The history of Heiploeg is closely linked to the history of Zoutkamp. From way back, this traditional fishing area was the centre for shrimping because of its location on the estuary of the Reitdiep river and the shore of the Lauwerszee (now dammed). The Lauwerszee was an inland sea that was created in the 10th and 11th centuries because the sea broke in where the Reitdiep and the Lauwers rivers came together in a major way.
Fishing was for the inhabitants of Zoutkamp the most important source of income because of its strategic location. In the early years, this was still done using open boats whereby you sailed to sea. Concurrently with the advent of steam trawlers that fished for round fish and flatfish on the North Sea from Zoutkamp, shrimping became more and more important for Zoutkamp. Shrimp was not just caught for consumption but also for processing into feed (the so-called “undersized fish”).
After the Second World War, Zoutkamp developed into becoming the Dutch and European shrimping centre. The Zoutkamp companies Heidema and Van der Ploeg grew strongly during this period. Very soon they began to work in partnership under the name Heiploeg. The Zoutkamp shrimp fleet moved to Lauwersoog out of necessity after the Lauwerszee was dammed in 1969. Heiploeg remained loyal to Zoutkamp as shrimp processor. A steady and well-considered growth led to a large modernisation of the shrimp processing facilities. Various company complexes were concentrated on one industrial estate between the Dorpsstraat and the Hunsingo canal at the start of the 1980s.
Heiploeg soon became far too large for this location in Zoutkamp due to the increasing demand for shrimp from consumers and various take-overs of related companies. The decision was, therefore, taken to build a new factory just outside the former fishing village. This ultramodern factory become operational in 1999 and Heiploeg ensures from this location that you can globally enjoy an abundance of quality products that Heiploeg is proud to supply to its customers.
