The History of Van Der Wiel Harness

Adriaan van der Wiel, the father of the current manager Henk van der Wiel and the workshopmanager Kees van der Wiel, founded a new generation of harness-makers with influence worldwide. It all started with a small company in the Belgian village Achel; here lay the roots of a family business with a philosophy of 'passion as profession', a profession which is practised with heart and soul. The passion was passed on to the Van der Wiel brothers from their father. The motto was clearly defined: a love of good driving horses and good driving harness! Continuing the family tradition, the Van der Wiel brothers carried on what was begun and developed a saddlery workshop, which today enjoys the world's best reputation and is renowned for top quality and innovation in the development and manufacturing of harness for all kinds of turnouts and drivers.

Almost without exception the top drivers in international competition, from single to fourin- hand, use the harness of the Van der Wiel brothers. Pleasure drivers as well as professional coachmen put their faith in the harness from Achel. Leisure drivers enjoy the high quality and functionality of the Van der Wiel harnesses every day. Not without reason, the demanding coterie of regular customers, from the European noble and royal houses proclaim the worldwide prominence of the saddlery workshop from Belgium.

The complimentary skills of both Van der Wiel brothers guarantee the success of the company. Manager Henk van der Wiel has over many years gained a lot of experience as an active pair driver in national and international events. New ideas are tried and tested immediately at home in his workshop, where he puts these ideas directly into practice and where he tests them straight away himself. Workshop manager Kees van der Wiel and his team of qualified and first class craftsmen are responsible for the seamless and high quality transformation from innovation to manufacturing.

It is immediately evident that the harnesses of saddlery Van der Wiel are only made from top quality materials. Best English leather and high-class hardware are the basis for the long lasting quality of these hand made world famous products. Auniversal demand which applies to the complete manufacturing range: for functional and reasonably priced leisure-and training harness, for super-stable marathon harness, for fine presentation-and dressage harness as well as for the individual design of unique gala harness. Special demands from customers for harness-manufacture are not unusual but part of our normal everyday life at Van der Wiel. Here we handmake unique designs, always with the motto in mind: „A love of good driving horses and good driving harness!“