Freddy Heineken
Encyclopedia
Alfred Henry Heineken (November 4, 1923, Amsterdam
, Netherlands
–January 3, 2002) was a Dutch major stock holder and president of Heineken International, the brewing company bought in 1864 by his grandfather Gerard Adriaan Heineken
in Amsterdam
.
He entered the service of the company (which by then was no longer owned by the family) on 1 June 1941 and bought back stock several years later, to ensure the family controlled the company again. He created the Heineken Holding that owned 50.005% of Heineken International; he personally held a majority stake in Heineken Holding.
By the time of his resignation as chairman of the board in 1989 he had transformed Heineken from a brand
that was known chiefly in the Netherlands
to a brand that is currently famous worldwide.
Freddy Heineken married Lucille Cummins, an American
from a Kentucky
family of bourbon whiskey
distillers. Heineken's daughter, Charlene Heineken, inherited his fortune in 2002.
s). The kidnappers Cor van Hout, Willem Holleeder
, Jan Boelaard, Frans Meijer, and Martin Erkamps, were eventually caught and served their prison
terms. Before being extradited Van Hout and Holleeder stayed for more than three years in France
, first on the run, then in prison, and then, awaiting a change of the extradition treaty, then with house arrest
, and finally in prison again. Meijer escaped and lived in Paraguay
for years, until he was discovered by Peter R. de Vries
and imprisoned there. In 2003, Meijer stopped resisting his extradition
to the Netherlands, and was transferred to a Dutch prison to serve the last part of his term.
A film of the kidnapping, with Rutger Hauer playing Freddy Heineken, was released in October 2011. A second film, based on De Vries' book about the kidnapping, is planned to be produced by Informant Media, with the scenario to be written by William Brookfield.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
–January 3, 2002) was a Dutch major stock holder and president of Heineken International, the brewing company bought in 1864 by his grandfather Gerard Adriaan Heineken
Gerard Adriaan Heineken
Gerard Adriaan Heineken was the founder of Heineken. In 1864 he decided to purchase the brewery 'Den Hoyberg.' Here he started to brew a new beer....
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
He entered the service of the company (which by then was no longer owned by the family) on 1 June 1941 and bought back stock several years later, to ensure the family controlled the company again. He created the Heineken Holding that owned 50.005% of Heineken International; he personally held a majority stake in Heineken Holding.
By the time of his resignation as chairman of the board in 1989 he had transformed Heineken from a brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
that was known chiefly in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to a brand that is currently famous worldwide.
Freddy Heineken married Lucille Cummins, an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from a Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
family of bourbon whiskey
Bourbon whiskey
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey – a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn. The name of the spirit derives from its historical association with an area known as Old Bourbon, around what is now Bourbon County, Kentucky . It has been produced since the 18th century...
distillers. Heineken's daughter, Charlene Heineken, inherited his fortune in 2002.
Kidnapping
Freddy Heineken and his chauffeur Ab Doderer were kidnapped in 1983 and released on a ransom of 35 million Dutch guldens (about 16 million EuroEuro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s). The kidnappers Cor van Hout, Willem Holleeder
Willem Holleeder
Willem Frederik Holleeder is perhaps one of the best known Dutch criminals. In 2007 he was sentenced to nine years in prison for several counts of extortion, including the extortion of Willem Endstra, who was murdered in 2004 after falling-out with Holleeder. He is currently serving his sentence...
, Jan Boelaard, Frans Meijer, and Martin Erkamps, were eventually caught and served their prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
terms. Before being extradited Van Hout and Holleeder stayed for more than three years in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, first on the run, then in prison, and then, awaiting a change of the extradition treaty, then with house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
, and finally in prison again. Meijer escaped and lived in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
for years, until he was discovered by Peter R. de Vries
Peter R. de Vries
Peter Rudolf de Vries is a Dutch Investigative Journalist and crime reporter. His television program covers high profile cases and set a Dutch television viewing record. In 2005, he started his own political party which was disbanded soon after.-Early life and career:Peter Rudolf de Vries was born...
and imprisoned there. In 2003, Meijer stopped resisting his extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
to the Netherlands, and was transferred to a Dutch prison to serve the last part of his term.
A film of the kidnapping, with Rutger Hauer playing Freddy Heineken, was released in October 2011. A second film, based on De Vries' book about the kidnapping, is planned to be produced by Informant Media, with the scenario to be written by William Brookfield.