Listen | First AH shop
If you get off your bike here for a moment, you can get a good look at the coat of arms of Oostzaan on the facade of the town hall. It is also on the facade of the old town hall at number 14, a little further down the road. Across here, on the corner, stood the very first Albert Heijn shop.
In 1887, young Albert took over his father Jan's grocery shop. In doing so, he decided to rearrange the shop and start selling more products there. "Rich and poor should be able to do their shopping with me!" was his motto. That this was a good idea was shown by the fact that after eight years he was able to open a second branch in Purmerend.
He also started being the first grocer in the country to produce items himself, such as biscuits and coffee. This again became a great success. A final golden touch was to also start selling other people's items under its own name. Thus, the chain of shops continued to grow and kept coming up with an even greater range of products and service.
Sadly, Al passed away...
In 1887, young Albert took over his father Jan's grocery shop. In doing so, he decided to rearrange the shop and sell more products there. "Poor and rich should be able to do their shopping with me!" was his motto. That this was a good idea was shown by the fact that after eight years he was able to open a second branch in Purmerend.
He also started being the first grocer in the country to produce items himself, such as biscuits and coffee. This again became a great success. A final golden touch was to also start selling other people's items under its own name. So the chain of shops continued to grow, each time coming up with an even greater range of products and service.
Unfortunately, Albert died in 1945 at the age of 80, so he did not live to see his company's IPO. At the next point on the route, we'll tell you about another well-known and successful resident of Oostzaan, who still lives here today. Contemporary designer Piet Boon.
If you want to see an old advertising video of the Alber Heijn. Then watch the video in the menu screen. And do you want to know which other surnames are typically Oostzonian? Then play the quiz in the menu screen.
But you might want to have a drink on the terrace first. We are now about halfway through the bike ride.
