In 1906 he managed to win exclusive rights to the waterways of the Netherlands for the transport of coal, creating two daughter companies for this;[2] N.V. Steenkolen Handels Vereeniging in Rotterdam, and N.V. Vereenigde Steenkolenhandel in IJmuiden.
Frits moved the company headquarters from Rotterdam to Utrecht, across from the Maatschappij tot Exploitatie van Staatsspoorwegen, his largest customer.
[2] During World War I he negotiated on behalf of the Ministry of Economic affairs in the Netherlands for trade in coal and iron with Germany.
[2] On 7 October 1919, the Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij voor Nederland en Koloniën (Royal Flying Company for the Netherland and her Colonies) — which would become simply KLM — was founded.
In 1945 he gave up his director's position at SHV in favour of his son Jan, and in 1951 he moved with his wife to the estate "Beukenhorst" in Vught.