The Rise of the Dutch Brick Industry

The Birth of a Commodity

The brick making industry originated in the Netherlands in the 1600s. The soil composition of the Netherlands consisting primarily of clay made it ideal for producing sturdy, durable bricks. During this time, the country was undergoing extensive physical transformations through land reclamation projects. This created a huge demand for building materials.

Brick makers started small operations to fulfill local building needs. However, it was the large scale land reclamation efforts in the northern provinces that drove the brick industry's growth. To manage water levels and claim more land, sophisticated drainage systems of canals and dikes were constructed extensively. Millions of bricks were required which gave rise to specialized brick kilns and large brick manufacturing facilities. By the mid-1600s, brick making had become a full fledged commercial industry concentrated around provinces like North Holland and North Brabant.

Different Types of Clay, Different Types of Bricks

The various soil compositions produced different types of bricks suited to specific purposes. Clay found in the coastal provinces like Friesland and Groningen contained more salt which made the bricks durable against weathering but more porous. These ‘Zeeuwse grijze steen' or ‘Zeeland gray stone' bricks were ideal for buildings near the coast. Clay from the inland southern provinces produced dense, hard-wearing 'baksteen' or ‘bevelled brick'. Bricks from North Brabant became famous for their durability and were exported abroad. Finer clays produced smooth surfaced ‘metselsteen’ or ‘masonry bricks’ suited for decorative external work.

Early Export in Europe

With large scale availability, Dutch Brick makers soon turned their focus to exporting bricks. In the 1600s, the main were neighboring German states, Scandinavian countries and the British Isles which had growing construction needs. Brick transport was primarily done via ships through an extensive system of canals, rivers and ports. Exports increased steadily through the 1600-1700s with bricks being transported as far as the Baltic countries. Standardised sizes and high quality ensured Dutch bricks were preferred over competing local products.

Developments in Kiln Design and Firing

Brick making technology underwent innovations to improve efficiency and output. Early kilns were simple clamp kilns that used wood as fuel. These were replaced by more advanced Hoffmann kilns from the mid-1800s that used coal. Hoffman kilns had multiple chambers that allowed continuous firing and cooling of bricks on a large scale. Around the same time, soft mud machine molding was introduced which increased brick production speed tenfold compared to hand molding. These changes supported larger factory scale production facilities.

20th century Automation and Global

In the 20th century, the Dutch brick industry underwent further mechanization. Motorized transport replaced horse drawn carts. Semi-automatic brick making machines were introduced in the 1930s that could produce 50,000 bricks per day. After World War 2, fully automated tunnel kilns and modern molding lines took production capacity to over 100 million bricks annually per factory. Computerization in the late 20th century optimized processes.

Global demand continued rising through the 20th century with key export in Western Europe, the Americas, Middle East and Asia. Seafaring tradition and large fleet of cargo ships ensured reliable delivery worldwide. In recent decades though, competition grew from other European nations and cheaper Asian imports. However, Dutch bricks are still prized globally for their heritage of superb durability, workmanship and aesthetic qualities. The industry remains an important pillar of the Dutch economy.

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