About our location “Het Oude Hof”

AVH dairy trade is situated at  “Het Oude Hof”, a landscape estate close to the dunes. Our office, on the first floor, overlooks the old kitchen garden and has a breathtaking view of the edge of the forest. In summer we enjoy our lunch on the terrace hidden under a leafy roof formed by old majestic lime trees. These giants (30 metres high with a diameter of 2 metres) are the silent remains of the rich history that surrounds the estate. They were planted by Anthonis Studler van Surck himself, founder and first owner, in 1647.

Studler van Surck was a man of his time. He exchanged letters with the great French mathematician and philosopher Descartes and with the Dutch poet P. C. Hooft about how to structure his estate according to the principles of aestheticism. This has resulted in a unique and authentic Dutch classicistic estate where its premises and gardens are in architectural balance.

Walking beneath these lime trees, Anthonis Studler van Surck found himself in good company in those days: the merchants of the Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, the V.O.C. The V.O.C used to be the biggest trading company in the 17th and 18th  century and its impressive sailing ships sailed between Asian countries. These Dutch sea dogs were pioneers in every sense of the word exploring new markets and taking home unknown and exotic products which eventually led to the rise of new markets.

Where once V.O.C merchants planned their new trading routes, AVH now develops its own new strategies. We are very proud to be able to continue our Dutch trading tradition on these historical and inspiring grounds.