Hollandsche Decca Distributie N.V.

Dutch record company, established in 1943. It was the Dutch distributor for The Decca Record Company Limited. The name was changed to Hollandsche Decca Distributie B.V. around 1972. The company's history dates back to 1930, when Heinrich Wilhelm (Henk) van Zoelen founded Decca Dutch Supplies. This company was renamed to "Hollandsche Decca Distributie (Decca-Dutch Supplies) N.V." in 1936. In 1942 C.V. Fred. Philips acquired all shares and years later resold them to N.V. Philips Gloeilampenfabriek. Early recordings were made in England at Chenil Galleries. In September 1932 the first recordings were made in Holland at the Phohi-studio, Hilversum, more recording were done at the Hotel "Hamdorff", Laren. From the summer of 1938 the recording studio became the "Schouwburgzaal" of the Hotel "Het Hof Van Holland, Hilversum" In January 1934 the first pressing plant was established on an attic of "Stoomwasserij Neerlandia" at Hugo de Grootstraat 3, Amsterdam. By 1949 the plant had an annual production of over a million records and the location in Amsterdam had become to small. In May it moved to Doetinchem, where an ultramodern plant was built which also housed a mould factory and laboratory. With 16 presses the new plant would be able to produce multiple millions of records annually. The stay in Doetinchem would be short-lived however: after the founding of Philips Phonografische Industrie in 1950 it was decided to move all manufacturing to Baarn, where production began in late 1951. The plant in Doetinchem was subsequently turned into a mica capacitor factory by N.V. Philips. Known recording engineers: Marinus "Us" van der Meulen 1930 - 1935 Jaap van der Hul 1935 - 1944