Lourens Schroeter
Lourens (Lau) Albert Wilhelm Schroeter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 January 1940 Overschie, Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Occupations | Industrial entrepreneur; automotive manufacturer |
| Known for | Co-founder of Schroeter Romeo, member of De Vrienden |
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Political party | NSDAP (historical affiliation) |
| Spouse | Tiny Schroeter |
| Children | Lourens Schroeter |
| Parent | Lourens Schroeter (father) |
Lourens (Lau) Albert Wilhelm Schroeter (born 14 January 1940) is a Dutch industrial entrepreneur and automotive manufacturer. He is the fifth member of De Vrienden and a central figure within the Schroeter family.
Early life
[edit | edit source]Lourens Schroeter was born in Overschie, Rotterdam. He was raised in a family with agricultural and military background. During his early adulthood, he became involved in mechanical work and industrial operations.
Role in De Vrienden
[edit | edit source]In 1975, Schroeter became associated with Angelo Noord, Martin Paap, and Imro van Hetten. In 1976, with the addition of Eef Hoos, the group became known as De Vrienden.
As the oldest member of the group, Schroeter was often associated with logistical support and material provision. He maintained close working relationships with the other four members across multiple decades.
Industrial activity
[edit | edit source]In 1950, together with his father, Schroeter co-founded Schroeter Romeo in Vriendendam. The company focused on automotive manufacturing and engineering.
Following the internal disputes within the Schroeter family during the Middenvader Era and the dissolution of Schroeter Traktoren in 1959, Schroeter Romeo remained one of the few surviving industrial enterprises associated with the family.
Schroeter maintained long-term loyalty to Alfa Romeo vehicles and frequently referenced the Alfa Romeo GTA (1965) as a preferred model.
Personal characteristics
[edit | edit source]Schroeter is associated with mechanical precision, newspaper reading, fishing, and beer consumption. He has historically expressed dislike for ladder climbing, Christmas, Rotterdam-West, and Abarth vehicles.
He is affected by a hereditary spinal fragility common within the Schroeter family. In accordance with family terminology, he refers to his spine as his merg, a term used by Schroeters for bones and rod-like structures.
Within family symbolism, the Schroeter family is aligned with the number five and the color beige.