Kommer Damen has managed to build a company that can withstand economic ups and downs: the shipyard continues to grow steadily. Within the Netherlands, Damen acquires various specialist yards.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world changes rapidly and globalisation makes its entry. It offers Damen the opportunity to gain a foothold in former Eastern Bloc countries by taking over shipyards there. But how do you negotiate with governments that know nothing but communism?

There are also challenges in the Netherlands: it appears to be quite difficult to get into the niche markets of naval and luxury yachts. But that changes thanks to the actions of a iconic American businessman: Donald Trump.

This episode covers the period between 1985 and 1999. Want to know more about this podcast? Check out podcast.damen.com

‘On Course’ is a Damen Shipyards podcast and is produced by audio agency Airborne.