for servicing multiple railway compartments and a steel hall built in 1914. In 1870, King William III granted the company the royal designation, after which it traded under a name incorporating Koninklijke, or Royal. Beijnes became increasingly associated with the modernization of Dutch rail transport. During the 1920s it participated in experiments with electric trains and secured work on the Mat.'24 electric multiple units. These trains acquired the popular nickname blokkendozen, or building blocks, because of their boxy appearance. More than 98 examples were produced, and some remained in service until 1959. In the 1930s the company also worked on diesel-electric technology, including the DE-3, a faster train intended for international service. Beijnes subsequently built or contributed to several streamlined Dutch multiple-unit series, including the Mat.'35, Mat.'36, Mat.'40, and Mat.'46 families. The Second World War severely disrupted the business. International rail travel was curtailed, production priorities were affected by the German occupation, and shortages and the Dutch Hunger Winter placed additional pressure on the company. A planned DE-5 diesel-electric train, developed during the war in cooperation with Werkspoor and Allan, could not be commercially exploited as intended. After the war, Beijnes moved its complete factory from Haarlem to Beverwijk in 1950. The new site had its own railway station for employees and allowed the company to resume production, but the post-war recovery did not reverse the longer-term structural difficulties facing the business. A notable post-war product was the four-car electric multiple unit introduced in 1956, commonly known as the hondekop because of the shape of its front end. Despite this technical and commercial success, Beijnes' independent existence ended when it was acquired by Verenigde Machine Fabrieken in 1959. The factory continued producing railway equipment for a few more years, delivering the final DE 140 model before closing in 1963. Beijnes is therefore remembered both as a historic Dutch rolling-stock manufacturer and as a company that helped shape the country's transition from horse-drawn transport to electrically operated railway travel.
History
J.J. Beijnes established a horse-carriage workshop in Haarlem in 1838. The business initially served the local market for horse-drawn vehicles, but the growing use of iron components encouraged cooperation with J.J. Beijnes' brother A.J., a blacksmith whose workshop was located on the Grote Houtstraat. This combination of carriage-making and metalworking skills later provided a foundation for railway-vehicle production. The opening of the first Dutch railway line between Amsterdam and Haarlem in 1839 created a nearby industrial opportunity. Beijnes sought contracts connected with the new railway, although it did not receive its first significant railway order until 1855, when it supplied four charabancs. The order helped move the company beyond conventional coachbuilding. Expansion followed quickly, and in 1858 the first stone was laid for a new factory at the station square opposite Haarlem railway station. The location strengthened Beijnes' relationship with the railway industry and with the Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg-Maatschappij. In 1870, King William III granted the company a royal designation. Beijnes continued to enlarge and modernize its facilities: a twin hall was added in 1896 to support work on multiple railway compartments, and a steel hall followed in 1914. The company also became part of the broader industrial ecosystem surrounding Dutch railway development. In 1891, railway interests and local civic figures helped establish a Haarlem vocational school intended to develop the skilled workforce required by the expanding carriage and railway-vehicle sector. The company's most important technological transition came with railway electrification. Experiments began in 1922, and Beijnes won production work on the Mat.'24 electric multiple units. Their simple, box-like bodies led to the nickname blokkendozen. More than 98 were built, and the type remained in Dutch service for decades, with the last examples withdrawn in 1959. In 1933 Beijnes extended its work into diesel-electric traction through the DE-3, which was capable of approximately 125 kilometres per hour and intended partly for international use. From 1935 onward, the company built streamlined electric multiple-unit series including the Mat.'35, Mat.'36, Mat.'40, and Mat.'46. The Second World War brought severe disruption. International travel largely stopped except where permitted by the occupying authorities, material shortages increased, and the wider Dutch wartime economy deteriorated. The DE-5, developed during 1942–1944 with Werkspoor and Allan, could not be used commercially in the way originally intended. The Hunger Winter and other wartime conditions further weakened the company. After the war, Beijnes moved its entire factory to Beverwijk in 1950. The new plant had a dedicated station for employees and supported a partial recovery. The four-car electric multiple unit introduced in 1956, known as the hondekop because of its dog-head-like front, was a notable post-war product. Nevertheless, Beijnes faced a declining independent position. Verenigde Machine Fabrieken acquired the company in 1959, and the Beverwijk factory remained active for only a few additional years. The final DE 140 model was delivered before the factory closed in 1963, bringing the Beijnes story to an end.
- 1963
Closure of the Beverwijk factory
[1]The factory closed after the final DE 140 delivery.
- 1959
Acquisition by VMF
[1]Verenigde Machine Fabrieken acquired Beijnes.
- 1956
Introduction of the hondekop
[1]The ELD 4 electric multiple unit entered service and became known by the nickname hondekop.
- 1950
Factory relocated to Beverwijk
[1]Beijnes moved its full factory from Haarlem to Beverwijk.
- 1933
DE-3 diesel-electric train
[1]The company developed the DE-3, a diesel-electric train designed for fast and potentially international operation.
- 1922
Electric-train experiments begin
[1]Beijnes began experimental electric-train work and subsequently produced Mat.'24 units.
- 1914
Steel hall added
[1]Beijnes expanded its Haarlem production infrastructure with a steel hall on Verspronckweg.
- 1896
Twin hall completed
[1]A twin hall was built to allow more railway compartments to be serviced at the same time.
- 1870
Royal designation granted
[1]King William III added the royal predicate to the company's name.
- 1858
New factory opposite Haarlem station
[1]The company began developing a larger factory at Stationsplein as railway-related demand accelerated.
Products and positioning
A Dutch railway and transport-equipment manufacturer that combined traditional carriage-building expertise with increasingly advanced electric and diesel-electric rolling-stock production.
Carriage manufacturing · 1838
Horse-drawn carriages
Beijnes began as a Haarlem wagenmaker, making and servicing horse-drawn vehicles. This early trade established the company's coachbuilding capabilities and its initial relationship with local transport customers before it moved into railway production.
Electric multiple unit · 1922
Mat.'24
The Mat.'24 electric multiple units were among Beijnes' early major electric-train products. Their square, uncomplicated appearance led passengers and railway staff to call them blokkendozen, or building blocks. More than 98 units were built, and the type remained in operation until 1959.
Diesel-electric multiple unit · 1933
DE-3
The DE-3 was a diesel-electric train developed by Beijnes in the 1930s. With a reported maximum speed of about 125 kilometres per hour, it represented the company's expansion beyond electric multiple units and was designed with international service in mind.
Streamlined electric multiple units · 1935
Mat.'35, Mat.'36, Mat.'40, and Mat.'46
These streamlined Dutch electric multiple-unit series formed part of Beijnes' pre-war rolling-stock production. Built from 1935 onward, they reflected the company's role in the development of faster and more modern Dutch passenger trains.
Diesel-electric multiple unit · 1942
DE-5
The DE-5 was designed during the Second World War in cooperation with Werkspoor and Allan. Wartime conditions prevented the train from being exploited commercially as originally intended.
Electric multiple unit · 1956
ELD 4 hondekop
Introduced in 1956, the ELD 4 was a four-car electric multiple unit whose distinctive front end inspired the nickname hondekop, meaning dog head. It was one of Beijnes' important post-war products, although it arrived during the company's period of strategic decline.
Brand decisions
1959
Acquisition by Verenigde Machine FabriekenM&ABackground
Beijnes' independent position had weakened despite successful post-war rolling-stock products.
Action taken
Verenigde Machine Fabrieken acquired the company.
Aftermath
Production continued briefly, but the Beverwijk factory closed in 1963 after delivery of the final DE 140 model.
1950
Relocation of the manufacturing complex to BeverwijkStrategyBackground
After wartime disruption and damage, Beijnes needed to restore and reorganize its production capacity.
Action taken
The company moved its complete factory from Haarlem to Beverwijk, where it operated a dedicated station for employees.
Aftermath
The relocation supported a partial post-war recovery, but it did not prevent the company's later acquisition and closure.
Sources1 sources
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