In 1863, Gerardus Johannes Droste opened his pastry shop and biscuit factory at Groote Houtstraat 132 in Haarlem. Later, he purchased the building on Gierstraat for a major expansion. This building is located directly behind the shop on Groote Houtstraat, allowing the two buildings to be connected. Business was good, and a new project, “the chocolate”, exceeded all expectations. The salon on Groote Houtstraat became too small, so he bought a second location on the corner of Groote Houtstraat 75 and Gedempte Oude Gracht, where McDonald's is now located, for his sons Jan Coenraad and Gerardus Junior. The old Droste decorations can still be seen on the façade.

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From 1890 onwards, the bakery made chocolate here in the basement. The cocoa beans were stored in the attic and the famous Pastilles Droste, also known as “flikken”, were sold in the “detailmagazijn” (retail warehouse). This remained a Droste sales point until 1946.

 

In order to gain more space for production, Droste moved to a factory on the Noorder Buiten Spaarne in the Veerpolder in 1897. This was an excellent location, as raw materials could be supplied and finished products transported by ship. Droste produced cocoa powder and chocolate here.

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