Last Saturday, Dille&Kamille opened its 50th branch on Markt in Gouda. All this in the year of the retail chain's 50th anniversary. "Gouda is a symbolic place. A stone's throw away in Bergambacht, founder Freek Kamerling conceived his unique concept around his philosophy of natural simplicity. We have finally landed near the place where we originated. The circle is complete," says director Hans Geels.
Retail chain Dille & Kamille opened its fiftieth shop at Markt 46 in Gouda on 14 September. It is an extra festive moment, as the opening takes place exactly on the fiftieth anniversary date of the Dutch family business, founded in 1974. Fifty 50-year-old Dille & Kamille lovers attended the opening, after which they were given a tour of the shop, enjoyed delicious fresh syrup waffles and received a goodie bag. Managing director Hans Geels and councillor Thierry van Vugt opened the shop together with a 50-year-old visitor.
Gouda, a real Dille town
With the opening of this fiftieth shop, Dille & Kamille continues its expansion. "We regularly ask our customers and followers where they would like to see a new Dille & Kamille shop. Gouda has been consistently in the top three answers for a long time. That we are opening the fiftieth shop at this location is special because it is near here, in Bergambacht, that our founder Freek Kamerling invented the Dille & Kamille concept 50 years ago," said general manager Hans Geels. The shop is located on the market square in the historic centre. An attraction for many due to both the monumental town hall and the famous Gouda cheese market. 
Natural materials
The new shop has a sales floor area of about 230 m2. Customers will find a large selection for home, garden and kitchen: from cooking and baking utensils, crockery, tea and spices, to eco-friendly cleaning products, indoor and outdoor plants and everything for the garden. But also varied seasonal collections, such as for Christmas later this year. The range is distinguished by attractive, timeless and recognisable design, with Dille & Kamille preferring natural, sustainable materials.
Family business with a mission
Dille & Kamille wants to be more than 'just' a nice shop. "When it was founded, our founder Freek Kamerling had a clear ideal: natural simplicity as a counter-reaction to the emerging disposable society and a rapidly increasing individualism," explains Geels. "With Dille & Kamille, he wanted to return to the human scale. He wanted to connect and inspire people to enjoy 'the small' and everyday."
Fifty years later, this mission has remained unchanged. Dille & Kamille aims to inspire people to consciously enjoy and live with attention. This is done with the range, of course, but also, for example, with tips and recipes.
Sustainable renovation
The new shop is located at the central market square. A lively spot at the beginning of a shopping street, where around 1920 two dilapidated buildings were rebuilt into the current premises. As you would expect from Dille & Kamille, the premises have been renovated sustainably, using FSC/PEFC wood, sustainable paint, bio-based insulation material and LED lighting, among other things. Much has also been reused, including storage, office and staff space.
More information:
Dille and Kamille
www.dille-kamille.nl