The LBH Group was founded in April 1984 by Dutch brothers Jan and Bert Lagendijk in their home port Rotterdam. Both held various positions in agency, stevedoring and trading before starting LBH. They come from a shipping family, with their father being an established figure in the Dutch stevedoring.

From the first office in Rotterdam, the LBH Group expanded by opening in South Africa to provide load port agency support to European coal clients. On this basis the group expanded by following the different bulk cargo commodity streams. This led to LBH setting up and establishing agency offices in numerous countries.