DPC 20 years: looking back and, above all, looking ahead
The annual DPC barbecue was dedicated to the club's 20th anniversary. Several prominent figures from the past and present looked back on the past years and ventured a glimpse into the future. Despite the less positive signals from the Dutch market, there is optimism and a positive atmosphere.
'Hurrah, Dutch Poultry Centre is 20 years old!' This was the headline of the June 2025 issue of the DPC club magazine, which was presented during the annual BBQ at the Poultry Museum in Barneveld on 2 July. This BBQ had a festive character because it also marked the 20th anniversary of the DPC. Chairman Jan Wolleswinkel warmly welcomed the members and guests. A special welcome was extended to a group of poultry enthusiasts from Congo. Thanks to the DPC, they are in our country to gather knowledge and establish contacts with suppliers that are of interest to them.
Barneveld initiative
The mayor of Barneveld, Jacco van der Tak, congratulated the DPC on its anniversary and looked back on its origins. His predecessor, Wim Burgering, was closely involved in its creation by bringing together poultry farmers from the municipality after the bird flu outbreak in 2003 to assess the damage and develop initiatives for a rapid recovery of production and international trade contacts. ‘Barneveld was and is an important home base for innovative companies in the poultry farming sector,’ Van der Tak recalled. He regrets that, in the context of environmental issues, the national government is blind to what poultry farmers have already achieved and what is still in development. The sector is moving in the right direction, he says, and that should be rewarded. To start with, by supporting innovations and retaining young entrepreneurs instead of driving them away.
Former mayor Wim Burgering, who says he “grew up with chickens and eggs in Barneveld”, took those present on a trip down memory lane to Barneveld's heyday as the centre of the egg trade, with its own egg market hall. For a long time, the slogan “Barnevelds Glorie kraait Victorie” (Barneveld's glory crows victory) rang out there. After the outbreak of avian influenza, Burgering took the initiative to bring together various stakeholders to see what was needed to revive the battered sector. He brought together parties that previously had little contact with each other but were working towards the same goal: healthy poultry farming. These meetings initially led to the creation of the Barnevelds Pluimvee Centrum (Barneveld Poultry Centre). However, when it became apparent that similar initiatives were being set up elsewhere in the country, it was decided to collaborate and establish the Dutch Poultry Centre. According to Burgering, this has since led to a successful organisation. He therefore wishes the DPC glory and victory for the future.
Collective action
Jacco Wagelaar, the first chairman of the DPC, remembers walking around the VIV and marvelling at the number of impressive companies earning their living nationally and internationally in the poultry sector. Many participating companies from abroad presented themselves jointly. The Chinese companies in particular stood out as a collective, and we had to take them seriously because of their cost price. It then became clear that we too had to present ourselves more as a collective, with quality and innovative strength as our spearhead. To achieve this, Wagelaar summarised, we first had to get to know each other well. With the establishment of the DPC, a platform was created where entrepreneurs could get to know each other and develop joint activities. The platform has since proven its usefulness and has proved to be extremely effective as a network. Wagelaar sees a bright future for the DPC and congratulates the board on this anniversary.
Current chair Jan Wolleswinkel thanked the speakers for their kind words and announced that an external expert is advising the board on the future direction of the DPC. The initial impressions of this work are presented in a stimulating manner in the report “What's in for you” and will be discussed by the board after the summer holidays. It is also clear that the relationship with vocational education needs to be reviewed. There continues to be demand from companies for training and courses for employees and, in particular, foreign customers.
The chair also mentioned that a trade fair will be held in Kazakhstan at the end of October, for which there is still room for a few participants. The Kazakh government has promised to contribute towards the costs.
Before the attendees can start the BBQ, there is a short introduction of the Congolese delegation. As every year, the BBQ is a delight and gives attendees ample opportunity to network.
Congolese visit
The 15 members of a Congolese trade mission were welcomed at the annual BBQ. Delegation leader Mitima Djuma Hamani, director of resources mobilisation and partnership at the African Agricultural Leadership Institute (AALI), gave a short presentation in which he explained that the Congolese government wants to strengthen the poultry sector in order to reduce its dependence on imports of poultry meat and eggs. They are therefore looking for partners to further develop and strengthen the sector. Because the Dutch poultry industry and expertise are highly regarded internationally, as he said, they have come to our country to see for themselves what that qualification means. During their visit, they hope to do business with interested parties for sustainable cooperation.
