|
|
|
|
|
Carfactories in the Nederlands
Ofcourse Simca wasn't the only car brand that was assembled in the Netherlands. To give a more complete impression, I made a short summary of the car industry in our land. Because of the small internal market and the strong international competition, it has always been difficult for the independent carmakers. Even a famous name as Spyker disappeared. Import taxed lead to the arise of the assembly industry, an activity that has disappeared with the opening of the international market.
|
Eysink
The first Dutch manufacturer that built a car with a petrol engine was Eysink, (originally an engineering-works) in Amersfoort. The model which was introduced in 1897, was still provided with a foreign engine, (probably from Benz), but later they used their own engine. Two years later, the car was developed so far, that it could be sold on a commercial basis.
The car was ahead of it's time, it had a steering wheel, instead of a steering handle. Eysink became famous on account of the good quality of their cars. The First World War caused a lack of parts, the production had to be stopped. When they restarted the production after the war, the competition was drastically changed. They were not able to compete with other car brands, especially the American cars. Eysink built its last car in 1919, a number of 325 cars have left the factory.
Spyker
By far mostly known among the old Dutch makes is Spyker. The company began in 1880 in Hilversum as Rijtuigfabriek Gebr. Spijker. Business went well, so the company went to Amsterdam. The factory had many rich clients, they built the golden couch for instance. It was a gift from the civilian population of Amsterdam for Queen Wilhelmina, on occasion of her accession to the thrown. The building lasted one and a half-year, and it cost 120.000 guilders. From 1895 on they delivered coach works for cars . They used chassis and and engines from Benz. In 1900 the first fully by Spyker developed car was ready. The name was changed to Spyker, because it was easier on foreign markets. Spyker built several, for that time, very modern cars. For example, they built a car for the race Paris-Madrid in 1903. The car had many novelties, it was the first to get a six cylinder engine, a six speed gear change, bullet shaped steering bolts and four wheel drive.
In 1907 Hendrik Spijker lost his life, when the ferry from Harrich was taken by the storm and hit the pier, when it entered the harbour. Jacobus Spijker wasn't able to manage the company on it's own, this lead to the bankruptcy of the company in March 1908. In August of 1908 the company restarted with a new management. As before, they aimed at coach building, but also serviced cars from other brands, and even merged with a plane-builder. After the First World War, the running orders of that company were handed over to Fokker.
They had huge problems to keep the business going. Plans for a little car, the Spyker-Mathis stranded. In 1929 the company was adjudged bankrupt. Approximately 1500 Spykers were built, a number of about 15 cars still exist. This is not the end of the Spyker story. The legendary name appeared not to be claimed, and is now used for a new Dutch sportscar with an Audi V8 engine.
DAF
After the bankruptcy of Spyker, it took a long time before another Dutch facory began with the production of cars. Hardly in 1958 the first DAF 600 left the production line. In 1928 Hub van Doorne founded an engeneering-works. At first they made steel cupboards and storehouse racks, and from 1929 on they built trailers. The demand for trailers was so large, that the production of cupboards was stopped. The name of the company was changed to DAF, van Doornes Aanhanger (=trailer) Fabrieken (=factory). They chose that name because it could also been used if they would start making cars (in dutch: 'auto's') in the future. In 1950 they started (encouraged by the Dutch government) with the building of lorries. Many of the parts, for instance engines and axles, were in first instance used from foreign companies. Because of the success of the lorries, they didn't get round fulfilling another desire, the building of a car.
On the RAI exhibition (in Amsterdam) in 1958 they could launch the DAF 600, a little car with the famous variomatic gearchange. After the closure of the coalmines in the province Limburg, the government supported the building of a new factory, in Born at the south of Limburg. In 1969, Ford tried to take-over the company, with the intention of getting a new small car. Daf refused, because at that time, they still thought they could survive as an independent manufacturer. Ford started to develop it's own little car, the Fiesta. After the takeover from Daf by Volvo, much has changed. Nowadays the Volvo S40/ V40, the Mitsubishi Carisma and Space Star are built in Born. Because now Volvos aren't the only cars that are built in the factory, the company is renamed Nedcar.
Although there were not many Dutch carbrands, more foreign brands were produced. In the course of the years several assembling companies did exist. Those companies mounted cars from a foreign design, mostly with foreign parts. This didn't happen for financial reasons only, (to aviod import taxes) but the employment played an important role. Besides, in many cases, they tried to use home made parts as much as possible, so that the suppliers could take advantage of it. Companies often advertised with it. International advertised wit the slogan "You'll give employment to numerous mechanics".
To give a (not complete) enumeration, at J. Leonard Lang in Amsterdam Fiats were assembled, it began in 1950 with the 1400. From 1953 to 1961 the 1100 was also built. In 1955 632 of that type were built, in 1958 1.094 and in 1960 1.253. At the firm Molenaar in Amersfoort the Morris (Minor) and MGs were built and even at the shipyard "De Schelde" some Hino Contessas were built in a Romney shed.
The Dutch Ford plant
The biggest assembly plant of the Netherlands, was that of Ford Amsterdam. Intentionally, it had to be situated in Rotterdam, hardly at a very late moment, Henry Ford cancelled the plan personally. Ford visited Europe where he would lay the first stone for the new factory in Cologne, (2nd of October 1930,) the day after that he should do the same in Rotterdam. When he arrived at the site, and he saw the foundations, he asked the Dutch manager where the water was. The manager replied that it was 800 metres away, "No water, no mill", said Ford, whereafter the whole ceremony was cancelled. The municipality of Rotterdam couldn't offer an alternative site next to the water.
When the municipality of Amsterdam could offer such a site at the "Noordzee kanaal" (= North sea canal), Ford bought it for 800.000 guilders. The municipality spouts up the site in al record time and constructed a harbour (the Fordharbour). The new factory for cars and lorries was opened at the 13th of May 1933. In 1934 already, the 5000th Ford left the factory, in 1947 they reached the number of 50.000.A big variety of Fords were assembled in Amsterdam, it varied from the A-Ford to the Lincoln Continental. Many well-known cars left the factory in the course of the years, under that were English, German, American and French Fords. For instance: the Anglia, the Consul, the Zephyr, Zodiac, Cortina, Taunus, Mustang and naturally; the Vedette. That's why it became the largest assembly plant of the Netherlands. Because of that, the 250.000th Ford left the factory in 1960. In 1974, when the factory celebrated its 50 years anniversary the 450.838th Ford left the assembly line.
During the course of the years, every now and then, the factory was enlarged. The largest extension took place in 1975. For a new heavy truck, the Transcontinental, a whole new factory was built. The Amsterdam factory would concentrate only on delivery vans and Lorries. Also Cased by the stay out of the success of the Transcontinental, the shut down of the factory was announced in 1981. This led to a large revolt under the personel, and indignance from the unions, but there was no way back. The factory was eventually closed in 1983, and Ford Nederland moved to an office at the Amsteldijk in Amsterdam.
To the history of Kaiser-Frazer
![[Back to the top]](images/Briefhoofd Nekaf.gif)