Hiemstra Evolux

History of Hiemstra & Evenblij, Evenblij Lighting and Hiemstra Evolux

hiemstra evolux

Two brothers-in-law Niek Hiemstra and Simon Evenblij started a design firm in Delft in 1934. They designed various items for domestic use. In 1937, they started making chandeliers on request, which eventually led them to specialise in lighting fixtures. After a while, the metal parts of the lamps were made at Gispen because Gispen had a metal factory with all the machinery for that.

In 1951, the two brothers-in-law had some disagreements, and each went their separate ways. Hendrik and Simon Evenblij continued with VOF Evenblij Verlichting BV in Leidschendam. Evenblij Verlichting designed, among other things, the lamps for the Kurhaus in Scheveningen, but specialised in lighting fixtures for suspended ceilings.

Niek Hiemstra continued as ‘Hiemstra Verlichting Industrie’ at Keizergracht 234/248 in Amsterdam. Niek Hiemstra continued to work with Gispen during this period. The name Gispen Culemborg therefore appears frequently on the catalogues of Verlichting Industrie Hiemstra. Mr Hiemstra starts working with them after talking to Technische Unie. The company continued to flourish under the wings of Technische Unie and after a few years Technische Unie took over the company.

In 1961, the name was changed to Hiemstra Evolux (evolution in light). Mr Hiemstra’s youngest son Chris Hiemstra and his business partner Harry Swaak (who had their own design agency together) were asked to take over his father Niek Hiemstra’s work at Technische Unie. From 1977, Technische Unie was sold/taken over several times and became part of the British Rotaflex Group. Later to the American GTE which was already selling Sylvania lamps. The name Hiemstra Evolux eventually changed and in 1983 the company was called Lumiance.

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