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The Unilever Research Laboratorium was a nutrition and human biology research centre in South Holland, owned by Unilever, and since November 2019, has been a private science park.
| Unilever Research Laboratorium | |
|---|---|
URDV, Unilever Research Vlaardingen | |
  Location within South Holland | |
| Former names | Unilever Research & Development Vlaardingen, Unilever Foods Research Centre |
| General information | |
| Type | Biology and nutrition research centre |
| Architectural style | Research centre |
| Address | Olivier van Noortlaan 120, Vlaardingen |
| Coordinates | 51°54′00″N 4°20′31″E / 51.9°N 4.342°E |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Completed | 1956 |
| Inaugurated | November 1956 |
| Client | Unilever N.V., Unilever Nederland |
| Owner | Private science park |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | 6 acres[1] |
History edit
Construction edit
At the time of construction in 1956, Vlaardingen was the third-busiest port in the Netherlands, situated on the Nieuwe Maas.[2]
On 14 February 1945, a neighbouring Unilever factory was set up as a V-1 launching site, with another site at Ypenburg, on the coast. The site was consequently attacked by RAF Typhoon aircraft on 23 March 1945.[3] These were some of the last V-1 missiles launched against England.
The neighbouring factory closed in 2008. Research by Unilever in the Netherlands occurred during the war at Zwijndrecht, Netherlands.[4]
Opening edit
The site was officially opened in November 1956 by Willem Drees, the Dutch prime minister. Another research site was at Bahrenfeld in Germany.[5][6]
The site presented the Unilever Research Prize for over 60 years when owned by Unilever Benelux.
Current site edit
On 6 October 2016, Unilever announced that the site would close. The site closed in November 2019 and is now a private science park.[7]
Research edit
In 1968, the centre found the protein miraculin, as well as researchers at the Florida State University College of Human Sciences.[8] Other work made by Henk Van der Wel into the biochemistry of sweetness sensing was published in Chemical Senses.[9]
By genetically-modifying a bacterium, the genes for making thaumatin were added, in 1980.[10]
Visits edit
- On 1 April 1969, a new laboratory was opened by Prince Claus of the Netherlands.
- On 5 December 2016 Martijn van Dam, State Secretary for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, visited.
Former employees edit
- David Adriaan van Dorp, in 1967 worked with University College Cardiff[11]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ New Scientist 7 March 1957, page 17
- ^ Times Tuesday, June 26, 1956 page 7
- ^ Terror from the Sky: The Doodlebug War, page 314
- ^ A Century of Fluid Mechanics in The Netherlands, page 65
- ^ The Scotsman Friday 26 April 1957, page 3
- ^ Times Friday April. 26 1957, page 15
- ^ Current site
- ^ New Scientist 9 May 1974, page 301
- ^ New Scientist 19 June 1986 page 54
- ^ Times Tuesday, December 30, 1980, page 10
- ^ Times Thursday November 23, 1967, page 12