DOC Kaas

DOC Kaas (formally Drents-Overijsselse Coöperatie, internationally also operating under the brand Dutch Original Cheese) is a Dutch dairy cooperative headquartered in Hoogeveen. It is one of the largest cheese producers in the Netherlands, with around 1,200 member dairy farmers and an annual milk intake of roughly one billion kilograms, processed into about 130,000 tonnes of cheese, predominantly natural cheese. In the 2014 financial year the company reported revenue of 558 million euros. The cooperative traces its origins to 22 November 1895, when the Coöperatieve Stoomzuivelfabriek in Hoogeveen was founded; on 6 January 1896 the first 1,100 litres of milk from 108 farmers were delivered to the new factory, where butter and buttermilk were made. Over the following decades the cooperative grew through mergers and consolidation of the Drenthe and Overijssel dairy sector. In March 2016 the European Commission approved, without conditions, a merger with the German dairy group Deutsches Milchkontor (DMK), after an earlier attempt in 2012 had failed. On 1 April 2016 the cooperative subsidiary DOC Kaas B.V. became a wholly owned subsidiary of DMK GmbH, while the cooperative DOC Kaas B.A. itself became a co-owner of DMK GmbH. DOC Kaas continued to operate independently and retained its cooperative structure. In 2017 DOC took over the brand and Dutch business activities of Uniekaas. In 2026 DMK, including DOC Kaas, was acquired by Arla Foods. Per 1 September 2026, DOC Kaas Coöperatie merged into Arla Foods 2026 SCE, a key step in the merger process with Arla Foods. During the transition period the DOC Kaas website remains available as an information and communication platform for members, while communication is gradually aligned with Arla Foods channels. The cooperative basis, the involvement of dairy farmers and the focus on high-quality milk remain central.

DOC Kaas, formally the Drents-Overijsselse Coöperatie, is a Dutch dairy cooperative based in Hoogeveen. Its origins go back to 22 November 1895, when the Coöperatieve Stoomzuivelfabriek in Hoogeveen was founded. On 6 January 1896, milk transporters delivered the first 1,100 litres of milk from 108 livestock farmers to the brand-new factory in Hoogeveen, where butter and buttermilk were produced. Over the twentieth century the cooperative expanded through mergers and consolidation within the dairy sectors of Drenthe and Overijssel, growing into one of the Netherlands' leading cheese producers. By the 2010s DOC Kaas had around 1,200 member dairy farmers and processed approximately one billion kilograms of milk annually into about 130,000 tonnes of cheese, predominantly natural cheese, making it the second-largest cheese producer in the Netherlands. In the 2014 financial year the company achieved revenue of 558 million euros. Internationally it also operated under the brand Dutch Original Cheese. A first attempt in 2012 to merge with the largest German milk processing group, Deutsches Milchkontor (DMK), failed. In March 2016 the European Commission granted approval for the merger without conditions. The cooperative subsidiary DOC Kaas B.V. became a wholly owned subsidiary of DMK GmbH, and the cooperative DOC Kaas B.A. itself became a co-owner of the German dairy company DMK GmbH following the combination on 1 April 2016. DOC Kaas continued to operate independently and retained its cooperative structure. In 2017 DOC took over the brand and the Dutch business activities of Uniekaas. In 2026 DMK, together with DOC Kaas, was acquired by Arla Foods. Per 1 September 2026, DOC Kaas Coöperatie merged into Arla Foods 2026 SCE, marking an important step in the merger process with Arla Foods. During the transition period the DOC Kaas website remains available as an information and communication platform for members, while communication is gradually aligned with Arla Foods channels and expressions. The strong cooperative basis, the involvement of dairy farmers and the focus on high-quality milk remain central.

• 2026

  DMK, including DOC Kaas, acquired by Arla Foods; per 1 September DOC Kaas Coöperatie merges into Arla Foods 2026 SCE.

• 2017

  DOC takes over the brand and Dutch business activities of Uniekaas.

• 2016

  European Commission approves merger with DMK without conditions in March; on 1 April DOC Kaas B.V. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of DMK GmbH and DOC Kaas B.A. becomes co-owner of DMK GmbH.

• 2014

  Financial year revenue of 558 million euros.

• 2012

  First attempt to merge with Deutsches Milchkontor (DMK) fails.

• 1896

  First 1,100 litres of milk from 108 farmers delivered to the Hoogeveen factory on 6 January; butter and buttermilk produced.

• 1895

  Coöperatieve Stoomzuivelfabriek in Hoogeveen founded on 22 November.

Cooperative dairy producer focused on high-quality natural cheese, rooted in member dairy farmers.

• Natural cheese

• Butter

• Buttermilk

• Dutch Original Cheese brand

1. 1Home - DOC Kaasdockaas.nl
2. 2DOC Kaaswikidata.org
3. 3DOC Kaasde.wikipedia.org