In 1901 shipbuilder Berend Niestern and his sons settled in the northern port of Delfzijl and started a shipyard where iron ships were built.

Twenty years later the brothers Gerhardus and Jacob Sander also began shipbuilding activities in Delfzijl. Both yards, originally located on or near a lock - a “zijl” - in the sea wall/dike and along the former river “Delf”, made a rapid progression that led to relocations within the municipal borders. After the war there was also a yard in Wirdum that started building coasters.

Ten years later this shipyard “Apol” later called “Shipyard Appingedam” continued on a larger scale. This yard and the Niestern yard merged in 1970 and named themselves Appingedam Niestern Delfzijl. Again ten years later the merger with Sander yard followed and the joint yards were named Niestern Sander BV.

Niestern, Sander and Appingedam all brought their own specializations with them into the merger. This led to a powerful modern company with newbuilding and repair departments including a machine factory and an in-house carpentry department.

In May 2001 the shipbuilding and repair company existed 100 years. In this century the former independent yards had written some convincing history. Niestern signed for the engineering and building of the first self-uprighting motor lifeboat in the world and for the patent of the reduced/lowered double bottom for coasters, Sander enjoyed widespread fame as a highly innovative company, while Appingedam established its name with the construction of very specific ships and the introduction of new production methods.

The appreciation and respect for the work that had been done by many generations of shipbuilders under supervision of the management in Delfzijl, Farmsum, Wirdum and Appingedam, was rewarded in May 2001 with the granting of a Royal title.