Veehandel Kuenen is a thriving family business, which now exists for 4 generations. As far as is known, (great-)grandfather Hendrik Jan Kuenen (1889) started trading in cattle around 1905. His son Derk Kuenen (1922) took over from him. Derk-Jan Kuenen (1966) is the third generation. Meanwhile, the fourth-generation cattle dealer is Hendrik-Jan Kuenen (1994).
About us
Already 4 generations your partner in cattle tradeVeehandel Kuenen is characterized by generations of craftsmanship in cattle. We are convinced that trust and pleasure is key to a long and healthy relationship.
Our history at a glance
On the cattle market it happened
The cattle market in Doetinchem was the place where it all happened. Trade, exchange of news and social contacts came together there. Derk-Jan Kuenen had only just experienced all this, because as a young man he could be found there regularly. Tuesday was market day. "At 1:30 in the morning we left for Doetinchem. There the cows my father had bought from farmers were brought in by transporters."
After unloading, special cattle drivers brought the animals to their place at the market. "We rented fixed stalls. Above them hung a kind of street sign with the designation D.Kuenen17. That way the drovers knew where to go." Bidding was done by hand bidding, a custom typical of the cattle market. When a cow was bought, it was given the initials HK.
From cattle market to telephone and digital
Times have changed. The cattle market is no more. It was closed after the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Trade is now mostly by phone and paperwork is now done digitally. Large amounts of cash and dust jackets are also a thing of the past.
What has remained, however, is the social aspect. "Remember that we have been coming to some farms for a hundred years. We now do business with the children of farmers with whom my grandfather did business. I find that very valuable."
Foreign trade
Derk-Jan also focuses on importing cattle from Germany and Austria. "My father had nothing to do with such adventures. I have a debit card, my father had a large leather wallet on a chain around his neck. Sometimes there were as many as twenty bills of a thousand in it."
Meanwhile, Derk-Jan and Hendrik-Jan can regularly be found abroad. They also do a lot of farming in their own region. A nice mix of the familiar social contacts in the neighborhood, with the "unknown" and unexpected of foreign trade.
Source: Margreet Welink for Landleven magazine