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Passionate since the beginning
In a small basement at the Oosterstraat, in the city center of Groningen. Hero-Jan and Grietje are fully comitted preparing their batches of spirits and regional specific alcoholic drinks -
Period: to
History of Hooghoudt
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Grote Kromme Elleboog
Quicker than imigined Hero Jan and Grietje swop their confined basement for a beatifull and spacious building at the Grote Kromme Elleboog. The building where currently liquor store Van Erp is located -
The first leaflets
Slowly but steadily the quantities delivered to café’s grows, this leads to Hero Jan and Grietje to start making small leaflets. Hospitality businesses across the city soon put those leaflets up for display to show that they are proud of selling Hooghoudt’s wares. -
Prices for Grietje
When Hero Jan passes due to a pneumonia Grietje continues independently. She receives important recognition on a conventions for small industry and art. It’s the start of many to come. -
Brick by brick
The distillery is growing too large for the building at the Grote Kromme Elleboog, the first contruction work is deemed neccesary. On the 15th of April Syne and Ludolf, the sons of Hero Jan and Grietje put down the first brick for this expansion. -
'Oude Klare'
Grietje distills the first Jenever, named ‘Oude Klare’. Business is going so well that another expansion is needed and the distillery moves to the Nieuwe Ebbingestraat. The ‘roaring twenties’ bring a positive and rowdy atmosphere are represented on the advertising posters of those days. -
Valencia Syrup
After a long period of experimenting son Ludolf introduces the first lemonade syrup made of the juice and the peel of Spanish oranges. The Valencia is great success. -
The second genaration
Syne and Ludolf takeover the distillery from Grietje. She has currently reached the respectable age of 65 years. Grietje moves to a house on walking distance from the distillery and with a view at ‘Noorderplantsoen’. -
Stamp collection
In order to emphasize the international character of the family distillery Hooghoudt’s customers are able to find a stamp sheet with 10 foreign stamps on them. The family prepares the sticky part of the stamps themselves. -
Born: Hero Jan junior
Ludolf and his wife Manny get their first son who they name after the founder of the family company. Hero Jan Junior. -
Savings action
The participants of the savings action could save vouchers and use them to get a free watch. This action was very successful and as Ludolf stated: The profits were good this year.. Lots of problems with watches and electronic equipment though. Mainly due to the success of this campaign, Hooghoudt had a good start after the second world war. There were a lot of shortages after the war, therefore the materials were divided between companies based on their sales before the war. Hooghoudt was allow -
Second world war
They main thing that sustained Hooghoudt throughout the second world war were their sales of fruit wine. -
The double jenever and the tekevision
In secret the directors of Hooghoudt were working on the double jenever. The taste of the jenever was much more pure due to the fact that they used grain as the main ingredient. Furthermore it was refined twice for an even better taste. It was revolutional idea -
Introduction first 'herb bitter'
Just another successful product launched by Hooghoudt. The so called ‘Kalmoes Beerenburg’ was a complex mix of flavours made with 77 different herbs. Another piece of evidence of never ending Hooghoudt innovation. -
New residence
Since the distillery still growing rapidly, they had to relocate again. The decided the build the building outside of the city. A stone bottle with 8 liters of Jenever went into the ground together with the first pole. -
Fourth generation
Bert Hooghoudt enters the board of directors as the fourth Hooghoudt generation -
Redemption
On the so called ‘Fladderakdag’ on the 22nd of October one of the owners of Hooghoudt named Bert saves a well-loved drink. Enthusiasts get the final chance to try a ‘fladderak’. This final day spikes interest for the drink and boosts sales enough to keep the drink in the product range. -
A new logo
Reveiled by the 3rd and 4th genaration of Hooghoudt, the new Hoogoudt. -
125 years of Hooghoudt
Hooghoudt is celebrating its 125th year birthday by fulfilling the wishes of the people from Groningen. From 560 sent wishes the employees of Hooghoudt made a selection of 10, which then again could be voted for via Facebook. -
Brown Jenever
This year Brown jenever was introduced to the market. Besides the juniper it tastes like cinnamon vanilla , grapefruit and sugar. -
A new era
The introduction of Hooghoudt's latest addition to the distilling procces. Kettle: Grietje. The kettle is named after the wife of the founder. -
The new pride
The newest discovery of Hooghoudt is the so called Premium Jenever. This is supposed to be the most premium product Hooghoudt can deliver when it comes to their most popular product, the Jenever drink.
