Netherlands

The Netherlands

The chocolate history in the Netherlands is greatly influenced by the 19th-century innovations of the Van Houten family. Chocolate first came to the country in the 17th century as a luxury item. However, in 1828, Coenraad Johannes van Houten invented the hydraulic cocoa press, which changed the way chocolate was made. This press efficiently separated cocoa butter from cocoa beans, allowing for the creation of cocoa powder and making chocolate cheaper, simpler to use, and accessible to more people. Van Houten’s Dutching method, which treated cocoa with alkaline salts, also improved its taste. These important advancements helped establish the Netherlands as a leader in chocolate production, and it remains a key global center for cocoa processing and trade today.

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