Verduijn's – Fine Biscuits
Verduijn's Fine Biscuits has been specializing in the production and sale of sweet and savory biscuits, waffles, and crackers since its founding in 1935. Whether sweet or salty, Verduijn's baked goods are baked in a waffle iron and are delicious accompaniments to tea or coffee, wine or beer. In addition, the waffles and crackers can be excellently topped as canapés or spread with creamy dips. They are always a treat.
Verduijn's – Waffles according to a family recipe
Jean-Pierre and Henk Verduijn are now the third generation to offer their version of typical regional biscuits, waffles, and crackers. Their grandfather Piet already loved the waffles, which are a traditional Christmas pastry from his hometown of Breskens in Zeews-Vlaanderen, Netherlands. The secret family recipe, traditionally baked with the best ingredients, was the cornerstone of the family business's success.
Let's go back to 1935, to the village of Breskens, where it all began. Piet Verduijn, 31, worked as a confectionery wholesaler and had been supplying sweet delicacies to his customers in Breskens and the surrounding area for many years. During the Second World War, his hometown of Breskens was severely hit. There were many casualties, including Piet's wife. Piet lost almost everything – except his courage. The courage to start anew in his new house on "Havenstraat" after the reconstruction. So, around New Year's Day, following a long tradition, he began baking New Year's waffles.
These quickly became so popular that Piet included them in his year-round assortment as "Bressiaanders." The waffles became a bestseller, and Piet was so busy that the whole family had to help with baking and packaging. Everything was done by hand in the house on Havenstraat, in the biscuit factory of Breskens. Soon Piet was able to sell his Verduijn's waffles to Belgium, France, and Germany. Meanwhile, the entire house was occupied, and even the last piece of garden was used for an expansion of production. A huge oven was placed there, along with a packaging line; even the living room was converted into an office. In 1970, the family moved to a new, more comfortable home. 35 employees now worked in Piet's company, and even though he constantly tinkered with new, special recipes that no one could resist, he handed over the company to his son Adrie. He, in turn, handed over the company in the 80s to his sons Jean-Pierre and Henk, who still run it today.
The brothers had big plans for Verduijn's fine biscuits and initially opened a second bakery in Aardenburg to be able to produce a variety of new products. But by 2004, even this was too small. Thus, in Eede, on the outskirts of Aardenburg, a new production facility was built according to modern quality standards, a new headquarters with integrated production facilities, and several fully functional steel belt ovens. Even today, the ingredients are selected with great care, combined, and mixed, and baked into delicious sweet and savory biscuits, waffles, and crackers. Baking biscuits is a careful process where many small details, such as differences in temperature and baking time, have a great impact. Many adjustments are made manually – baking is indeed true craftsmanship.
