Charles Gesner van der Voort had started his career in Rotterdam, at Holland-China Trading Company (HCHC). In 1938, he went to Shanghai for the firm. The Japanese interned him, and most other Dutch nationals, from 1943-45. In camp, he met his wife Nancy and they married after the war. After a leave in The Netherlands, they returned to the Orient, where Charles continued to work for HCHC in Hong Kong.
This photo was found in the company archives, held by Stadsarchief Rotterdam. A female shopkeeper with child handles the paperwork with an HCHC representative. A Volkswagen Transporter, type 1, was used to transport goods from the harbour to a warehouse and to clients. Several products were advertised on the van: Pammastic paints, Mitchell air-conditioners, and Liebherr refrigerators. A visible product is on the ground: sacks with ROTTERDAM brand NPK fertilizers 13-13-21. On the sack it states that Holland-China Trading Company Hong Kong is the sole importer.
HCHC had its offices in Alexandra Building.
If you have any idea of the location of this photo, please let me know.
1256 N.V. Internationale Crediet- en Handelsvereniging Rotterdam/C.V. en N.V. Wm H. Muller & Co. (Internatio-Muller N.V.) 1479 Foto's Holland China Trading Co in Sjanghai en Hong Kong.
courtesy Stadsarchief Rotterdam, <a href="https://old.gwulo.com/%3Ca%20href%3D"http://www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/en">http://www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/en" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/en</a>
