Jonkman Enterprises
| De Jonkman Groep | |
|---|---|
| Jonkman Holdings Inc. | |
| De Jonkman Groep | |
 | |
| Formerly | Jonkman Merchant House |
| Type | Private conglomerate |
| Traded as | Jonkman |
| Industry | Various |
| Predecessor | Jonkman Handelhuysen |
| Founded | 1691 |
| Founder | Cornelis Jonkman |
| Headquarters | Jonkman Dorp, Nieuw Amsterdam |
| Area served | Worldwide |
Jonkman Enterprises, Inc. (Amerikaens: De Jonkman Groep), also known as the Firm, is a Amerikaener multinational conglomerate headquartered in Staten Eiland, New Amsterdam. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most of them united under the Jonkman brand. It is the largest dynastic conglomerate (familie-bedrijf) in all of New Netherland.
Jonkman was founded by Cornelis Jonkman in 17th century as a merchant house. Over the next three centuries, the merchant house expanded into areas including food processing, textiles, insurance, securities, and retail. Under Jan Anne Jonkman in the 1850s, the company expanded its business into shipping, railroads and textiles, drastically driving the corporation's growth. In the 20th century the company expanded operations into electronics, manufacturing, aerospace engineering, shipbuilding, and chemicals. It became the largest employer in New Netherland by the mid-20th century, with the Jonkman family being one of the richest in the world.
Notable Jonkman industrial affiliates include Jonkman Electronics & technologies (the world’s largest information technology company, consumer electronics maker and chipmaker measured by revenue) Jonkman heavy industries (the world's second-largest shipbuilder) and Jonkman Engineering and Jonkman C&T, it includes numerous subsidiaries and has often a great deal of influence in many other companies.
History
Early history
The first Jonkman merchant houses (handelhuysen) were first established by Cornelis Jonkman in late 1691 - when he was still 17 - with his parents' support. He founded the company after he noticed that the West India Company neglected commerce in frontier areas. He bought goods from these frontier areas and sold them at a markup in New Amsterdam and other cities. By 1720, the Jonkman company had twenty merchant houses throughout many regions of New Netherland.
The company continued to expand its operations and wealth slowly throughout the 1700s, outlasting several other local corporations which went bankrupt. Petrus Jonkman, the son of Cornelis Jonkman, took over in the 1720s. He was contrasted with the elite and power-hungry Patroon families who ran the colony of New Netherland.
In 1789, being one of the largest trading companies of New Netherland already, sought to diversify. It bought out many minor companies and trading outposts, giving it a foothold in Latin America and Asia immediately after New Netherland gained its independence. They participated in forming economic ties between New Netherland and countries such as Mexico, Florida, and Tauland.
19th century growth
With the dawn of the 19th century, the company started to transform. The Jonkmans invested into mining, shipbuilding, ship transport, and early railroad development. By 1826, it owned 60% of all the railroads and the steamliners in the New Amsterdam metropolitan area. They worked to connect key manufacturing hubs to major commercial centers and opened textile mills.
With a new administration in power under Hendrick II in the early-to-mid 1800s, New Netherland began developing at a rapid pace. Jonkman expanded their operations into shipbuilding and chemicals during this time too. Despite the authoritarian regime at the time, the Jonkman company remained popular among the middle class. The Jonkman heirs began to exert their influence over elite society by marrying into wealthy families and expressing their generosity through philanthropy programs.
Republican era and dominance
When the Republic of New Netherland was founded, the Jonkman company found itself in an interesting position. It discreetly maintained its relationship with the old Patroon elite and yet continued to develop amicable relations with the new Republican regime.
By the 1920s, the Jonkman conglomerate was the largest manufacturer in New Netherland. Its primary industries were industrial goods, shipping, trade, electricity, retail, insurance, and mining. With the rise of the Aero plane, Director Jan Anne Jonkman invested into aviation. In a series of acquisitions, the Group bought small aircraft manufacturers and designers. Growing their aviation sector, the Jonkmans collaborated with the New Netherlandish military to produce warplanes.
In 1927 the company also entered the radio broadcasting and entertainment industries. It became a silent investor into the popping entertainment industry in the region. Through their power in several aspects of New Netherlandish life, they exerted power over society and the government.
Corporate structure
Jonkman Enterprises compromises around 93 companies, Its activities include construction, consumer electronics, financial services, shipbuilding, defence products, aerospace, car manufacturing and medical services. Its corporate structure is thus often said to be a massive web that has over the centuries become more and more efficient.
