About Ziber - History

On this page you can read a bit of the history of Ziber. How the company came into existence, how it has grown and what steps have been taken to arrive at Ziber. The overview goes up to and including 2009. From that moment on, all developments are in the news archive of this website .

1998 - Collaboration

Ziber is a trade name of Windkracht Internet BV. Windkracht originated from a collaboration, which started during a game of squash, between the entrepreneurs Koen Spaansen and Maikel Bauer , who have been making websites for small and medium-sized businesses since 1998. Because in 1998 the internet could be called a hype, most internet solutions for small and medium-sized businesses were far too expensive. Due to the growing need for affordable professional websites in small and medium-sized businesses, the Standard Site concept was devised.

2000 - Founding

Due to the good cooperation, the company Windkracht Internet BV (which almost had been given the name 'Volle Melk', but did not make it through a brainstorming session) was founded in 2000. The Standaarsite Concept was enthusiastically received by entrepreneurs in the northern part of Noord-Holland and frequently sold. At this time, Windkracht was located at the Witte Paal 26 in Schagen, where limited space was available and a new space was soon needed.

2001 - Expansion

In 2001 Windkracht moves to the new building at Witte Paal 302 in Schagen. A completely new server room with a fiber optic connection for superfast internet is now part of the standard equipment. Standard site is developing into a professional website package for enterprising Netherlands. A large number of choice modules makes the Standard site extremely flexible and affordable. In addition, we are looking for graphic partners who want to realize Standaardsite in their region together with Windkracht.

2002 - Graphic Partners

Windkracht's server space has been expanded considerably to meet the high demand for Standard site and hosting. More servers, disk mirroring, backup, emergency power and an aggregate are now basic facilities.
It is also this year that the graphic partner network is growing significantly, which means that Standaardsite is supported in many regions in the Netherlands.
The Standard Site product is continuously being developed and the functionalities are significantly increased. The number of modules from which to choose is increasing and the existing modules are being improved. In addition to Standard Site, a second product has been developed, Standard Portal. The Standard Portal is a website on which information from many parties is displayed and managed. Standard portal is suitable for (branch) associations, umbrella foundations, franchise chains and regional portals. The new product works seamlessly with Standaardsite.

2003 - Growth & Innovation

Advertisement campaign - The year 2003 is ushered in with a major advertisement campaign in the Noord-Hollands daily newspaper. The names Windkracht, Standaardsite and Standaard portal are registered as brand names. The Standard Portal is now frequently used for umbrella organizations and partnerships. The number of Standard Sites realized is growing every week and the first foreign relationship (Germany) is a fact. Information exchange - Wind power ensures that information can be easily exchanged with other parties, who therefore enter into a partnership with us. Fixed Helpdesk - A professional and always accessible helpdesk (Tegenwind) is part of the basis of the service.

2004 - More Default Sites

Enterprising Netherlands chooses Standard site
Henny Huisman ( www.hennyhuisman.nl ) also opts for a Windkracht website. The website is launched from the Windkracht office in Schagen where Henny and, among others, RTL Boulevard are present ( RTL Boulevard ). This is also the year in which Windkracht is nominated for Enterprise of the Year 2004, but just misses out on the main prize.

2005 - Growing up

Windkracht at GRAFIVAK 2005 - On 10 to 13 May WIndkracht will be present at the GRAFIVAK 2005 in the RAI. To introduce new graphic designers to Windkracht's software, we present ourselves at the Grafivak 2005. The Grafivak press calls us 'Most updated on grafivak 2005'.

Windkracht official registrar of EURid - In 2005 Windkracht became official registrar of the new European foundation that takes care of the registration of .eu domains. Windkracht customers can now also contact us for registration of .eu domains.

Mayors visit Windkracht - Mayors from the municipality of Schagen (Mr. Westerink) and from the municipality of Niedorp (Mr. Weerwind) come on a company visit to Windkracht.

Windkracht makes it to the House of Representatives - More and more false invoices are being sent out in the Netherlands, much to the annoyance of many entrepreneurs. Windkracht takes action and starts an initiative against false invoices with www.valsefacturen.nl . Koen Spaansen wins the House of Representatives with the initiative .

2006 - Cooperation partners

Introduction of Top5 partner day - This year Windkracht will be holding a TOP 5 partner day for the first time. A special day for the 5 best graphic partners. On this day, the latest developments are discussed and listened to in an open conversation. Of course a delicious lunch and dinner to make it an unforgettable day.

Courses Standard site? - In 2006 Windkracht started offering courses on a standard site every month. Every Default site owner gets a free course with his website. The website http: //ontdek . Standaardsite.nl is also being launched where customers with a Standard Site can read the latest tips and tricks to get the best out of their website.

Register all domain names - More and more customers want to register a foreign domain name for their foreign branch. The number of foreign customers is also growing at Windkracht. To help these customers, Windkracht has entered into a partnership, so that all international domain names and all European domains (.de, .be, .se, .fr, .co.uk,... etc) can now be registered via www. windkracht.nl .

Partner Day Scheveningen - Windkracht's partner network has grown considerably. This year for the first time a (from now on annual) partner day will be held. The first time this was held in the Kurhaus in Scheveningen . On this day we shared the latest developments with each other and afterwards our guest speaker Henk-Jan Smits told a fascinating story.

Free surfing on the terraces of the Market - Windkracht recently brought wireless internet to the Schager Market . Beer in hand, sunglasses on your head, sun in your face and the laptop on the table (or mobile in hand). Enjoy and carefree internet on the Markt van Schagen, wireless, free and for nothing.

Wind power comes with ZMO Module in Standard site? - Search engines have become increasingly important on the internet.

Malfunction hits Windkracht - Solving a malfunction with a Christmas stollen, that's what the men of Windkracht Internet from Schagen had to do on Christmas Day. A power failure at Nuon was the cause. At 11.10 a.m. Windkracht received an automatic report of the malfunction. Nuon immediately sent a team to solve the malfunction. However, the outage lasted so long that the backup batteries ran out.

2007 - To govern is to look ahead

Wind Power launches Top40Brands.com with Tribal.

Windkracht starts project KAIZEN - A large-scale project that aims to make the products and services of Windkracht flexible for the customer. When the first products are launched on this new platform, the name Ziber will be used.

Standard Site Awards - On the second partner day of Windkracht, the nominations for the Standard Site Award 2007 were announced. This took place in the Stadskasteel Oudaen in Utrecht , where all graphic partners were gathered. Since this moment, the Standaardsite Award has been the annual prize for the best and most beautiful Standaardsite.

Wind power is one of the fastest growing companies in North Holland
The Noordhollands Dagblad writes about Windkracht as a fast grower. Due to its continuous continued growth, Windkracht is one of the fastest growing companies in North Holland.Launch of Partner Back Office
Windkracht's graphic partners have access to a special Partner Back Office that, among other things, makes it easy to manage Standard Sites. At any time of the day.

2008 - Creativity and Innovation

Broadening Standard Site - At the beginning of January, a new broad layout for Standard Site will be introduced. Also on large screens, Standaardsite can now be easily arranged. The new layout also includes a number of additional features, including a flash header. The renewal is available to all customers.

Wiki usage - Windkracht internally introduces the use of a wikipedia. Everyone at Windkracht contributes to innovations in the company and the products we make. The wiki is part of this ongoing innovation.

Renewal Maintenance Screen (MediaPublisher) - The Windkracht maintenance screen that customers use to maintain their website has been completely renewed. The name has also been changed to Mediapublisher . The user-friendliness has been significantly improved and, in response to the contacting behavior of customers and their feedback, the layout has changed.

Introduction Exchange Buggymail (Microsoft Partner) - The entire email system of Windkracht has changed. Through a collaboration with Microsoft, Windkracht can issue Outlook/Exchange licenses. This has resulted in all customers of Windkracht with email now using a new email system, Exchange Buggymail .
Customers can now access their email anywhere in the world, also via their PDA or mobile phone! And everything is always in sync.

Partner of Adobe - Windkracht becomes an official partner of Adobe and therefore profiles itself more in the graphic world.

Server farm significantly expanded - This year Windkracht has again invested significantly in its server farm. Due to the amount of customers, the capacity had to be expanded. The server park now consists of 25 servers, all of which are built up in clusters and have a redundant design. Nothing is left to chance so that the systems always keep going. Continuity is of great importance.

Jurgen Smit chooses Standaardsite - Another well-known Dutchman chooses Standaardsite. This time it is Jurgen Smit , known for various gardening programs, who has his website made by Windkracht.

Introducing new Video Module with Chameleon twins - Since Youtube , the use of video on the internet has become accessible to everyone. Windkracht introduces the YouTube technology on the Standard Site and Standard Portal products. Koen and Jos van der Donk (the twins ofthe Kameleon ) introduce the video module by making a company film for the first customers with this module.

Presentation Standard Site Award Studio Zij aan Zij/John Koomen Gardens - The very first Standard Site Award (2007) is presented to graphic partner Studio Zij aan Zij for the website ofJohn Koomen Tuinen .

Collaboration Indenty - Windkracht enters into a collaboration with the company Indenty. Indenty is an expert on search engine optimization and is behind many search engine experts in the Netherlands.

Introduction Ziber - Windkracht will be launching other products in addition to Standaardsite. This is done under the name Ziber .

2009 - 3 years of preparation,... becomes Ziber

Presentation of the Standaardsite Award 2008 - The second Standaardsite Award was presented this year by Windkracht to Auke Zeijlstra of 'kantoor260'. Auke won the prize with his entry from the Standaardsite www.bossenendebakker.nl ( video of announcement and presentation )
Ziber Papermerge in use for the first time - The first result of Papermerge is here. The Standard Site Update, a printed information brochure, is generated entirely by means of the Ziber Papermerge product.

Witted Technology - Windkracht introduces its Witted technology and implements it in its products. This technology makes it possible to share information among all Ziber products. A customer only has to enter news once and can show this on all her own communications and those of other companies. The final name for this technique will be Ziber Connect .

My Ziber Idea and My Designer Idea - Our customers and partners make our product. Their ideas are of great value and are now being captured for the first time thanks to two websites. For customers 'www.mijnzibeidee.nl' and for our partners www.mijndesigneridee.nl.

Partner Day in Hilversum - This year the Partner Day will be held at the Institute for Sound and Vision in Hilversum, which focuses on the introduction of Ziber.

New Designer module online - The renewed Designer module is online. A completely renewed interface ensures that the realization of a Ziber website product is many times faster. The options for graphic partners in the Ziber Designer module have also been greatly expanded.

Introduction Ziber StandaardsiteLite and Ziber Webbly - The range of websites has been expanded this year with two completely new products, called Ziber Standaardsitelite and Ziber Webbly. Both products are extremely suitable for the lower end of the market. Here, the demand for high-quality, self-maintainable website solutions is increasing, but at an affordable price.

All Modules 'Kaizen Proof' - After more than two years of programming, all modules and products are Kaizen-proof. All 'building blocks' used in Windkracht's products are ready to be continued under Ziber's new and co-new products.

Renewed collaboration with GPs - The announced innovations also lead to a renewal in our collaboration agreement with our Graphic Partners

Peter Villevoye tests the Designer module - Peter Villevoye is an independent teacher and author of several books on the subject of 'web design'. In November 2009 he tests the Ziber Designer module and shares his findings on YouTube.

Standard site Thuiswinkel certified - In December 2009 Standaardsite, in combination with the standard webshop, is one of the first in the Netherlands to be certified by Thuiswinkel.org. Thanks to this certification, every customer who uses a Standard Site in combination with a Standard Shop can apply for a Thuiswinkel Certification.

Own Ziber Flashdisplay - At the end of 2009 our own Flashdisplay was installed. This Flashdisplay shows the latest news items from Ziber and also helps with the further development of the Ziber Flashdisplay product. As of February 8, 2011, the product will be officially launched under the name SenseView .

For more history see our news archive .