Willem II cigar labels catalogue

4,819 items

The Willem II cigar brand is named after Stadholder Willem II. The Willem II cigar factories, founded in 1916 by Harry Kersten, started in a small company building in Valkenswaard. More

The Willem II cigar brand is named after Stadholder Willem II.
The Willem II cigar factories, founded in 1916 by Harry Kersten, started in a company building on the Eindhovenseweg in Valkenswaard with 8 employees. From 1929 to 1931, a branch was established in Den Bosch through the acquisition of the Goulmy & Baar cigar factory. In 1938 Jasneva in Valkenswaard was taken over.
After 1950, four more branches followed in Budel, Handel, Overpelt (B) and Bocholt (B) and a new branch in Reusel. Around 1970 the company had approximately 2200 employees.
After 1970, employment declined as a result of a shrinking market and mechanization. Willem II was able to maintain turnover by incorporating the Hudson brands, formerly part of Jasneva in Roosendaal and Karel I. In 1977 Willem II became part of the Consolidated Cigar Company, a subsidiary of Gulf & Western in New York. Willem II was temporarily independent again in 1982, but in 1989 it was taken over by industry peer La Paz in Boxtel, whereby Willem II came into the hands of the Swedish Volvo AB and then of Swedish Match Cigars, which moved production to Houthalen and the head office to the De Schaapsloop industrial estate, outside the area of Valkenswaard.

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Number of cigar labels

4,819

Number of related items

Oldest item

Willem II (1957)