Jan Kip started his coachwork business in Hoogeveen, the Netherlands, in 1934. In 1947 he built his first caravan, which was for his personal use. Public interest in the caravan allowed him to build 20 caravans in the following year, some of which were hired out while the rest were sold. In 1949 the first standard Kip caravans were produced, and by the end of the fifties these were being transported by trailer to dealers.
In 1954 a new and unique model called the “Kuiken” appeared which was a small caravan with a remarkable rear hatch. The success of the Kip Kuiken led to the Kip Leghorn and the Kip Wyandotte models. A new and even more compact model was called the Krielkip. This model was recognizable from its pop-top roof with orange-coloured material. This design was used in later years as a basis for the always popular and successful Kip Kompakt.
In 1961 Jan Kip moved his company to larger premises on an industry park in Hoogeveen. Production of the caravans steadily increased to the notable total of more than 10,000 by 1971. After several takeovers of foreign companies, in 1981 it was decided to head in a new direction and make Kip independent once again. From that moment, Kip focused on the top-end of the market, producing high-class caravans discernible by their design, technology and high-quality materials. Did you know that in the Netherlands alone there are 35,000 registered Kip caravans in use, of which 26% are more than 20 years old? That says something about the quality of a Kip product.
