About Us

May 2013

Together with his parent and twin brother Piet, Herman immigrated to Canada in May 1953. The family settled in Ottawa and started up the business of Dutch Groceries. Of interest, when Herman’s parent retired in 1971, brother Piet purchased Dutch Groceries. Piet sold the business approximately 6 years ago and is now retired.

As a very young boy, Herman wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. His father had worked in a grocery store in Holland and it was because of his father’s desire to own his own business, that the family came to Canada.

Herman and his brother always helped out in their parents’ store. They made deliveries to the customers by bus in the winter and by bicycle when the weather permitted. When Herman finished school, he started working for Loblaws. He worked his way to assistant manager but he always remained focused on owning his own business.

In the summer of 1962 a Dutch store was for sale in Chatham. Herman was very excited for this was the opportunity that he had been waiting for. Unfortunately, things did not work out. In the fall of 1962, there was another Dutch business for sale. This store was in Weston (Toronto) and a deal was made for Herman to take ownership in the spring of 1963.

Shirley and her family came to Canada in the summer of 1952. They settled in a small town close to Peterborough. In the summer of 1959, the family moved to Ottawa. Shirley continued her education in Ottawa and finally met Herman at a party for Shirley’s brother in 1960.

Herman and Shirley had been dating for two years and Herman decided that he should ask Shirley if she would marry him and also work in the store with him. (Herman tells everyone that he married Shirley so that he would have someone for him in the store.) Shirley agreed and they were married on May 20, 1963. They took possession of the Holland Store on June 1, 1963.

The Holland Store was started late in 1953 by Mr. & Mrs. Wim Veenstra. During the first few years, it moved about to several locations but finally Wim Veenstra purchased the newly built store on Weston Road in the late 1950’s. The Holland Store still remains there today.

Even though the size of the store has not changed, there have been many improvements. New shelving and new counters have improved the display of the Dutch products. A new freezer added several years ago enables us to sell frozen croquettes, maatjes haring, cakes and pastries etc. The ‘drop bins’ have also been a great hit.

As Herman and Shirley get on in age, son John has taken over the day-to-day running of the business. Even today new immigrants arrive in Toronto from Holland looking for their favourite goodies. Every week, folks come in the store and are delighted to discover ‘dutch foods’ and even though they have lived in Toronto for many years, they are only now aware of the Holland Store and find that “klein stukje Nederland in Toronto”.

We have served 3 to 4 generations of Nederlanders over these past 50 years. It is due to these faithful customers that we are able to be here. To all of you we are truly grateful and look forward to continue serving you in the future.

Thank you.

Herman, Shirley and John

Home