Five generations of timber trading
The Company was founded in 1883 by Louis Vandecasteele. In those days, wagon making was the main commercial activity. Desiré Vandecasteele, son of the founder, then added a small sawmill.
Urbain Vandecasteele has been running the company for 60 years and has insisted on keeping the company’s family spirit. His son Stefaan Vandecasteele has taken over the company in the year 2000 and together with his son Louis and his colleagues, he seeks to promote cordial relations with customers and suppliers alike, based on mutual trust.
Customers and suppliers are always welcome to visit Aalbeke for a tour of our premises.
Louis
Stefaan
Urbain
Désiré
Louis
Our mission
We believe that embedding sustainability, transparency, long-term customer relationships and trusted partnerships in all aspects of our daily activities is key to build and maintain leadership as a responsible timber importer.
Therefore we continuously invest in the best performing traceability and certification procedures, highest quality organizational processes and the permanent training of our people. It is our mission to show that timber is the world’s most ecological and sustainable material.
Our vision
We strive to be the European market leader in trading the richest assortment of certified timber, exclusively sourced from well-managed certified forests.
Our goal is to maximize the social, economical and environmental value of timber, now and for future generations. We are committed to the 17 Sustainable development Goals of the United Nations by integrating them in our daily business.
Our values
Trust
Trust and reliability form an essential part of our DNA. If we want to ensure our customers that we live up to our commitment to only trade timber that comes from well-managed certified forests, we need to be sure that our business partners respect the same severest certification and sustainability procedures as we do.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a family tradition and is at the heart of our business. We commit ourselves to meet the highest independent third party certification standards and we also actively invest in field and procedural checks and balances to ensure that our business partners do so too.
Moreover, we steadily work to improve our business practices so we can minimize our own ecological impact, from maximizing waste recycling to optimizing energy usage and transportation modes.
Passion
For 5 generations, Vandecasteele Houtimport has been driven by a passion for wood and respect for the environment. We breathe the beauty, touch and perfume of wood in everything we do, from smoothly integrating our facilities into the surrounding landscape to turning our wood warehouses into wood experience centers.
We are passionately dedicated to go the extra mile, to excel in all aspects of our business. We never compromise when it comes to trading the highest quality timber and deliver the best customer service it deserves.
Long-term vision
In 1883 Louis Vandecasteele started his business with a vision to promote wood as the most solid and ecological material for the making of wagons. Now, more then a century later, European market leader Vandecasteele Houtimport is deeply committed to further strengthen its market leadership for future generations, promoting wood as the world’s most ecological construction, production and recycling material, ensuring the future of our forests by purchasing certified timber.
Engaged partnerships
Inspired by a strong belief in the power of trustworthy partnerships, dialogue and respect, we build long term relationships with our suppliers, customers and stakeholders.
We approach them all with a spirit of equality and professionalism. Trading with or working at Vandecasteele Houtimport means engaging in a true partnership.
Contact us for more information.
Our history
Vandecasteele Houtimport is a leading quality hardwood and softwood supplier. Founded in 1883, Vandecasteele is a 5th generation family business importing timber and timber products from all over the world.
The Vandecasteele Houtimport Company is located 60 miles from Brussels, and 160 miles from Paris. In the heart of Europe, it is easily accessible by the road network.
The Europe-wide distribution facilities provide efficient delivery within 1 to 3 days. A modern machining mill meets the needs of customers for high-quality timber products. All our stock is barcoded and precisely located. This enables Vandecasteele to run its operation with minimal staff.
Vandecasteele has the resources and ability to adapt to the sensitivity of the market. We bridge the gap between sources of supply in Africa, The Far East, South America and North America to Europe in a matter of days. Thanks to our flexibility we are the first choice for many importers and merchants.
Our assets
An impressive and vast stock of hardwoods and softwoods.
Strong environmental credentials (FSC®, PEFC, OLB, TLV, NepCon Legal Source,…).
Efficient, accurate processing of customer orders.
These qualities have established Vandecasteele Houtimport as one of the finest in the country since 1883. With special attention to customer’s needs, Vandecasteele Houtimport safeguards its future thanks to its reliability of supply of consistent product and its quality and service.
Five generations have put their knowledge to develop the company into Europe’s premier timber stockist with vast quantities, specifications and species available of both hardwoods and softwoods. Sixty acres of weather protected storage holds 120,000m3 of finely presented timber, allowing to satisfy every order.
The latest computer system guarantees instant response to customer orders and inquiries regarding stock availability, quality, specification, unit price and delivery.
Processing at the highest standards
Our own sawmill cuts all kinds of species from different sources to the length and thickness required by the customer. We aim to minimize the loss of wood. Special requests for unusual dimensions can be met.
Further processing, such as machining and kilning, is completed under strict quality control procedures to guarantee the quality of the final product. The drying is of the utmost importance in obtaining good quality timber. Executed with traditional care and attention, this process guarantees the customer – and especially the joiner – top quality finished products.
Sophisticated automatic stacking and a 3 mile racking system enhance production efficiency. Finally, finished goods are carefully loaded onto trailers for a swift delivery.
Biodiversity
Implanted in a site of 60 hectares, Vandecasteele has several wildflower fields that uplift the biodiversity and encourage wildlife within the Vandecasteele site.
Students from the local horticultural school made 5 Beehives in Western Red Cedar which guarantees our yearly harvest of honey!
Our latest adventure!
We are working with the local organic farmer. The plan is to completely fence the 10 Ha meadow with posts, hedges and plant trees in the meadow. The intention is then to let some 22 cows live there naturally and to work organically.
The result is quite something!
Our meadow will now no longer be fertilized or mowed. The cows can maintain it themselves. The hedges provide a natural connection between the large pond and the small higher pond. This will increase insects and small animals, flowers and small plants and means an ecological gain and increased landscape value.
