History

Where we come from 

The history of Forvis Mazars in the Netherlands lies in Rotterdam’s Scheepvaartkwartier, where Jan Paardekooper laid the foundations for an accounting firm that, in its early decades, primarily served the maritime sector and financial services. 

In the years that followed, the organisation continued to grow in both scale and geographic reach, with the opening of several offices outside Rotterdam. Through collaborations and mergers, a nationwide organisation gradually took shape. At the same time, the range of services expanded to include tax advice and later legal services, allowing the organisation to develop into a broad service provider for businesses and institutions. 

Increasing internationalisation, technological developments and the growing complexity of rules and regulations made affiliation with a strong international network essential. This led to further integration within Mazars and ultimately to the global Forvis Mazars network, in which local involvement and an integrated international partnership come together. 

Key milestones in the Netherlands 

• 1927: Founding of Paardekooper in Rotterdam 
• 1941: Continuation under the name Paardekooper & Hoffman 
• 1950s: Opening of the first office outside Rotterdam (The Hague) 
• 1970s: Expansion into tax advisory services 
• 1997: Integration of legal services 
• 2000: Merger with Mazars and joining an international network 
• 2003: Adoption of the Mazars name in the Netherlands 
• 2024: Mazars and FORVIS join forces to form Forvis Mazars 
• Today: Forvis Mazars operates with over 40,000 professionals in more than 100 countries and regions.