Interview Royal Goedewaagen Pauline Spin, managing director, Royal Goedewaagen tells Tableware International how the brand is taking more than 400 years of history and bringing all that knowledge and craftsmanship to a younger generation…
“Making ceramics is a craft, an art”
Having started life more than 400 years ago – 1610 to be precise – Royal Goedewaagen is a ceramics company which has heritage flowing through its very veins. There is history, and then there is history – Royal Goedewaagen has the latter. “Making ceramics is a craft, an art. This requires knowledge and craftsmanship. At Goedewaagen we have acquired such knowledge over 400 years – it all started in 1610, in Gouda, The Netherlands,” says the company’s managing director, Pauline Spin. “We think this is something
to be proud of and something that should be treasured. That’s why we embrace our heritage, craftsmanship, local identity and all the unique experiences of the people who keep these crafts alive. “We want to share our knowledge and ensure that the old crafts are not lost. We feel it is our duty to pass on this rich legacy to new generations.” When Royal Goedewaagen launched the Heritage Collection (a fresh and contemporary collection with a nostalgic edge)
On HoReCa… “Royal Goedewaagen products are made of earthenware which is not really suitable for use in HoReCa. However, we have recently made unique limited-edition plates for one of the most hip and emerging restaurants in Amsterdam. That’s something we can facilitate easily when you produce so close to home.” Pauline Spin, managing director 144 TABLEWARE INTERNATIONAL
over a year ago, it immediately enjoyed success. It was exactly what Spin and her team were hoping for, having recognised that, although centuries old, Royal Goedewaagen is still a new name to many people.
are manufactured in China. But fortunately, the Holland-America Line has remained loyal to us, and we have been making ceramics for them for 60 years. The Royal Family also comes to us regularly with orders. And we have many new
“Of our 29 suppliers of raw materials, 24 are Dutch and the remaining five are European” “We are not an established brand, whereas we are one of the traditional producers of Delftware, and for thirty years we made the famous KLM houses for Bols, for example,” she says. “Number 1 through 75 were developed and produced by us. Unfortunately, these days the KLM houses
partners like Bloomon, for whom we make all kinds of different vases.” Product imported from territories such as China is causing an issue for Royal Goedewaagen. “It’s a threat to the continuity of the beautiful ceramic craft in our country,” says Spin. “Another is that the craft is no longer being passed
See Royal Goedewaagen at Ambiente: Hall 12.1, C26.