Naturally good since 1743

Our story

Al sinds 1743 is Jacob Hooy onlosmakelijk verbonden met kruiden, specerijen en natuurlijke producten. Wat begon met een kruidenkraam op de Amsterdamse Nieuwmarkt, groeide uit tot een familiebedrijf waarin eeuwenoude kennis, vakmanschap en liefde voor de natuur van generatie op generatie worden doorgegeven.

1743 Nieuwmarkt Spice Stall At the age of 21, Jacob Hooy opened his spice stall on the Nieuwmarkt in Amsterdam.

1778 Building on Colveniersburgwal At a public auction, Jacob Hooy purchased, for the sum of 17,000 guilders in cash, a “house and plot of land situated on the Colveniersburgwal” in Amsterdam (now known as Kloveniersburgwal No. 12, where the current shop is still located).

1846 The first generation of the Oldenboom family On 2 June, Jan Christoffel Oldenboom, merchant and retailer of dried goods and dyes, was granted “the right to continue the trade in Noordwijk herbs, dried goods and dyes previously conducted under the name of Jacob Hooy and Company”.

1869 Jacob Hooy is thriving Johan Nicolaas Oldenboom was the next in line and managed to turn it into a highly successful business. Theodorus Oldenboom succeeded him in 1899.

1971 Limmen Bulb Shed Piet and Noor bought an old bulb shed in Limmen and set up their wholesale business there with their son John, whilst Theo continued to run the shop in Amsterdam.

1981 New business premises Business is going well; the old bulb shed is making way for new business premises.

1993 Designation: Purveyor to the Royal Household On 14 June, Jacob Hooy will be awarded the title and honour of Royal Warrant Holder in recognition of the company’s 250th anniversary.

2023 280th anniversary The current owners, Rik & Arne Oldenboom, are celebrating the 280th anniversary of Jacob Hooy together – a wonderful milestone.

2026 Today The current owners, Arne and Rik, have been working for the company since 1980 and 1993 respectively. The 8^e The Oldenboom generation, represented by Ties and Bart, is joining the family business.