De Olifant: Short- and Medium-Filler Cigars from Kampen
The cigarillos from "De Olifant"—which translates to "The Elephant" in German—have been around since the early 19th century. The brand's name originates from the trading ship "De Witte Olifant" of the Dutch East India Company, the world's most influential trading company between 1602 and 1799. This and many other Dutch ships transported tobacco from the East Indian colonies of Java and Sumatra to the Netherlands, where it was processed into fine tobacco products. The De Olifant tobacco factory continues this long-standing tradition, still relying on premium natural tobaccos. Each year, 4.4 million cigarillos as well as short-filler and medium-filler cigars leave the Kampen factory—a relatively small production, but one where quality always comes first.
De Olifant’s German Roots
The bands on De Olifant cigars display two years. The first, 1826, marks the establishment of the first tobacco factory in Kampen, a small Dutch town on the IJsselmeer. Bremen-based merchant Johann Lehmkuhl recognized the favorable conditions of this location and laid the foundation for Kampen’s development into the cigar capital of the Netherlands—comparable to the Westphalian city of Bünde. In 1832, another cigar factory was founded by the Dutchman Meulenkamp, later becoming known as De Olifant.
Around 1900, Kampen was the Dutch center of tobacco processing. Over 120 factories on Vorstraat, the city’s main production street, processed tobacco from the Indonesian colonies into cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco. The city was so significant that it was nearly chosen as the capital of the Netherlands. Today, De Olifant is the last remaining manufacturer in Kampen. Since 1993, the company has been run by Thomas Klaphake and his wife, Maaike van der Sluis, whose family has owned it for four generations.
De Olifant Cigars and Cigarillos
De Olifant relies on special wrappers to ensure the unique flavor of its cigars. One of the most highly regarded is the rare Sumatra Sand Leaf, known as the "white-burning gold." Due to its limited availability, it is more expensive than silver and is used by only a few manufacturers.
Thomas Klaphake emphasizes that even in times of limited time resources, the quality and taste experience of cigarillos must always be maintained. The Classic line offers the perfect format for every moment, from the small Fantje Imperial to the larger Corona Panatela Imperial.
