In the Grote Zaal, in the centre of the Beurs van Berlage, there was a large goods exchange in the first years after the opening. This was the trade centre of Amsterdam and many merchandise changed hands here. One of the items that were traded here was cocoa. Then also a very popular product!

But even now, more than 115 years later, Amsterdam continues to play a major role in the international cocoa industry. This is due to the strategic location of the port and the processing factories that are located in the Zaan region. However, there is a big difference with the past: the cocoa production itself is looked at much more critically.

Organic production and fair trade are receiving much more attention within the cocoa industry, and more and more parties are committed to this cause. The Beurs van Berlage is proud to host two organisations that have set themselves the goal of making the chocolate chain as fair as possible.

Significant for this is the chocolate festival Chocoa that has already taken place several times in the Beurs van Berlage. Unlike in the past, the organisation does not only bring the traders to the trading floor. It is now a real meeting place, since consumers and producers are also very welcome. In addition, it is no longer just a marketplace. Stories are exchanged, new ideas are presented, and of course there are much possibilities to taste the chocolate as well!

In the fall of 2017, Tony Chocolonely announced their ‘Beursgang’. What exactly did they mean by that? This remained uncertain for a while, but it soon became clear that it was about a brand new Super Store in the Beurs van Berlage. In this shop on the north side of the building, Tony’s superstars enter into a daily conversation about the abuses in the cocoa industry. In addition, you can of course also taste all the (and there are many!) delicious flavours of Tony chocolate, and buy it too.