In 1946, Arthur Verlinden and Josepha Van Dessel laid the foundations in Berlaar for what is now Van Dessel Insurance Brokers. Their story began on the Markt in Berlaar. In 1966, Hugo Verlinden took over the family business and four years later, in 1970, Van Dessel moved into the building known locally as ‘the white villa’. Eighty years after the company was founded, its headquarters are still located on the same site, although the villa has since made way for the company’s continued expansion.
Van Dessel literally outgrew its original home. But the real development of the past eight decades has primarily taken place within the organisation itself.
After Arthur, his son Hugo Verlinden continued to build the family business. Today, the third generation is at the helm with CEO Patrick Verlinden, while his sons Tim and Robin Verlinden are also active within the organisation. At the same time, the number of employees has grown to 250, and Van Dessel now supports more than 40,000 clients in Belgium and abroad.
The family grew, and so did the expertise behind it.
From family business to family of experts
The insurance profession itself is no longer what it was in 1946. The world in which businesses and families operate has become more complex and international. New risks have emerged, regulation has increased, and digitalisation has transformed both businesses and client expectations.
Van Dessel evolved along with it. Through organic growth and targeted acquisitions, new people, knowledge and specialisms have come together within Van Dessel. Today, that expertise is brought together under one roof, ensuring that clients can rely on the right knowledge and guidance, even when dealing with complex and specialised risks.
This is precisely where the phrase ‘family of experts’ takes on a broader meaning. It refers not only to the Verlinden family and the generations that continued to develop the company, but above all to the employees who have helped build Van Dessel over the years and the expertise they bring together today.
Scale is not an objective in itself. Patrick Verlinden sees growth primarily as necessary to remain profitable and relevant. A larger organisation creates room to develop expertise further, invest in technology, create proprietary solutions and approach the insurance market with greater strength on behalf of clients.
Growing without creating distance
Growth also brings an important challenge: how do you preserve a family culture when an organisation has 250 employees and operates from several locations?
Patrick Verlinden takes a pragmatic view. Van Dessel can no longer operate in exactly the same way as the smaller company it once was. What must remain, however, are the values behind that family culture. Respect and a human approach come first, with trust as an important foundation.
This is reflected in short lines of communication, approachable management and attention to the people behind the business. Patrick’s children place strong emphasis on this as well. Employees should feel valued and be given the opportunity to continue developing. Ultimately, the expertise that sets Van Dessel apart resides in its people.
Clients should experience that same sense of proximity. Despite its growth, Van Dessel deliberately continues to work with dedicated contacts who know their clients and understand their situation. At the same time, they can call on specialist colleagues whenever a risk or case requires additional expertise.
Remaining independent, moving forward with purpose
Maintaining that balance also requires choices. One of those choices is remaining an independent family business after 80 years. The insurance market is undergoing significant consolidation, with international groups and investors gaining ground. Van Dessel chooses to continue building independently.
That independence keeps decision-making lines short and allows the company to think long term. At the same time, it means Van Dessel itself bears the investments required to remain relevant.
The same applies to digitalisation and artificial intelligence. The next generation sees technology as a way to help employees work more efficiently and further improve services, without replacing personal contact. At the same time, Van Dessel continues to invest in specialist knowledge and solutions to keep pace with the changing risks its clients face.
Eighty years of experience does not mean doing the same thing for eighty years.
Arthur and Josepha built a different Van Dessel from Hugo. Patrick continued to develop the company in a different market from the one his father knew. The generations that follow will make new choices of their own. What connects them is not one fixed way of working, but a number of foundations that have remained recognisable throughout the company’s growth: family commitment, respect for people, independence, personal service and the ambition to continuously develop expertise.
80 years built on people and expertise
That is what Van Dessel is celebrating in 2026.
Not simply 80 years of history, but 80 years of knowledge built up and passed on. Eighty years of people who have helped make a difference. And four generations, each building on what came before without standing still.
From an insurance office in Berlaar to an organisation with 250 employees: much has changed over those eight decades. But the combination of family commitment and specialist expertise has remained the foundation on which Van Dessel continues to build.
A family of experts for 80 years. Built on experience, focused on the future.
