Doesburgsche Mosterd- en Azijnfabriek

History

As early as 1457, Gosen Momme was making mustard in Doesburg.

The oldest record of the current mustard factory dates back to 1806. The oldest Doesburg patent register lists Jacobus Egelbertus Jacobs as "mustard manufacturer". He was a shopkeeper and cooper in the Kerkstraat and made mustard with a hand mill.

In 1835, his neighbor, the shopkeeper Hendrik Lebbink, took over the mustard factory. After his death in 1857, his daughters Maria Geurtdina and Agatha Jacoba continued the business until 1877, in which year they sold the mustard factory to their neighbor, the shopkeeper Marinus Jansen, who in turn sold the mustard factory to the Velp stablehand Jan Burgers. Two years later, this Burgers had a small room built behind the Kerkstraat 8 building, in which a gas engine connected to the municipal gas grid was placed, to drive the mustard mill. An old label shows that the business was then called the "Doesburgsche Stoommosterdfabriek." At that time the Doesburgsche mustard was sold not only in Doesburg but also in the wide surroundings deep into the Achterhoek by wheelbarrow and horse and cart in Cologne jars with the blue letters JBD (Jan Burgers Doesburg), sealed with a real pig's bladder. Even today, Doesburg mustard is still sold in original Cologne jars with the initials DM (Doesburgsche Mosterd). Over the years the gas engine was replaced by an electric one and in 1932 Jan Burgers transferred the business to his son Johan Arnoldus, who, under the trade name "Fa. J. Burgers en Zoon", not only made mustard but also vinegar. This was not an unusual combination in those days because vinegar was an essential ingredient of mustard. He also operated a liquor store, which is also not surprising since the basis of vinegar is alcohol.

In 1944 Willem Reinder van der Laan, grocer in 's-Heerenberg, bought the business from Johan Burgers. The actual transfer came about on January 1, 1948. Van der Laan moved the mustard and vinegar factory to 8 Boekholtstraat, from which building he also operated a wholesale business in fruit wines and lemonade syrups. In 1967 Gerrit Kuperus took over the business and, together with his wife, received visitors for the first time. During the following years, numerous mustard factories ceased their activities, which allowed the inventory of the premises to be expanded with a number of mustard mills.

Due to a lack of space, the mustard factory moved to 22-26 Boekholt Street in 1974, where an uninhabitable house and a warehouse were converted into the working museum.

Today, the museum mustard and vinegar factory is run by the Kuperus couple's daughter and son-in-law.

(source: doesburgschemosterd.nl)