Overisel Lumber

What is an "Overisel?"  Why would we keep the tough-to-spell, impossible-to-pronounce name?

Overisel is a small farming community south and east of Holland, Michigan.* In 1925, Overisel Lumber and Feed was formed. In 1960, Gord Zuiverink and current family-owner El Slenk purchased the lumberyard part of the business, and moved it to the growing town of Holland.

We are sentimental about our heritage, but we also keep the name for good, solid business reasons. We are Overisel Lumber Company because folks in Holland, Zeeland, Overisel, Hamilton, Saugatuck, Douglas, Fennville, Ganges, Glenn, Bangor, Covert, South Haven, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, and many other communities, know that it means “trust and value” here in West Michigan. For that reason, we think it is priceless!

*Overisel is an Americanism of “Overijssel,” a province in The Netherlands…yes, the European country. When our forefathers and foremothers came to West Michigan, they honored their family birthplace by naming their new community "Overisel."

For those who like to collect random facts, ”Overijssel” means “Lands across the River Ijssel” in Dutch.