Into the mines
During the Great War, trade comes to a virtual standstill. Imports from war-torn England and Germany are almost impossible. And for the Netherlands, coal is becoming increasingly difficult to source.
SHV seeks alternative ways to meet demand, before finally setting its eyes on a mine of its own. Just over the Dutch-German border, the company buys an existing mine and quickly brings it up to speed.
War breaks out
Uncertainty looms when the major European powers clash and the First World War breaks out in July 1914. The Netherlands remains neutral, but doesn’t avoid the impact of war. Trade has come to a standstill and the countries that do produce coal use it to power their war efforts, leading to severe shortages. The Dutch government scales up production in its state-owned mines to the south of the country, although these have only recently opened.
SHV comes up with a series of imaginative responses to the situation. It prints emergency money in answer to a shortage of coins. Belgian refugees are housed in ships that won’t be sailing anytime soon. And unemployed dockers grow potatoes and beans on SHV land in the Port of Rotterdam.