About us

Verstegen Spice Trade and Factory of Preservatives was founded in 1886 by Mr. Verstegen in Rotterdam. Mr. Verstegen passed away in 1897. After his death, the company continued under the management of the two proxy holders, Messrs. C. Diederik and J. Man in ’t Veld. Under their leadership, the company engaged in the trade of spices, dried fruits and bakery ingredients.

Around 1914, Mr. Diederik’s eldest daughter became engaged to Mr. F.P. Kersteman, who sold his painting business and joined his father-in-law in the company.

When the anti-trust law was introduced in 1915, Verstegen Spice Trade and the Factory of Preservatives were divided into three separate entities:

• Firm C. Diederik & Zn Bakery Ingredients, under the leadership of Mr. Diederik;

• Company J.H. Verstegen, led by Mr. Man in ’t Veld;

• Firm Verstegen Spice Trade and Factory of Preservatives, led by Mr. Kersteman, who married Mr. Diederik’s daughter in 1918.

Verstegen laid the foundations for butchery and sausage making.

The company prospered, particularly after the end of the First World War. Despite the crisis years of 1932 and 1933, it managed to keep its head above water. By delivering quality, service and reliability, Verstegen built a large and loyal customer base that ensured the company’s steady growth.

In 1939, Mr. B.J. Driessen (the father of Jan Driessen) joined the company as a representative and married Mr. Kersteman’s daughter. A few years later, B.J. Driessen took over the company, marking the beginning of the first generation of the Driessen family at the helm.

On 14 May 1940, jet-black clouds of smoke hung over Rotterdam, and the company premises at Hugo de Grootstraat 104 were completely destroyed, with the exception of the safe containing Verstegen’s recipes. A few hours before the bombing of Rotterdam, Mr. Kersteman managed to secure the recipes from the safe.

A year after the liberation on 5 May 1945, raw materials slowly began to arrive, and operations resumed cautiously from a garage in the Hillegersberg district. Only six years after the end of the Second World War did we secure new business premises on Hoornbrekerstraat and rebuild our stock of quality raw materials.

Our international growth began in 1949, just across the border in Belgium, and in 1962 we also started expanding into the catering and industrial kitchen sector.

After about twelve years, the building on Hoornbrekerstraat also became too small. On 30 December 1964, the new business premises at Giessenweg 62 were officially opened, and production continues there to this day.

On 30 November 1979, Mr. B.J. Driessen stepped down as director and owner of Verstegen and announced that his son, Jan Driessen, would take over.

In 2009, Michel Driessen, the son of Jan Driessen, became the owner of the company, marking the third generation of the Driessen family at the helm.

With more than 130 years of experience, we have evolved continuously, yet our commitment to quality, craftsmanship and reliability remains unchanged.

We are active in more than 30 countries worldwide, serving customers from retail to industry. Our range spans from the purest herbs and spices to flavourful mixes, sauces and marinades.