Akerboom restores the monument “Gemeenteschool” to its original function

Akerboom Yacht Equipment opened its current location in 1928 in what was then Oegstgeest, under the name Scheepswerf & Machinefabriek Akerboom BV. The adjacent village school, Gemeenteschool Hooge Morsweg, built in 1879, was part of a government initiative to provide accessible education. The village school was a starting point for many Akerboom employees, with some family members growing up in the adjacent teacher’s house and attending the school.

After World War II, the company grew internationally under the name Akerboom Bros and collaborated with FEADSHIP. Many family members, having started their education at the Gemeenteschool, eventually joined the company’s management.

Over the years, the school building was repurposed several times, painted white and used as a carpet trader, foam factory Fa C.H. Schulpen, and print museum.

After the print museum went bankrupt, the Gemeenteschool came into the hands of the municipality of Leiden. Now Akerboom is the owner of the building that became a protected municipal monument in 2012.

In 2024, Akerboom Yacht Equipment began renovating the “Gemeenteschool.” Our partners in this project include Ox-architecten, with Max Hoffer, who has a long-standing relationship with Akerboom, and project leader Michael Dupont, who is well-acquainted with Akerboom from a previous renovation after the 2019 fire. The main contractor is Burgy Klassiek Bouwen, a specialist in monument renovation. The collaboration with Burgy is a celebration of shared values, as both are family businesses that develop their craftsmen with great care.

By early 2025, Akerboom expects to celebrate the grand opening of the “Gemeenteschool” monument and begin its first training sessions at the site.