Background
Ericus Gerhardus Verkade was born on 20 November 1835 in Vlaardingen in the Netherlands. He was named after his father, the notary Ericus Gerhardus Verkade Senior (1801-1835), who died one month before he was born.
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Ericus Verkade
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Verkade"s mother, Geertruida van Gelder, was from Wormerveer and moved her family back to her birthplace shortly after Ericus Junior"s birth. Soon after school, Verkade started a vegetable oil factory, which burned out in 1875. The next eight years he and his brother-in-law traded in grains.
On May 2, 1886, he started a steam-powered bakery, which company he first named "De Ruyter" for the first mill in Zaandam that milled flour--the original "ruiter" ("knight") was on the company logo until 1994.
Verkade originally baked bread and rusk, but soon expanded to make cookies, chocolate, and snacks. Verkade became a household name in the Netherlands.
In 1857 in Zaandam, Verkade married Trijntje Smit (1835-1863) in 1857, with whom he had a daughter. January was the twin brother of Ericus Gerhardus (1868-1927) who would take over his father"s business.
Verkade died on 8 February 1907 in Hilversum in the Netherlands.
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Born
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Died
February 8, 1907 (aged 71) -
Nationality
Netherlands