Let's Connect
Partnerships
VVV-Venlo Seacon Blue
As a company, we have become successful through the engagement of people in our environment, which is why we want to give something back to our society. On our Seacon Blue page, we share stories of some of our great partnerships.
"We are very grateful to Seacon for the trust and years of cooperation. We will do everything we can to enjoy many more great years together at Seacon Stadium - De Koel -."
Guus Pennings Managing Director
Story
"The partnership with Seacon Logistics goes back for decades," Marco Bogers, former Managing Director VVV-Venlo, begins. "In 1996 we approached Hai Berden, Seacon's founder and owner, to ask if he would like to sponsor two business seats at VVV-Venlo. In 2002 he became more involved with VVV as a sponsor. The club was in a bad situation at the time, the stadium was outdated and we were in bad financial shape. Hai was right there at the foundations of our club's resurrection. Under his guidance, the stadium was completely renovated. He was also chair of VVV-Venlo for many years. From 2005 to 2019 Seacon was the stadium's title sponsor, and Seacon became our main sponsor in summer 2007. Seacon plays a prominent role in all of our club's developments. The highlights have been rejoining the Eredivisie, the renovation of the stadium, and the arrival of great football talents from Japan and Nigeria, such as Keisuke Honda and Ahmed Musa."
"Seacon is a leading logistics company in the Netherlands, and has a large international reach and network. We're proud to have Seacon as our main sponsor. The collaboration has been beneficial for both of us; we make use of each other's strengths and networks. For example, Japan is one of the markets that Seacon specialises in and the company has a large network there. Japanese talent Keisuke Honda came to VVV via Hai and former VVV head coach Sef Vergoossen. He is a top player who furthered his career in Venlo and who brought a lot of good things to VVV and Seacon. In particular, Honda was pivotal in VVV's return to the Eredivisie. We still have Japanese visitors coming here to see where Honda played. And there really is a Japanese VVV fan club, for which there's an event held each year. Football combines well with doing business; it connects people and means that you expand the network!"
"The VVV-Venlo Network is very important to us, especially as part of the combination of sport and business," Frank Hermans, Seacon Ambassador, says. "Football opens doors in the Netherlands, and in other places too – for example Germany. Venlo is only a few kilometres from the German border. VVV's network is an active, cross-border business platform. German businesses form part of this network too; they include our German colleagues from Duisburg and Gera. Networking and relationship management are very important to us. The business lounge is the place for meetings and for taking clients and partners along to matches. Business meetings are organised too, and special matches are sometimes redubbed 'official Seacon matches'. These things generate additional brand awareness, help us to build our network together, and of course we enjoy great matches. So it's a win-win-win situation."
"Seacon is more than a partner for us," Marco says. "Our collaboration has become a very stable relationship with strong bonds of trust. We really understand each other and we've been through a lot together in all these years, from deep troughs to amazing highs. They also support our VVV Foundation, enabling us to organise a range of successful social projects and initiatives in the region. Things like football activities for children with disabilities, visits to primary schools, and walking football for seniors in the neighbourhood. The VVV Foundation also explores the possibilities to intensify and create long-term alliances with companies, organisations and institutions. Frank Hermans, among others, has joined the board of the foundation to boost its effectiveness and safeguard quality.
“To increase the purpose and significance of the cooperation between Seacon Logistics and VVV-Venlo, contributing from my role to the goals of the VVV Foundation seems logical," Frank says enthusiastically. “By drawing on my network, the company and my own experience, I want to add value and create synergy, to create more support and positive energy to realise even more projects and initiatives."
“Seacon is always prepared to think along with us, which shows that they're able to – and want to – make a difference to others as well. This commitment is Seacon’s strength. We're a good match in that way, because VVV also wants to be make a difference to the region. There's a good reason why we've been working together for so long! What’s more, the length of our collaboration is unique in professional football. It's something we’re extremely proud of. We hope to be able to expand and strengthen our collaboration in years to come, so that together we can turn it into it an even bigger success!"
Today, the partnership continues under the leadership of a new generation within Seacon Logistics. The arrival of Ruud Timmermans and Loek Berden has brought a fresh look, but the core values of connected and involved remain unchanged.
A good example of this is the return of Seacon as the stadium namesake. As of July 1, 2025, VVV-Venlo's stadium will once again bear the name Seacon Stadion - De Koel. “As a family business with deep roots in Venlo, we feel a strong connection with VVV and the region,” says general manager Ruud Timmermans. "VVV-Venlo is a landmark that gives Seacon a distinctive image both locally and across borders. Based on our family values - connected, worldly and social - we remain one of VVV's most loyal partners. As a stadium namesake, we again give that connection additional strength and visibility."
VVV director Guus Pennings is also pleased with the renewed cooperation: "It is fantastic to see Seacon take on this position when it was already one of VVV's biggest partners. We are therefore very grateful to Seacon for the trust and for this addition to the existing agreement. We will do everything we can to have great years together in Seacon Stadion - De Koel -."
The return as stadium namesake underlines the enduring relationship between the two parties. Seacon is not only Official Partner and honorary partner, but also a driving force behind social initiatives such as Venlo.fit and the VVV Foundation. Thus, the cooperation between VVV-Venlo and Seacon Logistics remains a powerful example of how sports and business can strengthen each other - then, now and in the future.