Tradition perpetuated
Welcoming Prince Bernhard, Mr.
Heineken recalled that H.R.H. had
opened the company's premises at Den
Bosch and Zoeterwoude in 1958 and 1975
respectively and was perpetuating the
tradition that day. Mr. Heineken also paid
tribute to all members of the company
whose work had made possible "this
roomy, modem complex." The moments
that followed the lighting of the fire under
the still were dramatised by a muffled
drum roll as the first distillate passed
through glass tubes on its way to a large
glass container.
There followed a rendering of "Happy
days are here again" (a song, it was
explained, composed to celebrate the end
of Prohibition in America) by a seven-man
jazz band. Mr. Heineken then presented
Prince Bernhard with a distiller's silver
measure containing a cash donation for the
World Wildlife Fund.
The distillery is fitted out.
The new premises gradually take shape
Viewing the 99-year-old still in the lecture room.
Prince Bernhard opens a valve to start the fire under the still producing the first distillate.
