J.C. van Marken

Biography

J.C. van Marken was a Dutch captain of industry. In 1869, he founded the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Gist- and Spiritusfabriek  in Delft, followed a year later by the Nederlandsche Oliefabriek. In 1883 he expanded his business by taking over the Lijm- and Gelatinefabriek Delft.

Van Marken was one of the first progressive employers in the Netherlands; he introduced the employees’ council, set up pension and health insurance, and published articles about labour issues. He also had the Agnetapark built for his staff: workers' residencies in a park-like setting.

In 1897 he commissioned two films, made by Alex van Dijck, about the Gist- and Spiritusfabriek. For this purpose, he had bought a camera from the French company Gaumont.