Independents from the NetherlandsIndependents from the NetherlandsBIM | DCB | GB | HAAN | SNIJDERS
The Netherlands has always had a moderately active independent fuel distribution sector, taking advantage of the huge coastal refining capacity at Rotterdam and the associated spot markets. While some of the brands, such as Verolko, have subsequently licensed third party brands such as AVIA or, more recently, Gulf, others supplied "white stations" (Witte Pomp) with no branding, and a few have invested in their own brands. As well as the names shown on this page, recent independents (apparently without maps) have included Autofood, Brand Oil (which also operates Amigo unmanned stations) and VOL.
BIM Aardolieprodukten BV is a small independent brand of petrol based at Smilde in the Netherlands, with a sign that is redolent of PAM.
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This BIM map is a typical Suurland Falkplan production at a scale of 1:300,000, probably dating from 1998, although the same cover was also used on a 2002 map. Identical front and rear covers for BIM are pasted onto a standard map. As the slogan ("De Kracht van Kwaliteit" - The Power of Quality) only hints that BIM is a brand of petrol, the photo (right) has been included for completeness! |
A BIM service station in Varsseveld, Gelderland, May 2000. |
DCB (DC Berkel)DC Berkel was established in 1961 and operates around 20 commercial refuelling stations (cardlocks) - including 3 in Belgium - as well as supplying 4 service stations under its own dcb brand, and one selling BP fuels.
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This pocket sized map promotes dcb's payment card, and is primarily designed for customers wishing to find the locations that accept it. Produced by Falkplan, it marks main roads and only names towns with a population over 5,000. However it does provide a numbered location for some 51 Total, 31 Tamoil and 7 Texaco (through the branded distributors Schreurs and Salland) filling stations, as well as dcb's own location in the Netherlands and Belgium. The reverse is given over to inset maps for each of the dcb and Texaco-Salland locations. |
GBGebroeders Broere was an independent Dutch petrol distributor based in Dordrecht that used the GB brand. In the 1960s it was acquired by the US conglomerate Tenneco, alongside the British Globe/Golden and Butler operations. By the late 1970s, the GB name was more commonly seen alongside the Total brand in the Total GB joint venture. It is believed that Tenneco sold its operations in the early 1980s and that the GB brand disappeared at much the same time.
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The only known GB map probably dates from the 1960s |
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HAANDe Haan Minerale Oliën BV was established at Alblasserdam (just East of Rotterdam) in 1959, and has grown to be a respected independent petrol marketer, initially using the "de Haan" name. It now operates around 25 "haan" stations, plus a handful under major brands (mainly Total, but with one Esso).
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The Haan map is again from Suurland Falkplan, but this time at a scale of 1:250,000, dating from 2000. The rear cover features a night shot of a Haan tanker leaving its distribution depot. Unlike its BIM counterpart, the Haan map is specially printed to show Haan station locations, which are also listed on the top of the map. As can be seen here, around half are concentrated near its Alblasserdam base; this extract does not really do justice to the high quality of the map. The reverse includes b/w street plans and a full index of place names. |
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SNIJDERSSnijders BV is a large Shell subsidiary based in Oosterhout, Netherlands. The company was founded in 1921 and evolved from a coal dealer into a gas and fuel oil dealer. In 1990 the company was sold to Shell and became the largest Shell subsidiary in the Netherlands, with its 55 employees and 60 service stations (mainly under Snijders' own brand, but including 9 Shell sites). Recently a number of unmanned Snijders-outlets have been transformed into Tinq-outlets, in an effort by Shell to counter the arrival of the Tango brand from Petroplus.
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This map offers 60 plans and a sectional map of Holland (province of Noord-Brabant). The back of the map shows the addresses of the outlets as well as a large scale map of The Netherlands (in black and white). No cartographer is mentioned. The map dates probably from the early to mid nineties. The map promotes the 'kreditank' card, a credit card to be used with a 'pin'-code in a self service terminal. |
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Text and layout © Ian Byrne, 2000-8 |
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