In 1753 Egbert Douwes and his wife Akke Thijsses opened their shop on Midstreet, Joure, The Netherlands. By doing so they lay the foundations, upon which the Douwe Egberts of today was built. Egbert and Akke's mission was to sell products for 'the pleasure of daily living'.

Until the First World War the store sold a large variety of goods. Coffee, tobacco and tea were their main products, but they also sold sweets, sugar, rice, vermicelli, chicory, cinnamon, saffron, syrup, vinegar, chocolate and dried fruit.