For 100 years 'At home in numbers' in Eindhoven
Two years earlier than expected, Eindhoven-based Govers Accountants will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025. This milestone was actually only on the books for 2027. The firm's payoff is not for nothing "At home in numbers since 1927. But in a search of the archives, a former colleague recently discovered an advertisement of Accountants Firm Govers in an Eindhoven newspaper from March 1925. "So we settled on the year of establishment," Rudi van den Heuvel, head of the partnership, says with a laugh. "As an accounting firm, you naturally stand behind your numbers, even when it comes to your own history." That is why the anniversary will be celebrated two years earlier.
Govers' journey began in Jan van Lieshoutstraat in the center of Eindhoven, where Piet Govers established his accounting firm in 1925. Soon he was joined by Piet van de Vorst and Willem van den Heuvel, who is still related to current partner Rudi van den Heuvel. The office grew steadily and moved to Dommelstraat, then Geldropseweg and finally to the current location on Beemdstraat.
From typing room to modern workplace
Lisette Carius, employed at Govers for 46 years, looks back fondly on the earlier years. She explains that colleagues used to have lunch in the typing room, because there was no canteen. And the typing room was always cozy! The coffee lady brought coffee and tea around several times a day, and the smell of cigars was everywhere in the office. Managers were addressed with "sir," and formal manners were the norm. But despite the hierarchy of earlier times, even then Govers distinguished itself as an independent firm, with an informal and personal approach.
The dna of a family business
The family atmosphere has always remained a common thread. Employees feel at home within the company, as evidenced by the low turnover rate. A few years ago, Govers said goodbye to six employees who had been with the company for at least 40 years. The current office also exudes this atmosphere, with a light and spacious layout, a meeting place in the form of a live-in kitchen and room for growth from the current 150 to a maximum of 200 employees.
Independent and ready for the future
The current partners remain convinced of Govers' strength as an independent service provider. Fixed teams work with clients. The partners also sit at the table. That commitment is widely appreciated. "The world changes, regulations change, but clients and our core values remain central," said Cyril Castelijns, partner at Govers.
Several activities are planned as part of the anniversary year next year. Castelijns: "We will involve our former and current employees, among others. And also with our customers and partners we will raise a glass to celebrate this surely very beautiful anniversary!" With a relatively young team, a strong focus on specialization and a deep-rooted connection with the Brainport region, Govers is ready for the next century.