On 1 December 1950, G.J. (‘Kick’) van Hulzen established ‘Adviesbureau G.J. van Hulzen b.v.’ From his mother’s backroom on the Harstenhoekweg in Scheveningen, he laid the basis for the first independent PR consultancy in the Netherlands.

On the Harstenhoekweg, Van Hulzen enjoyed the luxury of a desk with telephone on it. The fact that this was not connected and that he had to use his mother’s telephone in the corridor for every call was less important.

In 1953, Van Hulzen gained the client that would make him big: Albert Heijn. He was in at the start of phenomena like the Premium of the Month Club and ‘Allerhande’, a magazine that in those days was still published weekly and that was brimming with useful household tips.

In 1979, Kick van Hulzen bade farewell for health reasons. He was then 57 years old. Piet Hein Cramer and Ton de Roo took over the shares and were torpedoed to the clients by Kick as his successors. In 1988, De Roo acquired Cramer’s shares. In line with the tradition that Van Hulzen directors are joint owners, Marcel van den Berg became partner in 1994. The name of the agency changed to ‘Van Hulzen Public Relations Adviseurs’ and now ‘Van Hulzen Public Relations’.

In 1998, Huib Bannier was brought in as partner within the Management Team. Erik Muller has been joint owner of Van Hulzen since the start of 2002 and Carola van Kester since January 2004. In July 2002, Marcel van den Berg withdrew as owner and MT member and Carola van Kester also went her own way in 2007. 

On 1 January 2003, Van Hulzen took over Muylaert Communicatie, specialised in communication concerning infrastructural and urban development projects, and Steel Wheels Contracting. Muylaert Communicatie will continue under the name of Van Hulzen Projectcommunicatie and Steel Wheels Contracting as Van Hulzen Interim.

On 1 September 2004, Van Hulzen started with a new studio: Kicks Concept & Design. This design studio is closely associated with Van Hulzen and is specialized in public-relations productions.

On G.J. van Hulzen’s 75th birthday he was presented with a bust, which was unveiled by Albert Heijn. The bust can be admired in the conference room on the top floor. Kick van Hulzen died in December 1999.

Van Hulzen is now active in the following sectors: food & retail, healthcare, trade & industry, services, infrastructural and urban development projects, ICT and government. In addition, the spearheads lie in the following categories: corporate, marketing, crisis and project communication, organisation strategy and policy, process supervision, communication strategy, organisation of communication and financial PR & investor relations.