About us
Gerlach is the leading neutral provider of Customs Services in Europe.
With a wide range of Customs Services, we take care of your customs matters worldwide, so that you can focus on your core business.
Today Gerlach is represented in 11 European countries at more than 70 locations.
In other European countries, Gerlach, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL Group, benefits from an international partner network. A total of 1000 customs experts and consultants in 27 European countries are available to assist you with your customs matters. Beyond that you can make use of our global partnership network.
Our company history:
1881
Gerlach was founded in Bad Bentheim by Jean Arnaud Corneille Gerlach. Subsidiaries were opened in the Netherlands and Belgium.
1921
Gerlach offers transport services in addition to the customs business.
1987
Gerlach becomes part of Royal Nedlloyd in Rotterdam. The transport business is taken over by Nedlloyd. Gerlach relies on its core business, its Customs Services.
1989
Gerlach opens its first office on the โnewโ Polish-German border.
1991
Gerlach opens its first office on the Czech-German border.
1993
Gerlach opens its first office in Poland.
1999
Takeover of Nedlloyd and thus Gerlach by Danzas, which has been owned by Deutsche Post.
2004
Gerlach expansion into Switzerland and Slovakia.
2006
Gerlach celebrates its 125th anniversary.
2012
Gerlach opens offices in Ukraine and Romania.
2013
Gerlach expands to United Kingdom.
2017
Gerlach expands to Sweden.
2018
Further offices are opened in United Kingdom (Southampton).
2019
Opening of further offices in Poland (Bobrowniki).
Gerlach - The Success Story
The history of the Gerlach company begins in 1881 in Bad Bentheim, on the German-Dutch border. In order to understand the circumstances and the reason why it started here, one must go back to the year 1871.
At that time, Germany consisted of a multitude of small kingdoms, dukedoms and principalities.
The largest kingdom at that time was Prussia. In 1870/1871 Chancellor Otto von Bismarck defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War and annexed the small kingdoms and duke principalities.
Economically, they were still lagging behind France and Belgium. Bismarck wanted to change that.
In order to protect the aspiring companies in Germany, he introduced borders. This also led to the establishment of companies dealing with border customs formalities.
Jean Arnaud
Corneille Gerlach
The Dutchman Jean Arnaud Corneille Gerlach, who lived in Bad Bentheim had just lost his ship on a trip between Europe and Japan, also saw this possibility and had to promise his wife that he would not sail again. At first, he tried to be an entrepreneur at mining sandstones near Bad Bentheim. However, he saw a better opportunity in the now necessary border clearance of goods.
Together with his partner Jacob Baruch, a Jewish businessman who was also Dutch and lived in Bad Bentheim, he decided to open a border office.
The business flourished and in 1883 the two had already made a profit of
20,000 German Marks, which was a considerable sum at that time. After 5 years however the tragedy happened: In 1886 Jean Arnaud Gerlach, his eldest son and Gerlachโs partner Jacob Baruch died shortly after each other.
The history of the Gerlach company begins in 1881 in Bad Bentheim, on the German-Dutch border. In order to understand the circumstances and the reason why it started here, one must go back to the year 1871.
At that time, Germany consisted of a multitude of small kingdoms, dukedoms and principalities.
The largest kingdom at that time was Prussia. In 1870/1871 Chancellor Otto von Bismarck defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War and annexed the small kingdoms and duke principalities.
Economically, they were still lagging behind France and Belgium. Bismarck wanted to change that.
In order to protect the aspiring companies in Germany, he introduced borders. This also led to the establishment of companies dealing with border customs formalities.
Jean Arnaud
Corneille Gerlach
The Dutchman Jean Arnaud Corneille Gerlach, who lived in Bad Bentheim had just lost his ship on a trip between Europe and Japan, also saw this possibility and had to promise his wife that he would not sail again. At first, he tried to be an entrepreneur at mining sandstones near Bad Bentheim. However, he saw a better opportunity in the now necessary border clearance of goods.
Together with his partner Jacob Baruch, a Jewish businessman who was also Dutch and lived in Bad Bentheim, he decided to open a border office.
The business flourished and in 1883 the two had already made a profit of
20,000 German Marks, which was a considerable sum at that time. After 5 years however the tragedy happened: In 1886 Jean Arnaud Gerlach, his eldest son and Gerlachโs partner Jacob Baruch died shortly after each other.