DutchAmsterdam, Feb. 3, 2008 — The Westland Kaas Groep, manufacturer of a cheese marketed as “Old Amsterdam”,” announced that counterfeit products bearing the name ‘Old Amsterdam’ have been discovered in several places in the Netherlands.
While imitation is said to the be the sincerest form of flattery, Westland says it will take the counterfeiters to court.
The director of Westland, Cor Lustig, told the Dutch daily newspaper Algemeen Dagblad that customers can safely buy the genuine product in supermarkets and at other official outlets. The counterfeit products — allegedly inferior in taste and with a bad aftertaste — were discovered at weekly street markets.
Old Amsterdam Cheese – Other than marketing no connection to Amsterdam
Ironically, apart from the name and a marketing campaign with fake ‘nostalgic’ black and white films of Amsterdam, Old Amsterdam Cheese has no connection to Amsterdam. The Westland cheese factory is located in Huizen, a 40-minute drive from Amsterdam.
Technically, the cheese itself is not even old. It’s a ‘young old’ cheese, says culinary reporter Wouter Klootwijk, — who points out that cheese can mature quickly these days thanks to modern biological processes.
Nevertheless, the cheese is very popular with certain consumers.
Update: Court verdict
In December 2009, a court in The Hague convicted a cheese trader of cheese counterfeiting. The vendor Den Dekker is said to have sold cheese under the name “Oud Amsterdam” (Old Amsterdam) at the street market in Dordrecht. Just like Westland’s Old Amsterdam cheese, it had a black rind. Den Dekker also had advertising signs, reportedly handmade, for Old Amsterdam on his stall.
In his defense, Den Dekker claimed he simply used a generic name (Amsterdammer, or Amsterdam cheese 1Amsterdammer is a young cheese that has only been matured for four weeks. It is soft and creamy. The creamy taste is due to the high moisture content, which makes the cheese relatively lower in fat than Gouda cheese. The milk comes from cows that have grazed on tender grass in the meadows in spring. This milk contains special nutrients and the milk fat has a soft texture. Although it was very popular half a century ago, Amsterdam cheese has fallen out of favor due to changing consumer tastes. Some of Amsterdam’s specialty cheese stores still sell versions of this cheese.) and type designation (old cheese). According to his attorney, Jan Peter de Man, the trader bought the cheeses young and allowed them mature. Hence the name. Furthermore, the attorney held that Westland could not claim the name Amsterdam.
“Nonsense,” retorted Westland’s lawyer Charles Gielen. “Our Amsterdam is not even real Amsterdam cheese. It is actually Gouda cheese. Old Amsterdam is just a brand name.”
The judge went on to say that Den Dekker’s argument made no sense because the name ‘Amsterdammer Käse’, unlike ‘Goudse’ or ‘Edammer Käse’, is a generic name designation that is no longer used.
He came to the conclusion that Den Dekker’s way of working leads to confusion. The distinctive character and reputation of the Old Amsterdam brand would be damaged, according to the ruling.
The judgment states that the seller must stop using the designations “Oud Amsterdam” or “Oude Amsterdam” or any other designation that could be confused with Westland’s brands, under penalty of a fine of €10,000 per day.
This was not the only time Westland has defended its trademarks in court. The company says it will continue to prosecute further infringements.
See Also: ‘Old Amsterdam’ cheese. Not that old. Not from Amsterdam.
In case you wonder: All of the DutchAmsterdam team members are cheese lovers. None of us buy or eat Old Amsterdam cheese.
Cheese, Anyone?
Most Amsterdammers buy cheese at their local supermarket or a street market stall. Many frequent specialty cheese shops. Most stay away from the tourist traps (e.g. Old Amsterdam, Henri Willig, Amsterdam Cheese Company).
If you want to sample cheese, do so at a street market stall or specialty store. GetYourGuide, our ticket partner, has many cheese-related activities (including some at tourist traps – don’t say we did not warn you).
Some suggestions:
Footnotes
- 1Amsterdammer is a young cheese that has only been matured for four weeks. It is soft and creamy. The creamy taste is due to the high moisture content, which makes the cheese relatively lower in fat than Gouda cheese. The milk comes from cows that have grazed on tender grass in the meadows in spring. This milk contains special nutrients and the milk fat has a soft texture. Although it was very popular half a century ago, Amsterdam cheese has fallen out of favor due to changing consumer tastes. Some of Amsterdam’s specialty cheese stores still sell versions of this cheese. ↩︎
Anton and Janet Hein live and work in Amsterdam. We are the publishers of DutchAmsterdam.
Anton was born on a houseboat in the center of Amsterdam, right across from the iconic Westertoren and what later became the Anne Frank House museum. Having lived in nearly every district since then, he knows the city like his own back pocket.
Janet was born in England and raised in Ireland before moving to Amsterdam 42 years ago. Even to date she brings an expat’s perspective to the DutchAmsterdam website.
Last updated Thursday, May 30, 2024 CET (Central European Time)
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