Marjolein van de Luitgaren, CEO of NBS Scientific, was recently interviewed by the Economic Board of the Province of Flevoland, the Netherlands. Read the full interview below in English, or view the original Dutch version on the website of the Economic Board Flevoland.
In a laboratory, everything revolves around precision. A tube is not just a tube. It has to be correct, traceable, and suited to the researcher’s work. This daily reality forms the starting point for NBS Scientific.
From Almere, the Netherlands, the company supplies laboratory equipment and consumables to researchers both in the Netherlands and abroad. CEO Marjolein van de Luitgaren explains:
“We want to stay close to our customers and understand how they work in the lab.”
NBS Scientific is part of Tracamyl, a Dutch family-owned company with several businesses in the life sciences sector. Marjolein has worked for the company since 2011. She started with responsibility for the Benelux region, later adding France to her portfolio. After that she became CEO, and the organization continued to grow.
“We are now active in ten countries, with offices in eight European countries, plus the United States and China.”
Origin in daily practice
The origins of NBS Scientific lie with Micronic, a producer of high-quality laboratory products with a manufacturing facility in Lelystad.
“For a long time, Micronic handled sales itself. About twenty years ago that strategy changed. We wanted to build our own sales organization that could operate closer to the customer. That became NBS Scientific.”
The company supplies hospitals, universities, biotech companies, and pharmaceutical organizations. Seed breeding companies are also an important customer group.
“The Netherlands is very strong in seed breeding. It’s a world many people don’t think about, but where an enormous amount of innovation takes place.”
Deliberately local
Although NBS Scientific operates internationally, it deliberately works locally.
“That’s where our strength lies,” says Marjolein. “We have colleagues in every country. They live there, speak the language, and understand the culture. Our website is also available in all local languages.”
The company also focuses strongly on quality.
“We work with the best brands in the market and select suppliers who share the same standards and values, for example regarding ISO certification.”
This approach translates into satisfied customers.
“Every year we conduct a customer satisfaction survey. Last year we scored an 8.7 out of 10. I’m proud of that. If there is a complaint, we want to resolve it quickly. That really makes a difference.”
That pride also extends to the team.
“We are international, but we operate as one organization. We’re diverse in background, age, and gender. That mix makes us stronger.”
Sustainability you can see
According to Marjolein, sustainability appears in their work in two ways.
Indirectly, through customers who work on health, water quality, and stronger crops.
“In that way, you contribute to the wellbeing of people, animals, and plants.”
At the same time, NBS Scientific makes conscious choices within its own operations. At its Almere location, the company uses Dutch wind energy and tracks its CO₂ emissions annually.
“We compensate those emissions and have been CO₂-neutral for three years now for scope 1 and 2, and partly scope 3. That requires careful documentation, so we are very precise about it.”
The company has converted lighting to sensor-controlled LED, installed water-saving taps, and reduced emissions from its vehicle fleet. Solar panels are planned for the future.
NBS Scientific also looks for ways to reuse products. One example is NovaWash, developed together with a customer.
“They wanted to reuse their racks. We wash those racks, place new tubes in them, and send them back. This way they can be reused five to ten times.”
This year the company also chose a regional initiative in Flevoland to compensate CO₂ emissions: Orca in Biddinghuizen, which recycles plastic.
“That means the raw material doesn’t have to be produced again.”
Flevoland as a foundation
Marjolein has lived in Lelystad since 2009 and feels at home there. The choice of Almere as the company’s location was deliberate.
“I wanted our European warehouse and headquarters in one place. Almere is centrally located, close to Schiphol, and the Netherlands itself is central within Europe. Logistically, it’s a strong base.”
Looking ahead, the strategy remains clear: continued growth with new countries, brands, and solutions. Austria is already on the radar.
Her advice for other companies in Flevoland?
“Do good work and you’ll meet the right people. Show what you stand for. Listen to your customers, try new things, and see mistakes as learning moments.”
