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 moving and logistics partner with operations across Europe and beyond.
Along the way we've expanded into new countries, built terminals and warehouses, and welcomed many moving companies into the Gosselin family. But one thing has remained constant: our commitment to helping people move forward, wherever life or work takes them. Every chapter in our history has strengthened our ability to make international relocation smoother, safer and more personal, and 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 moving and 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 and global moving partner
The new millennium saw Gosselin build the infrastructure, expertise and international network that would support both its growing moving business and its expansion into broader logistics services.
Investments in airfreight, forwarding, warehousing and the Gosselin Container Terminal near the Port of Antwerp gave us greater control over the supply chain and expanded the services we could offer customers, from the international movement of household goods and personal effects to broader freight and logistics solutions. Gosselin Swiss opened, extending our presence into Switzerland, while the founding of Nedvan International in Antwerp 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, bringing together our international moving activities under one dedicated brand. The acquisition of Crosstainer in 2012 further expanded our freight forwarding expertise to and from China, one of the world's most important logistics markets. Together, these developments marked Gosselin's evolution from an international moving company into a broader logistics provider, while strengthening the infrastructure and expertise behind our global mobility and logistics services.
2014 – 2020
Investing in the expertise
As supply chains and international relocations became more complex, we invested in the infrastructure and specialist capabilities needed to support customers across both moving and logistics.
Gosselin Self Storage launched in Deurne in 2014, giving relocating customers a secure place to store belongings before, during or after a move. That same year, Gosselin Group and Heavy Group joined forces in a venture operating as Heavy GCT. In 2016, the partnership deepened when Gosselin acquired a 50% stake in the newly established holding company Heavy Project Solutions, laying the groundwork for its full integration into the group a few years later.
At the same time, we continued to expand our international network and moving capabilities 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. The founding of GMS GmbH brought three additional military moving agents into the group, further strengthening our expertise in specialised relocations.
2021 – today
Accelerating growth
Recent years have been defined by strategic acquisitions, continued investment in our infrastructure and the expansion of our international network, strengthening Gosselin’s capabilities across moving and logistics.
In 2021, we acquired MEYS Moving in Brasschaat, including its self-storage activities, while a new terminal crane and the purchase of the Milcobel site in Schoten further expanded our infrastructure. That same year, Gosselin acquired the remaining 100% of Heavy Group, completing the partnership that began in 2014. The following year brought construction at 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 joined the Gosselin family, strengthening our expertise and presence across Europe. Joint ventures with Transmoove, Archivault and PQF have further broadened our capabilities and network.
We have continued to invest in the infrastructure that supports our customers, 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 brought port logistics and customs declarations fully in-house, making international moves to and from Italy even smoother.
In 2025, we were proud to become the logistics and moving partner of Team Belgium through the Olympic Games of 2028, bringing together our expertise in both fields in support of one of the country's most prominent international sporting partnerships.
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. And as people and families continue to move across borders for work, study and new beginnings, so will we, building on nearly a century of experience to help our customers move forward with confidence.
