From 1796 Van Gend & Loos provides passenger transport by coach. But after 1850, customers would
rather take a comfortable train than a hot-colliding diligence. The company is switching to goods
transfer from rail to road transport. They are growing fast and this shed is being built during the
construction of the Dordrecht – Elst railway line. In 1911 the shed gets an extension on the east
side and in 1933 on the west side. The canopy follows in 1949. The warehouse is very efficient for
its time. Huge amounts of fruit, bicycles, clogs, preserves, electrical appliances and packages
from private individuals are handled. Although, of course, the efficiency can never match that in
our time, now that webshops sometimes leave a package every half second.
Posted here in 2007