Brickyard Industries Strating
Steenindustrie Strating is a Dutch brickworks in Oude Pekela, founded in 1883 and the last operational brick factory north of the major rivers in the Netherlands.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
Steenindustrie Strating, also known commercially as Brickyard Industries Strating, is a Dutch brick manufacturer based in Oude Pekela in the province of Groningen. It traces its origins to 1883, when captain, shipowner and shipbuilder Geert Hendriks Strating converted his shipyard on the north side of the Pekelderdiep into a brickworks with the aim of producing 20,000 bricks per day. The company expanded to Winschoten in 1888 and later moved operations to the south side of the Pekelderdiep in Oude Pekela. Over the following decades, the business passed through several generations of the Strating family, survived the production standstill of the Second World War, and consolidated its activities in Oude Pekela after closing the Winschoten factory in 1967. The company adopted the name Steenindustrie Strating in 1967 and celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2008, when it received the Koninklijk (Royal) designation. Today, Strating specialises in the production of gevelstenen (facing bricks) and related masonry products. According to its official website, the company produces both a standard collection and custom-made bricks, giving architects and developers the opportunity to put a signature on their work. Its product range includes the standard collection, steenstrippen (brick slips) for situations where less space is available, and Dinkelsteen®, a slimmer, more refined facing brick that allows for sleek, minimalist and sustainable facades. The company uses high-quality local clay and a unique production process that gives its bricks a long lifespan. Strating's bricks have been used in regional projects including the Aanpak Ring Zuid in Groningen, the Oostwand of the Groninger Grote Markt, the Ommelanderziekenhuis in Beerta, theatre De Klinker in Winschoten and the pumping station in Termunterzijl. Strating is a private, family-linked company that has remained rooted in the Groningen region. It is described as the last still-operational brick factory north of the major rivers in the Netherlands. The company has weathered sector-wide consolidation, including the closure of twelve brickworks in the northern provinces between 1981 and 1982, and has continued to modernise and sustain its Oude Pekela site. Its factory chimney has been designated a municipal monument. In recent years the company has been involved in regional construction projects and has faced labour negotiations, including strikes in 2024 over the collective labour agreement for the brick industry.
History
Steenindustrie Strating was founded in 1883 by Geert Hendriks Strating, a captain, shipowner and shipbuilder from Nieuwe Pekela. Facing declining income from his shipyard on the north side of the Pekelderdiep, he converted the yard into a brick factory with the goal of producing 20,000 bricks per day. The business prospered, and in January 1888 he expanded to Winschoten, taking over a brickworks in Sint-Vitusholt from the later municipal architect Klaas de Grooth. Operations were also moved to the south side of the Pekelderdiep in Oude Pekela. Several of Geert's sons worked in the company, and in 1896 his son Hindericus Geerts Strating took over leadership. At the beginning of the twentieth century the focus shifted more towards the Winschoten locations, with expansions to places including Ulsda. In 1901 Hindericus was also involved in the founding of the strawboard factory De Kroon in Oude Pekela. Three years later the Pekela brickworks acquired its first ring oven. In 1916, after a business conflict, Hindericus's son Geert Jan André Strating became director of the Winschoten brickworks while Hindericus remained in Oude Pekela. The Winschoten factory was expanded with a ring oven in 1924. In 1939 Hindericus left the company at the age of 78 to settle in Doorn, leaving Geert Jan André in charge of both factories. During the Second World War, production in the brick industry came to a complete standstill. After the war the sector grew again through reconstruction; at its peak there were 35 brick factories in the northern provinces. Expansion in Winschoten was desired but made impossible by the provincial road N367 and a new housing estate to be built. After the death of Geert Jan André and a major fire in 1966, his son Henk Hoogerduijn Strating decided in 1967 to close the Winschoten factory and concentrate entirely on Oude Pekela. There, expansion had been possible in 1961, making the factory fully automatic and allowing production day and night. A major fire in 1963 destroyed the old factory section, but the new section was spared. From 1959 to 1967 the company was called Steenfabrieken Strating BV, after which it adopted the current name Steenindustrie Strating in 1967. In 1969 a major expansion and modernisation of the Oude Pekela factory began, including a new flame oven worth 1.5 million guilders, a large storage shed for 10,000 tons of clay and 24 additional drying chambers. In the autumn of 1969, Fré Meis, leader of the Communist Party of the Netherlands, led several strikes in the strawboard industry in Oude Pekela for better working conditions and higher wages. In early November this spread to the brick industry, and work at Strating came to a halt. After a nine-day strike and the promise of a bonus and a social fund, it was decided to resume work on Monday 17 November of that year. In 1975 Strating expanded by taking over the brick factory in Winsum, which was renamed Steenfabriek "Lombok"-Strating B.V. The clay was extracted from the place where the Reitdiep used to flow. Between 1981 and 1982, twelve brick factories in the northern provinces closed in a short period, leaving only three others besides Strating in Oude Pekela: Lombok in Winsum, Hylkema in Delfzijl (closed in 2002) and Schuiling in Gerkesklooster (closed in 1991). In 1984 Strating's Winsum location closed; the factory was demolished in 2022 for the new Lombok housing development. As a tribute, bricks produced by Strating from Winsum clay were used in the construction of the neighbourhood. In 1983 Strating celebrated its 100th anniversary; to mark the occasion, business historian Joke Mooij and Henk Hoogerduijn Strating wrote the book Gevormd door de tijd. 100 Jaar Strating Steenfabrieken in Groningen. In the early 1990s, Henk's sons Geert Jan and Marten took over leadership. Over the years the Oude Pekela site was renewed, made more sustainable and expanded, but the factory chimney of the brickworks remained and was designated a municipal monument. In 2008 the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and received the Koninklijk (Royal) designation. From 2016 to 2024, Steenindustrie Strating was involved in the Aanpak Ring Zuid in Groningen, where specially designed bricks were used. Strating bricks were also used elsewhere in the region, for example for the Oostwand of the Groninger Grote Markt, the Ommelanderziekenhuis in Beerta, theatre De Klinker in Winschoten and the pumping station in Termunterzijl. In the autumn of 2024, strikes followed again, this time from CNV-FNV for a better collective labour agreement for the brick industry. On 16 October it was announced that an agreement had been reached.
- 2024
Strikes in autumn 2024 over the brick industry collective labour agreement; an agreement is reached on 16 October.
- 2022
The former Winsum factory is demolished for the new Lombok housing development; Strating bricks from Winsum clay are used as a tribute.
- 2016
Strating becomes involved in the Aanpak Ring Zuid in Groningen, continuing until 2024.
- 2008
The company celebrates its 125th anniversary and receives the Koninklijk (Royal) designation.
- 1990
In the early 1990s, Henk's sons Geert Jan and Marten take over leadership.
- 1984
Strating's Winsum location closes.
- 1983
Strating celebrates its 100th anniversary; the book Gevormd door de tijd is published.
- 1981
Between 1981 and 1982, twelve brick factories in the northern provinces close.
- 1975
Strating takes over the brick factory in Winsum, renamed Steenfabriek "Lombok"-Strating B.V.
- 1969
Major expansion and modernisation of the Oude Pekela factory begins, including a new flame oven, a 10,000-ton clay storage shed and 24 extra drying chambers. A nine-day strike occurs in the autumn.
Products and positioning
Specialist producer of high-quality, durable facing bricks and custom masonry products for architects and developers, using local clay and a unique production process.
Dinkelsteen®
A slimmer, more refined facing brick that allows for sleek, minimalist and sustainable facades, increasing design freedom.
Steenstrippen (brick slips)
Brick slips that achieve the look of masonry in situations where less space is available, while retaining the appearance of a brick facade.
Custom-made facing bricks
Bricks developed with custom colour, texture and size, allowing architects and developers to put a signature on their work.
Standard collection
A collection of bricks already widely used in practice and directly applicable, part of which is kept in stock.
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