Frans Bevers, founder of the famous catering company Bevers & Bevers, died suddenly on March 12, 2024 following his hip operation.
Anyone who hasn't heard of Bevers Caterer in festival land probably comes from another planet. This shows that the outdoor catering business for gatherings or shows, founded by Frans Bevers in the 1970s, is ubiquitous. However, it all started with a good dose of entrepreneurship.
In 1978, Frans Bevers brought a hot plate to a motocross competition to provide visitors with snacks and drinks. It was so successful that he continued his concept of selling food in outdoor locations, what would later be called catering. Frans Bevers Catering was born and gradually established itself as an essential name in mass events. Anyone who thinks of burgers, fries and other festival food almost automatically thinks of Frans Bevers Catering. He was thus omnipresent at all major festivals and other major events such as Rock Werchter, Tomorrowland, Pukkelpop, on the Zolder circuit, in the locker rooms of Anderlecht and Genk, at Forest National and Spa Francorchamps.
In 2018, his company changed its name to Bevers & Bevers: current CEO Jurgen Bevers took over to ensure the future of the company. Frans Bevers may have started with just one cooktop, but the man in the cowboy hat – his trademark – left behind an empire, and an image of generosity: he regulated the bill for most tables people he knew when he went to the restaurant.
Passionate about Märklin toys
Frans Bevers' true passion is summed up in a German surname: Märklin. Frans researched, documented and tracked down all the toys relating to this famous German brand. From small early tin toys to cookers, dolls' houses, prams, planes, boats and even miniature electric trains.
Moreover, in the parking lot at the entrance to his company, there are two locomotives: a gigantic steam engine and a diesel shunter. Frans Bevers transformed a former furniture store into the Märklin Museum. We can say without hesitation that over time he has amassed the world's largest collection of everything Märklin has produced since 1859.
This private museum is fantastic, everything is displayed in superb display cases, everything is well arranged, perfectly highlighted, explained and detailed. This collection includes unique pieces like the Crocodile by Richard Märklin in new colors from New York Central. Frans Bevers even traveled to the United States to attend an auction with the aim of acquiring the wooden chests that protected these “Crocodile” locomotives during their boat crossing.
The historical material collected over time is so rare and impressive that even Märklin acquired unique pieces from the Bevers collection for its own museum in Göppingen, the Märklineum.
It was a pleasure to meet him, he listened, advised, provided information and always with this concern for precision and accuracy which are the benchmark for great collectors.
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