Steenland’s Chocoladefabriek owes its origin to the energy and vision of Gerard Theodore Steenland who in 1899 returned to his native town of Gouda to set up a retail bakery shop. He had, during the 1880's and 1890's, been Manager of Verkade Bakery in Zaandam during which period he learned the art of bakery management techniques.
In those days bread, pastries, biscuits and sugar candies were made on the premises and sold in the shop front of the bakery. The affluence of the post-Great War period saw the introduction of chocolate into such retail bakeries.
The depression starting in 1927 brought huge unemployment, poverty and shortage of raw materials. Nevertheless, thanks to the family's sound vision, hard work and good quality products, Steenland’s Chocoladefabriek managed to survive and grow.
