Editing Jakob Schroeter

{{Infobox person
| name = Jakob Schroeter
| image = Jakob Schroeter, 2025.png
| birth_date = 1939
| birth_place = [[Arnhem]], [[Netherlands]]
| occupation = Manufacturer
| years_active = 1962–2005
| era = {{hlist|[[Middenvader Era]]|[[Vriend Era]]}}
| known_for = Founding [[Schroeter Aanhangwagenfabriek]]
| spouse = [[Everdina Aleida van Lunteren]] (m. 1962)
| children = 5, including [[Ferdinand Hendrik Schroeter]]
| father = [[Hendrik Schroeter]]
| family = [[Schroeter family]]
}}

'''Jakob Schroeter''' (born 1939) is a Dutch manufacturer and member of the [[Schroeter family]] who founded [[Schroeter Aanhangwagenfabriek]] in [[Vriendendam]] in 1965. He produced agricultural trailers until the company was declared bankrupt in 2005.

== Early life ==

Schroeter was born in 1939 in [[Arnhem]], the son of farmer [[Hendrik Schroeter]]. He helped his father on the farm while growing up. During the 1950s, the dispute within the Schroeter family continued to cause clashes around Vriendendam and Rotterdam.<ref name="commission-violence"/> In 1955 the family moved from Arnhem to Vriendendam.

In 1957 Schroeter began studying mechanical engineering at an HTS in Arnhem. He completed his studies in 1961 and returned to his father's farm in Vriendendam.

== Schroeter Aanhangwagenfabriek ==

In 1962 Hendrik needed a larger trailer for moving harvested crops, so Schroeter designed and welded a two-axle agricultural trailer for him. Other farmers who saw the trailer began placing orders. Schroeter built a shed on the family property and used it as a workshop. An unnamed member of the [[Noord family]] told him that the shed had to be demolished because it had been built without a building permit.

Schroeter dismantled the shed and rented a small industrial unit in Vriendendam, where he resumed production. His younger cousin [[Kees Schroeter]], who had learned welding through farm and machinery work, became his first regular employee. In 1965 Schroeter established [[Schroeter Aanhangwagenfabriek]].

In 1970 he opened a purpose-built factory in Vriendendam. Schroeter continued drawing trailer designs and regularly worked on the factory floor with Kees. During the 1970s he developed heavier tandem-axle agricultural trailers for larger farm loads.

Strong sales led Schroeter to expand the factory during the early 1980s. He financed a larger production hall and new machinery with borrowed money. His eldest son, [[Ferdinand Hendrik Schroeter]], was born in 1963 and was named after [[Ferdinand Schroeter]]. The elder Ferdinand had founded [[Schroeter Traktoren]] in 1902.<ref name="ferdinand-founding"/> Ferdinand Hendrik studied mechanical engineering and joined his father's company around 1985, where he worked on trailer design.

Orders from farmers declined during the 1990s while the factory's loan repayments and operating costs remained high. In 1994 members of [[Rotterdam-West (faction)|Rotterdam-West]] detonated explosives in the factory's machinery section. The blast destroyed several metal-cutting and bending machines and caused approximately ƒ340,000 in damage. Schroeter replaced the damaged equipment and continued production.

Several large agricultural customers moved to cheaper trailer manufacturers during the late 1990s. Schroeter kept the Vriendendam factory and most of its workforce despite the fall in orders. Ferdinand Hendrik remained at the company and continued working on trailer design.

Losses accumulated through the early 2000s. In 2005 creditors petitioned the court after unpaid invoices and loan payments had accumulated. Schroeter Aanhangwagenfabriek was declared bankrupt. The factory closed and its machinery was sold by the bankruptcy trustee. Schroeter lost most of the wealth he had tied up in the company.

== Personal life ==

Schroeter married [[Everdina Aleida van Lunteren]] in 1962. They had five children and remained married. After the bankruptcy of Schroeter Aanhangwagenfabriek, Schroeter retired and remained in Vriendendam. He lives there with Everdina, supported by his pension and regular payments from a Schroeter family support fund for older family members.

== See also ==
* [[Schroeter family]]
* [[Schroeter family members]]
* [[Middenvader Commissie]]
* [[Rotterdam-West (faction)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="commission-violence">"[[Middenvader Commissie#Public disorder and violence|Public disorder and violence]]". ''Middenvader Commissie''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
<ref name="ferdinand-founding">"[[Ferdinand Schroeter#Founding of Schroeter Traktoren|Founding of Schroeter Traktoren]]". ''Ferdinand Schroeter''. ''Vrienden Universe Wiki''.</ref>
}}

[[Category:Schroeter family]]

[[Category:Middenvader Era]]

[[Category:Vriend Era]]

[[Category:1939 births]]

[[Category:People]]

[[Category:Living people]]