Our history
Almost 100 years in the making
Every company has a story. Ours began in 1930, when Lambert Vivet started a small moving company in Antwerp. Nearly a century later, Gosselin has grown into an international logistics partner with operations across Europe and beyond.
While we've expanded into new countries, built terminals and warehouses, and welcomed many companies into the Gosselin family, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to helping customers move forward. Every chapter in our history has strengthened our ability to deliver smarter, more integrated logistics solutions.
1930–1983
Building the foundations
It all started with a local moving company built on hard work, reliability and personal service. When Dolf Gosselin joined the business in 1950, Vivet-Gosselin continued to grow while staying true to its family-business values.
The arrival of Marc Smet in 1976 marked another turning point. His entrepreneurial vision would transform a respected Belgian mover into an international logistics group.
1984–1999
Expanding across Europe
The launch of Gosselin Worldwide Moving in 1984, led by Marc Smet, marked the beginning of our international journey. Within a few years, new specialist companies joined the group, from high-quality handling and distribution services to our own plywood box manufacturing, while a new office in Vicenza opened the door to the Italian market.
Our international network kept growing through the 1990s. North Atlantic Services strengthened our position as a Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier, and the founding of Gosselin World Wide Moving GmbH brought an agency structure of eight military agencies across Germany into the group. The defining moment came in 1999, when the acquisition of the Corstjens Worldwide Movers Group, headquartered in the Netherlands with 19 offices across Central and Eastern Europe, established Gosselin as a truly international organisation.
2000–2013
Transforming into a logistics partner
The new millennium transformed Gosselin from an international moving company into a broader logistics provider.
Investments in airfreight, forwarding, warehousing and the Gosselin Container Terminal next to the Albert Canal and near the Port of Antwerp gave us greater control over the supply chain and expanded the services we could offer customers. Gosselin Swiss opened the same year, and in Antwerp the founding of Nedvan International added a new dimension to our forwarding activities.
Our international reach also continued to grow. Nomad Express, now Gosselin Caucasus & Central Asia, strengthened our presence in the region, and a new warehouse and offices for Gosselin Tbilisi followed in Georgia. In Italy, a reorganisation of Gosselin Italy SRL brought facilities in Aviano, Vicenza and Naples into the group. In 2011, Vivet-Gosselin merged with Gosselin Caucasus & Central Asia to form what is now Gosselin Mobility. The acquisition of Crosstainer in 2012 significantly expanded our freight forwarding expertise to and from China, one of the world's most important logistics markets.
2014–2020
Investing in expertise
As supply chains became more complex, we invested in new infrastructure and specialist capabilities.
A key development was our partnership with Heavy. Gosselin Self Storage launched in Deurne in 2014, the same year Gosselin Group and Heavy Group joined forces in a venture operating as Heavy GCT. In 2016, that partnership deepened when Gosselin acquired a 50% stake in a new holding company, Heavy Project Solutions, laying the groundwork for full integration a few years later. At the same time, we expanded across the UK, France, Switzerland and Germany: Gosselin Mobility acquired DT Moving, with offices in London and Paris, and the international moving activities of Packimpex, with offices across Bern, Basel, Geneva and Zurich, while the founding of GMS GmbH brought three more military agents into the group.
2021–Today
Accelerating growth
Recent years have been defined by strategic acquisitions and continued investment in our network.
2021 brought a new terminal crane, the purchase of the Milcobel site in Schoten, and the acquisition of MEYS Moving in Brasschaat. That same year, Gosselin acquired the remaining 100% of Heavy Group, completing the partnership that began back in 2014. The following year brought construction on our INZA and Oosterweel sites, a new office in Berlin, the GHC contract, a growing presence in Genk-Zuid, and the acquisition of UniMove in Rotterdam. Since then, companies including Antwerp Cargo Movers, Frey & Klein, Mechels Verhuisbedrijf, Doree Bonner International, Delcatrans and BSX have strengthened our expertise and presence across Europe, alongside joint ventures with Transmoove, Archivault and PQF.
We have also continued investing in infrastructure, with the opening of our INZA site, a new Container Hotel at Gosselin Oosterweel, and our Genk-Zuid terminal along the Albert Canal. In Italy, Gosselin Vicenza moved into a larger facility in Brendola and took on all port logistics and customs declarations in-house. In 2025, we were also proud to become the logistics partner of Team Belgium through the Olympic Games of 2028.
Key milestones
The next chapter
From one local moving company in Antwerp to an international logistics group, our journey has been shaped by entrepreneurship, long-term partnerships and a willingness to keep evolving. As supply chains continue to change, so will we, building on nearly a century of experience to help customers move forward with confidence.