The history of Royal Talens

The history of Royal Talens starts in 1899.
We keep on adding and innovating.

2019
Year of Rembrandt

2019 is the year of Rembrandt! As part of recognising the spirit of Rembrandt in all of us, Royal Talens as manufacturer of Rembrandt oil, acrylic, water colour and pastels, presented a competition for artists around the world. The winners won a trip for two persons to The Netherlands. This included a visit to the Royal Talens paint factory, a visit to the artist’s home and the Rijksmuseum.

2017
Loving Vincent hand painted with Van Gogh oil colour

Loving Vincent, the worlds first fully painted animation film, was hand painted with Van Gogh oil colour. This astonishing masterpiece about the life and death of Vincent van Gogh is made using 12 oil paintings a second. Royal Talens is extremely proud that Van Gogh has been chosen as the exclusive paint to create this amazing film. The film is directed by Polish painter and director Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman.

2016
Acquisition Schjerning Farver A/S

With this acquisition, Royal Talens has further reinforced its position as a leading player in artists’, school, hobby & crafts materials and colouring, drawing and writing products. Schjerning Farver holds a strong position with its eco-friendly, high quality products in the school, hobby & craft and private label market. Royal Talens sees this as a perfect addition to its portfolio in more than 100 countries worldwide.

2016
Integration Bruynzeel-Sakura

After a period of intensive collaboration, as of 1 October 2016 bruynzeel-sakura is fully integrated within the Royal Talens organisation. With the Bruynzeel and Sakura brands, Royal Talens will strengthen its position worldwide as a leading player in artists’ materials, and colouring and drawing products.

2016
Ecoline brush pens

Talens Ecoline has been a part of the creative landscape since 1930. It is known for its brilliant, bright colours. The Brush Pens are ready for immediate use and odourless.

2015
Royal Talens Experience Centre

Let us inspire you! At the Royal Talens Experience centre you can register for a factory tour or one of the many workshops. You can find more info here: www.royaltalensexperience.nl

2015
Royal Talens North America founded

After having had a production facility in New Jersey in the first half of the 20th century, Royal Talens established a new North American affiliate in Northampton, MA. From the new office and warehouse we service our customers throughout the United States and Canada, in order to expand Royal Talens’ presence in this part of the world.

2014
Amsterdam spray paint and markers

The Amsterdam spray paint and markers (both water-based) are the perfect extension of the Amsterdam assortment. The spray paint and markers are perfectly intermixable with the existing Amsterdam products.

2014
Talens Poland founded

To continue the growth in Poland and to give the best service and availability of the products in Poland, Royal Talens started its own office in Warsaw: Talens Poland sp. z o.o..

2013
Introduction Cobra Study

Besides the Cobra Artist’ Quality water mixable oil paint we introduce Cobra Study. The same high degree of lightfastness but with less pigment. With Cobra Study you can paint at an affordable price.

2010
Royal Talens introduces Cobra

The innovation of the 21st century; a water mixable oil paint that produces a beautiful and durable result without having to use solvents such as white spirits or turpentine. With Cobra you can paint wherever you want!

2009
110 years Royal Talens

Royal Talens – renowned for its paints – celebrates its 110th anniversary on 4 October. Royal Talens has grown into an international company with strong brands and high-quality products that have been made with respect for tradition. The needs of our customers and dealers have always been paramount and that will remain so. Because together we can make a colourful future as well!

2005
Introduction of ArtCreation

In addition to the Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Amsterdam brands Royal Talens introduced a new brand, ArtCreation. Specially developed to allow the starting artists achieve their first successes, ArtCreation offers beginners an affordable and reliable basic quality in artists’ products.

2002
Packaging award for new range of pencils

The combination of a knowledge of pigments in artists’ paint with the technique of drawing resulted in an innovative product: colour pencils with a guaranteed lightfastness. It was unique in the market and in 2002 received the Best Packaging Award from the NAMTA for its revolutionary packaging design.

1999
Expansion of Distribution Centre

Due to the constant lack of space in the centre of Apeldoorn, Talens moved in 1990 to a new, state of the art distribution hall on the outskirts of the city. From this location the products are sent to retailers in the Benelux and Germany. The company’s own branches in Europe are also supplied as are more than 90 distributors worldwide.

1991
Part of Sakura

Royal Talens became part of the Sakura Color Products Corporation, with its headquarters in Osaka, Japan. Sakura has 1500 staff worldwide and is fully privately owned. The portfolio consists of writing instruments and colouring materials. Sakura offers Royal Talens a solid foundation for expansion and commercial success.

1989
Prince Bernhard opens new hall

Talens’ most prestigious new development to date was festively opened by His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard: the new filling and packaging hall. The production takes places here on the most modern of machines and meets the most stringent of standards.

1982
Introduction of Decorfin Hobby paint

For years the Talens range included paint for folk art typical of the Netherlands: a hobby paint that was used for, for example, the Hindeloopen style and Staphorst stippling technique. Responding to the trend of increased leisure time, this range was rebranded as Decorfin: paints and materials with which everyone can create a personal atmosphere in the interior and on numerous objects.

1976
Introduction of Amsterdam

The nineteen seventies saw the arrival of the phenomenon of marketing. Many changes were made to the range. Amsterdam was introduced: a high-quality type of paint for students.

1974
75th anniversary

With the celebration of the 75th anniversary a number of art lovers among the Talens staff requested that the management put together a Talens art collection. To this day Royal Talens has been managing this ever-increasing art collection with its aim to stimulate young professional artists.

1970
Acrylic, the new paint

The catalogue of the time introduced “a brilliant acrylic (plastic)-based paint, incorporating the latest chemical innovations; a paint which is an evolution in the area of artists paints.”

1963
New products and introduction of Van Gogh brand

After having joined the Sikkens Group NV in 1963 the range received a new boost with the introduction of a great many new products including modern types of paint such as Polymer Colours and ETA. In the mid nineteen seventies Sikkens was taken over by the AKZO group and Talens too became an AKZO subsidiary, until 1991.

In September 1963 the Van Gogh brand was launched. In the course of the years the brand has developed into a brand that incorporates all techniques in its range.

1955
Strong growth

The 1950’s were characterised by enormous growth. In addition to the expansion of factory buildings Talens opened up a new laboratory. Export also became increasingly important. With offices in a number of European countries and agencies in more than 50 countries, Talens products were becoming increasingly available throughout the world.

1949
Designation ‘Royal’ by Queen Wilhelmina

The high demands Talens had already set itself in 1949 regarding sound and high-quality innovation helped it acquire its ‘Royal’ designation. Royal Talens gives this honourable mention shape in a modern manner.

1945
Building up after the war

During the war the production of many products had stopped because the necessary raw materials were simply not available. A stray bomb also caused a great deal of damage to the factory. After 1945 the company combined all its forces to start production again and the company continued to grow once more.

1932
The emergence of the typewriter

The product range was expanded as a new market opened up: ribbons and carbon for typewriters. Distribution took place through the office stationer’s and the emerging office machine sector for which stencils and stencil inks were then also produced.

1927
New Head Office

In 1927 a new office wing was built, which still stands today at the front of the building. Behind this facade the Royal Talens head office is located. The architect of this characteristic building was Mr P.W. van den Belt. This building is now listed as a historic building and is on the list of the Dutch Historic Buildings Council.

1924
Introduction of the Rembrandt Soft Pastels

The company always responded to the needs of the market with the underlying concept of: “meeting an as wide as possible range in this sector”. This approach led to the development and launch of the Rembrandt soft pastels. It did not take long for this product to become an international success as well.

1920
Further automation of the production

The demand for Talens products continued to grow, and in 1920 the company continued to expand and further automated the production. Steam was introduced as the supplier of energy. In the years that followed the company took over a local ink factory and built its own tin plant.

1912
First expansion of the company

With the ever-increasing production of oil colours and new products the business soon expanded for the first time. Also abroad the Rembrandt oil colours, known from the “Dutch farmer”, became a success. Talens set up a sales office in America.

1899
REMBRANDT OIL COLOURS & WATER COLOURS

The arrival of Rembrandt oil colours and water colours saw the start to the production of a wide range of high-quality artists’ paints. This can be seen in a photo from the 1904 catalogue.

1899
Beginning of Talens

The history of Royal Talens goes back to 1899. In that year Marten Talens founded the “Dutch Factory for Paints, Lacquers and Inks” in the Dutch city of Apeldoorn. As a family business it concerned itself initially with the production of office supplies and inks.

Source: https://www.royaltalens.com/en/about-royal-talens/history/