On April 1, Dutch leather chemical company Smit and Zoon will celebrate its 185th anniversary. Founded in 1821 by Albert Smit, the company remains a family-owned business and the current managers Marc Smit and Valerie Smit are the seventh generation to have run the enterprise.

A party was held at Shipping Museum – Amsterdam” last month to celebrate the occasion—which was a fitting location considering the company began selling dried codfish, salted herring and cod liver-oil and went on to trade in marine oils, before concentrating its activites on the leather industry.

The party was also held in honour of J.M. Smit who has retired from the company.