🇬🇧 About Photogift – pioneer since 2005

Photogift.eu originated in the Netherlands in 2005 with the launch of Fotogeschenk.nl, one of the first webshops in the Netherlands for personalised photo products such as canvas prints. After more than ten years of growth in the Netherlands and Belgium, founder Wilfried Vonk decided to expand the successful photo service with this English-language version, initially primarily aimed at expats in the Netherlands and Belgium, but gradually focusing more on the European business and consumer market. 

We now have almost 20 years of experience in photo printing and wall decoration and will produce our 200,000th order in 2025. In the early years we outsourced the printing work so we could focus entirely on developing our webshop and innovative ordering modules. Everything was built with our own resources and team. Production ran through partners in Kampen and Dronten while we concentrated on expanding the range and improving ease of use.

2008–2013: pioneering new products
During this period we were among the first in the Netherlands to introduce product groups that are now commonplace: photo on aluminium, photo on forex, photo on acrylic glass, garden posters, outdoor canvas, and our own innovation Plexibond. With this, Fotogeschenk set the tone in the market and reached a wide audience.

2014–2015: expansion to Amsterdam
With an office in Amsterdam we reached the Randstad and established partnerships with numerous photo stores in the Netherlands and Belgium. Some of these stores also served as pickup points for our customers.

2016–2019: first in-house production
After ten years of pioneering with our webshop, we opened a studio in Kampen. This was our first step towards in-house production, giving us greater control over quality and custom work.

From 2019: the Fotowerkplaats in IJsselmuiden
Growth required a larger location. We moved to the Fotowerkplaats in IJsselmuiden, just outside Zwolle. Here we combine large-scale production with craft finishing. In 2022 Photogallery.one opened above the workshop, a 500 m² exhibition space where artists and photographers exhibit permanently.

Our team
Fotogeschenk is a family business. Founder Wilfried Vonk is supported by his sons: the eldest as an adviser and the youngest as production manager, together with a dedicated team. From the very beginning, Martijn Beks has been our programmer and IT architect, responsible for all web modules and integrations. In recent years our team has grown with a dedicated web developer and designer who shaped the current look & feel of Fotogeschenk, the product sites and Photogallery.one.

Logistics network
Around 2012 we started building our own logistics network. With regular routes in Greater Amsterdam and Flevoland, Kampen, Zwolle (3× per week), the rest of the Randstad (1–2× per week), the rest of the Netherlands (1× per week) and Belgium (once every 2 weeks), our drivers deliver large-format wall decorations and bulk orders safely and quickly. Smaller shipments are handled by reliable parcel services.

European expansion
Around 2017/2018 we expanded with Ihr-Fotogeschenk.de for the German-speaking market and Photogift.eu for international customers and expats in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. From this base we aim to expand further into Scandinavia and the rest of Europe.

After 2018: Custom Decks
Together with his eldest son Corne, Wilfried built Custom Decks after 2018, specialising in personalised skateboards. Production also takes place in our Fotowerkplaats in IJsselmuiden.

Today
Fotogeschenk has grown into a trusted specialist for photo products on all materials. In 2025 we will produce our 200,000th order – representing millions of processed photos. Around 20% of orders are delivered in Belgium and 10% elsewhere in Europe, most of that in Germany. European expansion in personalised photo products is one of our goals for the coming years. The logistics to support this are largely in place and a substantial share of all products is shipped to every European country. Besides many consumer orders we also serve a large group of photographers and photo stores, some of whom have been customers for more than 10 years.