Our history

Our history starts in De Posthoorn, a tavern where the stagecoach was supplied with fresh horses, which Hendrik-Jan Spaas converted into a wax bleaching plant. It bleaches beeswax by exposing it to the sun, which was sold to monasteries and abbeys as a semi-finished product to make candles.

Theodoor Spaas, Hendrik-Jan's son, continues the business. He moves the wax bleaching plant to Sint-Huibrechts-Lille. He introduces a second raw material, paraffin, in addition to beeswax.

Brother Louis Spaas takes over the business and moves the wax bleaching plant back to Hamont. Churches start buying candles instead of bleached beeswax, so Louis decides to start producing beeswax candles. In 1911, the first machine is commissioned, a mechanical dipping machine. In 1920 and the following years, the candle factory is further modernised by Louis' four sons – Gerard, Henri, Alfons and Jozef – and production expands to include household candles. In 1933 the moulding machine makes its appearance and in 1935 stearin is added as a raw material.

By now, the company is no longer just a supplier for the religious sector, but also active in the profane sector with household, Christmas and table candles. The family business is transformed into a limited company ‘Kaarsenfabriek L. Spaas en CO’. And in 1980, it becomes NV Spaas Kaarsen.

The company celebrates its 100th anniversary and employs about 60 people. Unfortunately, a year later, a fire breaks out that partially reduces the factory to ashes. Despite this, 4 years later the Belgian company achieves another milestone: exporting to the Dutch, German and French markets.

Under the management of Gerard Spaas, son of Jozef Spaas, the company moves to a more spacious location on the industrial estate in Hamont-Achel, where it remains to this day. At that time, the demand for household candles and fantasy candles has grown considerably. The sales markets in the Netherlands, France and Germany also grow strongly.

The production process is further expanded. New production lines, extrusion (the latest technology) and also the automation of packing activities make their appearance. A few years later, the Hamont-Achel town council officially proclaims the town as Candle Town, with the bronze monument ‘The Candle Maker’ adorning the market square.

A computer-controlled mixing chamber and the first fully automatic line for tealights are installed. Two years later, Gerard Spaas takes the initiative to centralise the family shares in one hand. Vital for the continuity of the company.

Under the leadership of Ben Spaas, Gerard's son, the production site in Poland is started up. Essential for the company's growth strategy, as the demand for scented and glass candles increases. New concepts see the light of day.

Spaas adds all the strength to its reputation as a strong quality brand by winning the BRC quality label in addition to ISO9001. This is unique in the candle industry. Two years later, the company comes under the spotlight as part of a power-saving campaign. Spaas lights the ‘Black-out’ Christmas market in Mechlin with a thousand candles and manages to light the largest candle in Europe at this Christmas market. The candle is 4 metres high and weighs about 2.2 tonnes.

In 2020, Spaas receives De Fakkel Award from Voka - Chamber of Commerce Limburg, in recognition of a company with exceptional track records. Two years later, Spaas wins the prestigious Family Business Award of Excellence 2022. A crowning achievement for family entrepreneurship. Less than a year later, the company also wins the renowned Ambiorix Award 2023 from entrepreneurial organisation VKW-Limburg and also becomes a finalist for Enterprise of the Year 2023. In the same year, Spaas Belgium blows out 170 candles and Spaas Poland 15. To celebrate, Spaas took the entire company to Poland with a visit to the plant and a grand party to conclude.

After launching a thorough rebranding, in the autumn of 2024, Spaas exchanges its EcoVadis Gold label for Platinum in one year's time. This puts the company no less than in the top 1% of best-performing companies in terms of sustainability. With this, Spaas mainly wants to demonstrate that quality can also go hand in hand with sustainability and corporate responsibility.