In the World War II Soetermeer & Fekkes lost two ships that were sunk by German submarines, when seven crewmembers drowned.

In World War II their Rotterdam office was destroyed during heavy bombing in May 1940. One of their two ships was under repairs in a Dutch port and was confiscated by the Germans; she survived the war. The other ship managed to escape to England but sank after a collision whilst in convoy.
Their first ship that was built after the war sank in 1949, within a year after she was delivered. Six sailors lost their lives in this disaster.

Despite several difficult periods during the life-time of Soetermeer, Fekkes' Cargadoorskantoor BV, as they are called today, the company is as healthy as ever, which is shown by the fact that in November 2000 they moved to a bigger office in Zwijndrecht near Rotterdam.

More information on the history of Soetermeer, Fekkes' Cargadoorskantoor can be found in the booklet Soetermeer, Fekkes' Cargadoorskantoor, 1916-2001 by G.J. Mulder. Soetermeer, Fekkes' Cargadoorskantoor describes some eighty five years of ups and downs of the shipbroking and ship owning company, as well as the history of the six-teen schooners, steamships and motor vessels that the company or its affiliates have owned since 1916.