The Blaauw company
The company was established in Bergen in 1704. There was a great fire in 1702 that burned down many of the old warehouses on the west side of the harbour. Since the buildings were rebuilt in 1704, our business has run uninterrupted on the same balance sheet.
The company has been owned by the same family for over 200 years and the ownership has gone directly from father to son in the Blaauw family for five generations. The family has been trading in Bergen for 7 generations, and for several generations before that in Holland. Probably since the early 17th century.
Through more than 300 years we have been selling and trading all kinds of goods from Bergen harbour.
Our products over the years
Traditionally our main focus was on agricultural products, foods and building materials. Through the 1970's we grew in wall and floor covering products, and through the 80's and 90's our focus changed to hardware, fishing and boat equipment and maritime clothing.
In recent years we have invested in commercial real-estate, and other assets such as bonds and stocks etc.
In 2006 we established a foods wholesaler together with partners. This company was a supplier of over 500 different articles of food to more than 100 shops and restaurants in our area. In November 2010 we sold our 50% share of this company.
In December 2011 we bought 33,6% of the hardware and tools wholesaler Verktøy Engros Bergen AS (VEB). This company is located at an industrial estate (Storebotn Næringspark) at Askøy outside Bergen.
In may 2015 we increased our investment in VEB, and we now have 99% of the company.
In January 2020 we bought the company, Festplassen AS, which is Norway's main supplier of flags and related products.
We continued with the purchase of Norgesmoppen cleaning products in 2022.
From May 2023 all our trading business is merged in one company, Blaauuw AS.