BIERLIJN began as an idea to supply British bottled beer to specialist beer shops in The Netherlands, on discovering that the only "British beer" available in 1992 was a product called John Bull Bitter, which appeared to coloured lager from the Oranjeboom brewery in Breda.

  Bierlijn was originally a partnership registered as BIERLIJN ASSOCIATES, run by two ex teachers, Jonathan Poulter and Hugh Shipman. Jon would sell Dutch beer in the UK, while Hugh would do the same in NL, each collecting beer for the other, and shipping it via the Hoek van Holland ferry.

  After a solid two years, it was clear that this was not the short cut to instant riches, and Jonny departed to seek his fortune on the Asian croc-wrestling circuit, leaving Hugh as a sole trader operating both the British and Dutch sides of the business under the name BIERLIJN.

 Marlies Boink joined Hugh in 1998, and the company was split into two halves, BIERLIJN serving the UK, and BIERLIJN NEDERLAND, run by Marlies. 2002 saw BIERLIJN NEDERLAND move from Amsterdam to Breda. The Bierlijn Breda warehouse is now the hub, into which beer from small Dutch, French and Belgian breweries is collected for distribution to Dutch beer shops and cafes, and as mixed pallets for export to the UK, USA, Finland, Denmark and Italy. 

            First import, first payment of Dutch duty                                      Using the mighty LEYLAND DAF

1992  - Product research.

            The Dutch office c.1993. Hugh (left), Jonny (right) take turns using the chair. 

  The van fleet, 1998

                                                     The workforce, 2003