Who we are History 1952-1962

1952-1962: The economic miracle

1956: Two VW Volswagen service vans

Germany’s economic recovery kicks off international operations

Post-war Western Europe experienced an economic jump-start. None more so than West Germany, whose Wirtschaftswunder reflected positively on the VELUX Group.

The Second World War left war-torn Europe devastated and divided. With financial aid from the USA and increased productivity in the region, West Germany in particular experienced a significant boost in its economy. Its ‘economic miracle’ (Wirtschaftswunder) was to play a key role in the VELUX Group’s earnings over the coming years.


In 1952, with the help of an employee who was fluent in German, Villum Kann Rasmussen formed a partnership with Ernst Günter Albers, the owner of the joinery E. Albers & v. Drathen (ALDRA) in Meldorf, West Germany. Together, they established VELUX GmbH Bauzubehör.
From 1956, West Germany became the VELUX Group’s largest market. In fact, from the beginning of the 1960s sales in West Germany were ten times higher than in Denmark. Based on this success, the VELUX Group expanded its operations into France and Austria in 1964.

1958: The VELUX Group expands into Europe and is now present in 11 countries.

1958: The VELUX Group expands into Europe and is now present in 11 countries.