Herda: From Wartime Tins to Netherlands' Luminary Legacy

Once upon a time in the midst of wartime, two brothers, Frans Daniels and his sibling, began crafting small stoves to ward off the chill. As peace dawned, their focus shifted to lighting, and on the 13th of May, 1946, alongside two other brothers, Bertus and Joop, they sparked the beginning of Herda, a "lighting industry" family enterprise. In an era of scarcity, they turned adversity into innovation, repurposing the cookie tins dropped by Allied forces into the very first Herda lamps, shining a light from the remnants of war.

Herda was not just a name but a symbol of collaboration—the fusion of 'Herwaarden' and 'Daniels' signifying a partnership that extended beyond family, with Mr. Herwaarden securing the post-war licenses that were as scarce as the materials themselves.

Within the company's creative walls worked three designers—Jaap Tiepel, Dirk Heyman, and Margo van Dijk—whose designs illuminated Dutch homes. From its humble beginnings, Herda grew to a beacon of industry, employing over 350 individuals who lit up nearly every lighting store in the Netherlands, capturing 95 percent of the market.

Herda's glow radiated from its Amsterdam headquarters, reaching depots in Tilburg, Oosterwolde, Borne, and Nuth, making it the largest lamp manufacturer in the land. However, like all tales, this one too had its end—on June 24, 1997, Herda's lights dimmed as it declared bankruptcy. But the legacy of the Daniels brothers' ingenuity—a story of light born from the shadows of conflict—continues to shine.