Bruns was established in 1963 and has a rich history with some fine milestones. In 1999, the Burgmans family took over the helm from Hans Bruns. From that moment on, the company became a real family business. Jan and Tinie Burgmans have put their heart, soul and energy into the business for more than 22 years. From 2013, they gradually passed the baton to their sons Bo and Pim Burgmans. As kids they already spent a lot of time at Bruns and they put all their passion into keeping the company thriving.
Bruns was founded by Hans Bruns. In the early years, he worked from a small attic room on Grote Berg street in Eindhoven, where he built models. In 1966, he relocated his business to the barn of his father’s farm in Westerhoven. He bought the farm in 1969. From then on, Bruns began to grow, with more and more employees joining the company.
The Evoluon was opened in 1966 as the world’s first educational technology museum. In the early 1970s, Bruns was responsible for the maintenance and production of temporary exhibitions in the Evoluon.
From the 1980s, the first projects were realised for museums, as well as for visitor and information centres. In this period, Bruns also made many blow-up models for Philips of their latest products, such as shavers, toothbrushes and scanners.
In 1999, Jan and Tinie Burgmans bought the company from Hans Bruns. They set out on a journey to grow Bruns. From the 1970s the company had grown by 1 employee a year and counted 22 employees when the Burgmans bought it. Soon, the premises were too small and additional premises were rented in Westerhoven.
In the United Kingdom, many design & build projects are contracted out within a budget that cannot be overrun. Bruns has been realising projects in Ardeer, Dundee and Glasgow since 2000. From that point on, Bruns became an established name in the international science centre world.
In 2004, Bruns moved to the industrial park De Waterlaat, on the street Stökskesweg in Bergeijk. The new business premises gave Bruns the space to continue the company’s growth. This enabled the company to take its first steps in the Belgian market.
From 2013, Bo and Pim, Jan and Tinie’s sons, became co-owners of Bruns. As kids they already spent a lot of time at Bruns. This move was therefore not surprising.
In 2014, Bruns completed the biggest project in its history, the National Military Museum in Soesterberg (NL). At the time, this contract accounted for as much as the total annual turnover at that point.
At its location in Bergeijk, Bruns was outgrowing its premises. It was time for a bigger location. National monument De Ploeg had been vacant for almost ten years. Various zoning plans had been drawn up without avail, until Bruns came into the picture. All parties involved reached an agreement and Bruns bought De Ploeg and the Mien Ruys park.
At the time, De Ploeg was in a very poor condition. A construction team was put together - you could also call it the ‘Brabant get-together’ - to redevelop De Ploeg under Bruns’ own management. The main task was to safeguard the heritage qualities of both the architectural building by architect Gerrit Rietveld and the park designed by garden and landscape architect Mien Ruys.
In December 2016, the relocation started. Just before Christmas 2016, Bruns’ move was completed. Since 2 January 2017, Bruns has been in full operation from its new location in national monument De Ploeg.
The official opening of the renovated premises De Ploeg took place on 10 May 2017. There was a grand opening ceremony for De Ploeg, with mayor Arinda Callewaert, Henri Swinkels, the then delegate of Liveability and Culture at the province of North Brabant, and the Burgmans family cutting the ribbon.
Bruns was asked by heritage association Bond Heemschut to adopt Ad Dekkers’ art object ‘Tile Relief’ and install it in the Mien Ruys park. On Saturday 13 April 2019, the artwork was officially unveiled by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix. The installation of this artwork marked the start of adopting several other artworks.
After more than 22 years, Jan and Tinie are handing over Bruns in full to Bo and Pim Burgmans. All their energy and passion for the company are passed on to their sons who will continue the Bruns family business.
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Bruns B.V. | Rijksmonument De Ploeg, Riethovensedijk 20, 5571 CR Bergeijk (NL) | T +31 (0)497 577027 
+31 (0)497 577 027
