A PIECE OF HISTORY

Cheese has been produced in the Netherlands since prehistorical times. The provinces of Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, and Friesland were best suited for dairy farming because of their wet soil. Until the nineteenth century, cheese was produced on farms; farmers specialised in dairying in order to supply city inhabitants. From the Middle Ages, Dutch cheese was shipped abroad, and during the Golden Age, the Netherlands had a reputation as a country of cheese. A quality mark for Dutch cheese was established; the correct percentage of fat in cheese was particularly noted. This has applied since 1913.


The Dutch Dairy Bureau deals with the promotion of Dutch cheese. A logo was designed especially for this, depicting a girl in traditional costume. The girl in this costume was also used in real life: from 1961, she was named Frau Antje in Germany. From that day on, Frau Antje has been a celebrity, appearing in advertising campaigns and at important events. It is clear that the Netherlands evolved into one of the largest cheese-producing countries in Europe. Over 674,000 kilos are produced and cheese is exported to 130 countries, mostly to Germany despite the fact that Germany is Europe’s largest cheese-producing country (about 1.85 million metric tons).