The Verffabriek Boonstoppel

Origins and Industrial Success (1890–1980)

Verffabriek Boonstoppel was established in 1890, quickly gaining a reputation for producing some of the highest-quality paints and varnishes in the country. Originally located on the Zuidkade, the factory moved to the Wilhelminakade in 1915. Known for products like Japanlac, the factory's paints were used in iconic Dutch buildings, including the Rembrandt House. This growth and innovation positioned it as a landmark of Dutch industrial progress.
Decline, Abandonment, and Urbex Appeal (1980–1999)

The factory reached its peak around 1980 but began to decline in the following years. After a takeover by the English Circle Group in 1995, production ceased in 1999. The site was left abandoned for decades, and during this time, it became a prime urban exploration location. Peeling paint, rusted machinery, and crumbling walls turned the factory into an atmospheric spot for urbex photographers and explorers seeking decayed industrial ruins.

For years, the Boonstoppel factory stood derelict, its empty halls echoing with history and slowly being reclaimed by nature and time. Its industrial charm and eerie silence made it one of the more accessible urbex locations in the Netherlands.
Redevelopment and Remnants (2000–Present)

By the early 2000s, plans emerged to redevelop the site. In 2023, local authorities approved the construction of 12 to 16 apartments and 9 detached homes. While most of the site has now been transformed into residential property, the original 1915 factory hall was preserved and repurposed as a parking garage. The name ‘Boonstoppelkade’ was chosen for the new street, honoring the site's legacy.

Though much of the original abandoned factory is gone, the remaining architecture and historical references continue to attract interest from urbex enthusiasts and those fascinated by lost places.