Heinen Delfts Blauw had a rather unexpected beginning, stemming from the founder, Jaap Heinen's personal interest in painting. After receiving numerous commissions for Imari painting on vases, plates, and Spakenburg costumes, he founded the company together with his son, Jorrit Heinen, in 1975, and set up shop in Amsterdam to cope with the growing public interest. The company is one of the last manufacturers that still follows the traditional way of delftware production and hand painting. In 2004, the company grew, in line with its popularity, and founded its wholesale network, including outlets in Amsterdam and Delft, and a factory located in Putten.
The expansion not only changed the scene by positioning delftware as a core feature of Dutch cultural tourism, but also put the company's motto 'creating new tradition’ into place. The duo modernised the traditional Delft Blauw pattern, adding more white space than the traditional approach, and breathed new life into their work by collaborating with designers such as Romy Kühne, Geke Lensink, and Richard Hutten. The company is currently working on a new Imari style to give the craft a second boost, making delftware more relevant to our modern lifestyle.