Maker record
Lion Toys
Lion Toys was a Dutch toy maker founded by Arie van Leeuwen in 1946. Its early products included toy railway tracks and passenger cars; it later became known for model cars and commercial vehicles, including DAF models. In 1958, the company invested in an injection-moulding machine as production expanded. After Van Leeuwen’s death in 1992, his wife and daughter ran the business; Peter Vijverberg and Henk van der Muil took it over in 1994. Lion Toys was acquired by IBN Production in 2009 and by Tekno in 2010.
- Founded
- 1946
- Countries
- Netherlands
- Locations
- Wassenaar, Netherlands · 1946 · Nistelrode, Netherlands · 1958 · Dinther, Netherlands · Uden, Netherlands · 1998
- Founders
- Arie van Leeuwen
The story of Lion Toys
Lion Toys was founded by Arie van Leeuwen in 1946. Its early production included toy railway tracks and passenger cars. In 1958 Van Leeuwen moved the business from Wassenaar to Nistelrode and invested in an injection-moulding machine. As orders increased, a second production location opened in Dinther.
Van Leeuwen died in 1992, after which his wife and daughter took over the company. Peter Vijverberg and Henk van der Muil acquired Lion Toys in 1994 and established a new factory in Uden in 1998. IBN Production acquired the company in 2009, with Vijverberg and Van der Muil remaining connected to it. Tekno acquired Lion Toys in 2010.