Our story begins in 1870, when founder and namesake Charles de Meulemeester, a beer brewer from Goes, saw opportunities in artificial oyster farming. Together with other entrepreneurs, he set out, well-prepared, to find a location where oyster beds could be constructed.

That location was found at the Waterschans in Bergen op Zoom, directly on the Oosterschelde. This is where the famous “Oesterputten” (oyster beds) originated, where even then fresh Oosterschelde water was brought in via a clever inlet in the dike. A method that, in essence, remains important within the shellfish sector to this day. As early as 1873, there were no fewer than 500,000 pans on the seabed.

Oyster farming is growing rapidly. In the spring, hundreds of people work on the harvest, and in the winter, the first oysters are traded. Demand is high, especially from Germany and England. Orders arrive via telegrams and letters; almost unimaginable in an era when everything is arranged with a single click. The oyster farmers even prove to be ahead of their time: in 1881, they request permission to establish a telephone connection between the oyster beds and their offices.

Although Charles de Meulemeester became a successful entrepreneur, he died in 1889 at the age of 46. After his death, the structure of the company changed, and De Meulemeester formed the basis of a larger entity within the oyster trade in the Oosterschelde.

Over the years, Bergen op Zoom proved to be increasingly unsuitable for oyster farming. Research showed that the location of the oyster beds was unfavorable and that the risk of contamination increased due to conditions in the city and harbor. Many entrepreneurs left, and so De Meulemeester moved to Yerseke in 1907, where the company once again built a solid foundation.

In the decades that followed, De Meulemeester grew into a household name, and the product range also expanded under the leadership of Sas de Koeijer. The first lobsters were purchased in Norway, followed later by imports from Canada; a step that established De Meulemeester as the leading Dutch wholesaler of oysters and live lobsters. With this move, De Meulemeester also became the first company in Europe to start importing live lobsters.

As of April 1, 2025, De Meulemeester has been acquired by Adri & Zoon BV. Today, De Meulemeester is active in the import, export, and distribution of live lobsters, (king) crabs, oysters, scallops, vongole, cockles, and many more crustaceans and shellfish.

In addition, we cultivate Zeeland flat oysters and Zeeland creuses on our own plots in the Oosterschelde. Our products are sold daily primarily to horeca wholesalers, foodservice companies, and retailers, chosen for their consistent quality, freshness, and taste.