About us
Van Breukelen Kaas is a true family business with a rich history. What began in 1948 with the trade of farmhouse cheese by bicycle has grown into a forward-thinking, artisanal company. A full-service supplier with its own traditional ripening facilities. In addition to Gouda, we offer a diverse range of international cheeses, cheese accompaniments, nuts, salads, Mediterranean delicacies and other complementary products.
We are directly involved in monitoring, selecting and guaranteeing only the very best quality cheese. Our service is built on involvement, flexibility, short lines of communication, quick response and a strong customer focus. Van Breukelen Kaas is centrally located in the Green Heart of the Netherlands.
History
It all began in 1948 with Herman van Breukelen, who cycled from farm to farm to buy farmhouse cheese. He sold this cheese to local shops, initially using a cargo bike, which he later traded in for a car. By 1959, business had grown to such an extent that he invested in his own cheese warehouse in the city Woerden.
At the warehouse, natural ripening took place. In those days, temperature and humidity were regulated simply by opening and closing the windows. With this facility, Herman was able to store and mature cheeses himself. He also expanded his sales to cities such as Leiden, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
In 1984, Herman’s eldest son, Gérard, took over a cheese business in the south of Limburg. He bought his cheeses from his father and sold them locally. A year later, he renamed the business to ‘Van Breukelen Kaas’ and continued building the family company from there.
After several successful years in South Limburg, Gérard returned to Woerden in 1993 to merge his own business with that of his father. Due to continued growth, more space was needed to support the company’s expansion. In 2001, Van Breukelen Kaas moved to a larger warehouse on the other side of Woerden. In 2008, Gérard recognised an opportunity to collaborate with Keurmeester Natuurkaas. After several years of working closely together, he took over the company in 2013. This led to another move, this time to a larger facility on the Gildenweg in Woerden.
Van Breukelen Kaas has been passed down from generation to generation. Since 2019, the third generation has been actively involved in the business. Martijn van Breukelen is set to take over once Gérard decides it is time to retire. With this transition already in motion, Van Breukelen Kaas is confidently building towards a long-term future.