Belgian match industry
Exhibitor : Ron Norris
In 150 years of match producing all the companies were located along the Dender river which is in the Flemish part of central Belgium.
Match production began in 1835 and continued until 1997 when the remaining industry was absorbed into the Swedish Match empire.
Belgian matchbox labels can be found with text in English, French and Flemish. Belgium was a major exporter of matchboxes, with the UK being a key market.
The table below summarises key dates in the history of the Belgian Match Industry.
| 1835 | ‘BALTHAZAR MERTENS ‘ started a small match producing company in his factory at Lessen. The factory later moved to Geraardsbergen, Grammont, and expanded in 1850 |
| 1850 |
Another factory was opened in Geraardsbergen by M. BIDES , and after his death was continued by ‘ VICTOR de SCHEYE (V.D.S.). Known ‘Trade Marks’ were ‘THE JUGGLER’ and ’THE HORSE ’. |
| 1855 | Balthazar Mertens purchased the Swedish Balkoping Patent, and continued to expand. Known ‘Trade Marks’ include ‘THE GRIFFON’ and ‘THE OBELISK’. |
| 1860 | A second match producing centre started up about 20 Kilometres away in Ninove. The first was VAN den BOSSCHE, VIOLON & CIE whose known ‘Trade Marks’ were ‘ACORN’ and ‘THE SQUIRREL’. This company joined ‘ COBBAERT ‘ before becoming ‘ ALLUMETTIERE de NINOVE’. Also producing matches were F. HOEBEKE of Ninove, whose known ‘Trade Marks’ were ‘ANCHOR WITH EAGLE’. |
| 1870 |
Other companies such as L. BIJL- CAMPEN’ were established, and in the Ghent area ROCHE & CIE and F. COBBAERT’ of Grammont was re-named in 1872 to LA SUEDOISE\ and later to COBBAERT & PROVE’ before they were taken over by KOBENHAVENS EXPORT TANDSTICKFABRIK in 1907. Known ‘Trade Marks’ were ‘THE LILY’ and ‘THE ERMINE’. |
| 1912 |
Because of the sustained pressure on European markets by the Swedish companies, eight Belgian firms joined forces to form UNION ALLUMETTIERE. However other companies were taken over by Ivar Kreuger of SVENSK TANDSTICKS AKTIEBOLAGET who used the Trade Name – FABRIQUE BELGE, d’ ALLUMETTES Among these match companies were – V. de SCHEYE, C. de LANNOIT, L. BIJL – CAMPEN, CAUSSEMILLE, ROCHE & NOUVELLE FABRIQUE d’ ALLUMETTES of Godarville. |
| 1920 |
MERCKX BROTHERS of Ninove began production of matches, and continued independently until 1970. Known ‘Trade Mark’ – ‘VERVIA’., Also in that year LA SONEGIENNE of Soignies produced matches until 1930, having been taken over by UNION ALLUMETTIERE in 1929. Their known ‘Trade Mark’ being – BLACK CAT. |
| 1921 |
STEVENS BROTHERS of Ninove and THE BELGA MATCH WORKS was also taken over in 1925 by UNION ALLUMETTIERE. Its known Trade Mark was BELGA MATCH. LA COLONIALE ALLUMETTIERE of Ninove continued until 1950. Their ‘Trade Marks’ were ’RADIUM MATCH’ and ‘CONGO MATCH’. NERVIA MATCH of Okegem continued in production until 1927. |
| 1923 | S.A. LUX of LESSEN was taken over by UNION ALLUMETTIERE in 1929 |
| 1925 |
DENDRIA MATCH of Denderleeuw ceased production of matches in 1929. In the same year SOLGALFOR of Ninove was taken over by S.T.A.B. In 1932 this company was the only plant where match production continued. |
| 1929 | This year saw the already existing links between UNION ALLUMETTIERE and F.B.A. (S.T.A.B.) come together in the new company name of – UNION ALLUMETTIERE |
| 1944 | A new UNION ALLUMETTIERE industrial complex opened in Grammont. It had 1,600 employees in its factory |
| 1976 | UNION ALLUMETTIERE became N.V. UNAL to include the Dutch V.H.L.F. plant |
| 1980 | The newly named company moved its Brussels office to Grammont |
| 1997 | The official name of the company became SWEDISH MATCH BELGIUM. But a year later in 1998, SWEDISH MATCH BELGIUM stopped its match production in Belgium, thus ending 150 years of match producing history |
