Dutch billionaire conservationist dies

Billionaire Paul Fentener van Vlissingen, one of Scotland’s wealthiest foreign residents, who owned an 80,000-acre estate, has died of cancer, his personal secretary said today. He was 65.

Van Vlissingen resigned as chairman of SHV Holdings NV after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2005 and returned to his castle in Langbroek, Netherlands, from his estate in Scotland.

Van Vlissingen was fourth on Quote magazine’s list of wealthiest Dutch people, with an estimated £1.4 billion.

He established the African Parks Conservation Foundation, a non-profit organisation designed to manage parks like businesses, using proceeds to protect wildlife areas from poaching and human encroachment. It operates 10 parks in seven African countries.

Van Vlissingen said the idea grew out of a meeting he had with South African leader Nelson Mandela.

Van Vlissingen estimated his own gifts to environmental causes and charities at £69 million.

SHV Holdings had roots in the 19th-century coal industry. SHV is one of the world’s largest scrap metal recycling companies and has arms in gas distribution and oil exploration. Van Vlissingen also owned the Makro chain.

While living in Scotland, he and his former partner Caroline Tisdall, a hunting advocate, called for reintroducing wolves and lynx into the area.

Dutch media reported he is survived by a brother, John.