Introduction   In 1872 my great-grandfather, Jan Pette Hzn, already 43 years old, started producing chocolate, with his eldest son, in the kitchen of their house on Hennepad in the Dutch town of Wormerveer. In 1880, the family moved within the same town to a house on Markstraat. A small wooden factory was built next to the house. Jan made the chocolate while his son, Hein, tried to sell the produce. To that purpose, he went by foot to Purmerend, for example, and even to Amsterdam. When my grandfather, Diderikus (Dirk), was old enough, he also started working in the family business.       It is difficult to find information concerning the early beginnings of the company, since in those days nothing was put in writing. Not until 1886, when the three men went to a notary to found a firm, the first document was drawn up. In that document, all three men are called 'chocolate manufacturer'.       In 1889, father Jan suddenly died, leaving both brothers in charge of the company. From the fact that already before the turn of the century the first factory building made of stone was constructed, we can derive that they were quite successful. This building, dating back to 1899, formed the basis for a true factory complex at Markstraat. The name 'De Arend' (The Eagle) was introduced as trademark, the firm became a public limited company and was allowed to call itself Purveyor to Her Majesty the Queen. In the company's prosperous years, more than 300 people were working in the chocolate factory.       In 1915, both brothers stepped down as directors, and were succeeded by Hein's son, Jan B. Pette, and Mr. G.h. Kaars Sijpesteijn. Jan's only son, Hein, is currently living in France. The most remarkable factory buildings were constructed in 1916 and 1919, respectively, both after designs of Wormerveer architect Mart J. Stam. Both buildings were recently named a national monument. Building corporation Woonmij Zaanstad has restored them and now uses them to house its offices. After a period of great success, things went downhill fast in the 1930s, and in 1937 the company was declared bankrupt. The Boon firm bought the Pette buildings, machines, and brand names.       I never knew my grandfather and at our home nobody ever talked about the chocolate factory. When I stumbled upon a tin with the name Pette on it, about 20 years ago, I began wondering about the factory and its history. A few years later I found a newspaper article which gave me some more information. Since that time I have been searching for everything related to the factory - tins, old bills, deeds, labels, poster stamps, et cetera. It is a search which will end. My collection keeps on growing and growing. My children made this web site for me, which they call the Pette Museum - although there is no real museum, of course, just a collection.       The Pette firm sold her chocolate the world over. The company was represented in London, Copenhagen and Pretoria, among others. I saw a Pette poster for sale in America, and heard from someone in Sweden that she had found a Pette tin there. There should still be many items to find. Do you have information for me about Pette - be it the family (the name Pette occurs in several countries) or the chocolate? Or do you want to know more about my collection? Then send me an e-mail.		Dutch site
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