For 46 years, we have been constructing durability and quality for the future.
Introduction
Democo is a construction company and general contractor offering comprehensive solutions. Together with our clients, we construct quality outcomes for any type of building project, from structural work to ready-made, from new build to renovation. We construct residential, commercial and industrial buildings and office spaces that provide added value to their surroundings and the people inside.
By actively working together with our customers from the very beginning, we are able to take a lot of administration, hassle and delays out of their hands. Our specialists come up with sustainable and economic solutions throughout the entire trajectory. Thanks to our regional branches in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Hasselt, we are also literally close to our customers and our on-site project teams.
Our focus is on results and less worries for our client.
With its Corporate Social Responsibility policies, Democo aims to help build a better balance between economic, environmental and social interests. That means that we join the search and strive for sustainable solutions, a smaller ecological footprint and increased safety for our own employees, subcontractors and for the environment.
As a family business, we take up our responsibility today – for the generations of tomorrow.
AAs a general contractor, Democo holds a certificate in the highest class 8, category D and E. In 1994 we were also awarded the ISO-9001 quality standard and since 1995 we have the VCA ** safety certificate. Later on, the ISO-14001 environmental certificate joined the line-up as well.
Would you like to know more about our certificates? Contact us!
Founder Cyriel Demot
Cyriel Demot was 56 when, in 1977, he was dismissed from his role as CEO at a construction company following a dispute within management. All 800 workers, most of whom Cyriel knew by name, stood by his side and spontaneously put down their tools – to no avail.
As a father to 3 young children, Cyriel did not lose courage: he sold off his apartment by the seaside for seed capital and together with Frans Houben and Mario Longhi started his own construction company: Democo. Cyriel’s loyalty, integrity and respect for customers and workers paid off: no more than a year later, the company had a headcount of 80 employees and a considerable number of former clients had followed. In the next years, Democo continued to show rapid growth: Cyriel was a strong believer in vertical integration and was keen to work as one company as much as possible. Thanks to this approach, many construction partners became colleagues and the company gathered further expertise in the areas of finishing, technical services and project development.
Today, Cyriel’s sons Philip and Michel Demot are at the helm of the Democo Group family business – while a few grandchildren are hard at work in the company as well. Houben’s sons and grandsons, too, are still active in the business.
1977
At the age of 56, Cyriel Demot together with Frans Houben and Mario Longhi starts his own construction company.
“Democo Algemene Ondernemingen” is born, setting in motion a distinct and integrated vision on real estate.
1982
Acquisition Vandenbriele
1986
Founding of Deholi & Deconstruct.
Democo's employees are growing in number and the company centralises its workshops on the Centrum Zuid industrial estate in Houthalen.
1994
Founding of Democo Poland
1997
Second generation at the helm
2000
Construction new offices Democo Poland
Founding of DMI Vastgoed, predecessor to Ciril
2002
Founding of Democo Group holding and buyout Mario Longhi
2008
Acquisition AEW
Opening branches in Antwerp & Brussels
2016
Acquisition Daeninck & Deweerdt
Founding of Democo Portugal (DPCO)
2017
Opening branch in Ghent
2019
Democo Group introduces a new and uniform corporate identity across all its companies, with a fresh logo.
We are stronger together, joint as a group of companies. Thanks to our new corporate identity, the sense of unity we achieve internally through our collaboration and management, now shines through to the outside world as well. We all sail under the same flag.
2020
Great Place to Work
All Democo Group companies get certified as Great Place to Work: a great reward for the efforts of our employees who make our group a pleasant, close-knit and strong workplace to be proud of.
2021
Democo Group is nominated as one of the "Best Workplaces Belgium".
History
1977
At the age of 56, Cyriel Demot together with Frans Houben and Mario Longhi starts his own construction company.
“Democo Algemene Ondernemingen” is born, setting in motion a distinct and integrated vision on real estate.
1982
Acquisition Vandenbriele
1986
Founding of Deholi & Deconstruct.
Democo's employees are growing in number and the company centralises its workshops on the Centrum Zuid industrial estate in Houthalen.
1994
Founding of Democo Poland
1997
Second generation at the helm
2000
Construction new offices Democo Poland
Founding of DMI Vastgoed, predecessor to Ciril
2002
Founding of Democo Group holding and buyout Mario Longhi
2008
Acquisition AEW
Opening branches in Antwerp & Brussels
2016
Acquisition Daeninck & Deweerdt
Founding of Democo Portugal (DPCO)
2017
Opening branch in Ghent
2019
Democo Group introduces a new and uniform corporate identity across all its companies, with a fresh logo.
We are stronger together, joint as a group of companies. Thanks to our new corporate identity, the sense of unity we achieve internally through our collaboration and management, now shines through to the outside world as well. We all sail under the same flag.
2020
Great Place to Work
All Democo Group companies get certified as Great Place to Work: a great reward for the efforts of our employees who make our group a pleasant, close-knit and strong workplace to be proud of.
2021
Democo Group is nominated as one of the "Best Workplaces Belgium".
Democo Group
Democo Group combines the building expertise of 7 specialized companies and 800 people to deliver added value in Construction, Contracting, Real Estate Development, Technical services and Finishing. By making ideas, materials and people come together, our aim for every construction project is to exceed our clients’ and partners’ expectations.
The Value Builders: all experts, stronger together
Construction company and general contractor Democo offers high quality total solutions for any type of project, from structural work to finished product, from new build to renovation - with expertise in housing, retail, office buildings, manufacturing, healthcare, and public infrastructure.
Democo also has branches in Poland (Democo Poland) and in Portugal (DPCO).
City developer Ciril is always on the lookout for development opportunities in our cities to improve the way we live, work and relax. It develops residential, corporate, office and retail projects in collaboration with other companies, our cities and the people who live there. Through its integrated approach emphasising quality, sustainability and transparency, Ciril focuses on adding value so that the cities of today are ready for the people of tomorrow.
City Real estate for Real people
Four companies offer all the technical expertise required to plan, install and maintain tailor-made technical installations. Thanks to their knowledge in the fields of housing, retail, offices, manufacturing, healthcare and public infrastructure, these companies provide knowhow and fuel synergy within every project.
Vandenbriele (HVAC and sanitation), AEW (electricity), AEW Security (security) and Demtec Services (technical maintenance).
All-round partner in interior construction Deholi covers all facets of interior design, from providing advice in the conceptual stages to delivering the last finishing touches, in any chosen style. The company produces bespoke designs for housing, retail, offices, manufacturing, healthcare, hotels and public infrastructure and transforms any space into a true experience.
Experience your space
People & planet
At Democo Group, we’re building for the future of people and environment. We are aware of the great responsibility this entails and continuously invest in the growth of our employees, our techniques and our processes.
We move and evolve with the world in which we build, looking for sustainable added value in our projects – for today and tomorrow. We build and work ethically and with respect for each other, our customers, our society and our planet. Integrity and humanity are always our first priority.
With a clear strategy for sustainability, we continue to challenge ourselves and our techniques, focusing on the well-being of society and the environment, progressive personnel policies and integrity of management.
Engagement
As a group of companies, we have a responsibility not only to our employees and their families, but also to the wider society.
In line with our mission “All experts, stronger together”, we also support external organizations and charities that are directly committed to people, society and the planet. Through these experts, we convert our commitment into a strong social impact.
We support selected organizations on a long-term basis with services, efforts or resources. The commitment of our employees is extremely important, as they are committed to these causes just like us. That is why we can honestly say: these organizations are Valued by Democo Group!
You can read more about it on our sponsor page.