History

The story behind our Karsten Tenten.

since

1981

Almost fifty years ago (1974) my parents and uncle started a dump store on the Dorpsstraat in Zwaag. Back then in the barn and greenhouses behind our house. We really sold everything. From clothing and bicycles to wood. As a little girl I loved to help. I sorted pants, helped clean up and did whatever there was to do. When I was pregnant with our eldest daughter, I made the final choice for our family business.

Almost fifty years ago (1974) my parents and uncle started a dump store on the Dorpsstraat in Zwaag. Back then in the barn and greenhouses behind our house. We really sold everything. From clothing and bicycles to wood. As a little girl I loved to help. I sorted pants, helped clean up and did whatever there was to do. When I was pregnant with our eldest daughter, I made the final choice for our family business.

Maarten Takken joins Karsten Tenten

Maarten came to work for us as a fifteen-year-old boy. It started as a Saturday job, but he liked working much more than studying and even secretly skipped school to go to the office. He repaired tents that had been damaged during holidays. On the advice of my father, Gerard Karsten, he took a course in sailmaking. I came to bring him a cup of tea more than once during that time. My mother knew for a long time that we liked each other. When I was fifteen, the spark really flew and we've been together for years now. In 2001 Maarten and I took over from my parents.

Maarten came to work for us as a fifteen-year-old boy. It started as a Saturday job, but he liked working much more than studying and even secretly skipped school to go to the office. He repaired tents that had been damaged during holidays. On the advice of my father, Gerard Karsten, he took a course in sailmaking. I came to bring him a cup of tea more than once during that time. My mother knew for a long time that we liked each other. When I was fifteen, the spark really flew and we've been together for years now. In 2001 Maarten and I took over from my parents.

The invention of the inflatable Karsten Tent

"We used our last few guilders to pay for a booth at the Camping & Caravan trade show at the RAI."

Things were not going so well at the time. With our last guilders we paid for a stand at the Kampeer & Caravan fair in the RAI. The tents were sewn on the table tennis table. Because there was simply no money for a sewing table. My mother sewed our logo onto cheap V&D sweaters and the presentation of Maarten's invention could begin. Soon a large circle of people gathered around us. All television cameras were aimed at our tents, we achieved a national first! That was the beginning of our restart. Thanks to its success, we employed 40 people from one day to the next.

While Marie José is more concerned with the business side, Maarten is the creative mind of the two. When he had to repair an English work tent with hoses, Maarten came up with the idea for the inflatable tent. No more hassle with tent poles or a complicated manual, but a tent that you can set up in no time.

An in-house workshop, to guarantee the best quality, personal service and bespoke products

The tent has gone through many changes over the years in materials, layout, and awnings. Karsten Tents has really listened to their customers. Because they're the ones with experience in where there's room for improvement. The decision was made to set up an in-house workshop in Zwaag, where the tents are designed and produced. That allows Karsten Tents to maintain control over the quality, because a Karsten Tent should last for many years. In addition to the unique inflatable camping tents, the company also produces professional work tents under the name Tentworld Unlimited. The special tents include tents for the fire service, the military, and the construction industry, so work can go on, regardless of the circumstances.

The tent has gone through many changes over the years in materials, layout, and awnings. Karsten Tents has really listened to their customers. Because they're the ones with experience in where there's room for improvement. The decision was made to set up an in-house workshop in Zwaag, where the tents are designed and produced. That allows Karsten Tents to maintain control over the quality, because a Karsten Tent should last for many years. In addition to the unique inflatable camping tents, the company also produces professional work tents under the name Tentworld Unlimited. The special tents include tents for the fire service, the military, and the construction industry, so work can go on, regardless of the circumstances.

An in-house workshop, to guarantee the best
quality, personal service and bespoke products

Despite all the growth over the years, the sense of family still remains important. Karsten Tents has a large camping and outdoor store with quality brands and expert staff: the Karsten Travelstore. In this huge, 10,000 m² store, customers can find everything they need for camping and life in the outdoors.

Despite all the growth over the years, the sense of family still remains important. Karsten Tents has a large camping and outdoor store with quality brands and expert staff: the Karsten Travelstore. In this huge, 10,000 m² store, customers can find everything they need for camping and life in the outdoors.

"We want to help people have the most comfortable camping experience possible, so they can really enjoy the outdoors around the world. That's what we do this for, every day."


Marie José Takken-Karsten
Made in Holland Made in Holland