The Paper and Board Industry in the Netherlands, 1800–2000

The contemporary history of the paper and board industry in the Netherlands is the narrative of an industry that had to cope with considerable competitive disadvantages. This chapter analyses the evolution of the paper and board industry in the Netherlands and the way businessmen formulated their strategies to increase the profitability of their activities and decrease the uncertainties of competition. How did the industry cope with the challenges of the markets, the increasing international competition and the formal and informal institutional context? After a brief introduction of the pre-industrial era and the slow process of industrialization during the nineteenth century, this chapter will focus on the development of the industry and the corporate strategies that became apparent during the twentieth century.