Chemische Industrie Uithoorn

Industrial chemical activity in Uithoorn dates to at least 1863; the Koninklijke Chemische Fabriek produced primarily sulphuric acid at the site.

The company was acquired by rival sulphuric acid producer Ketjen en Co.[note 1] who concentrated their manufacturing capacity in Amsterdam.

van Seumeren who created a tar processing facility under the company Teerbedrijf Uithoorn (TEBU).

[8] During the 1970s, new environmental protection laws were introduced in the Netherlands, including air quality, and odor nuisance regulations.

Before emission control mechanisms were introduced the Cindu plant was estimated to emit ~200t per year into the air.

[11][12] The coal tar activities at Uithoorn continued after 1997 as Cindu Chemicals, (50% owned by Koninklijke Hoogovens), as well as the joint venture Nevcin Polymers.

[16] On 8 July 1992, an overheating vessel at the Nevcin site exploded, resulting in a fire;[17] three people were killed and eleven wounded.

[18] The accident was caused by the reaction vessel being wrongly filled with the reactive chemical Dicyclopentadiene the previous day.