An iconic Dutch coffee-flavoured sweet, which can trace its history back to the early 19th century, is being taken out of production because of falling demand.

Haagsche Hopjes, wrapped in white waxed paper and sold in red tins, have been hard to find in recent years and now the brand’s Italian owner has decided to stop making them altogether.

“It is always sad when demand drops for one of our brands, especially one with such a rich history,” Swedish sweet maker Cloetta, which had already shifted production to Italy, told local broadcaster Omroep West.

The candy is the brainchild of baron Hendrik Hop, who was, according to legend, addicted to coffee. Once he fell asleep after a heavy night’s coffee drinking, leaving a cup of coffee with cream and sugar on a heater where it hardened. The taste appealed to him, his neighbour happened to be a confectioner and the rest, they say, is history.

News of the end of the Haagse Hopje was broken by Jan van der Laan, who set up a small museum dedicated to the sweet in The Hague last year.  The museum is open on the first Sunday of the month and is free to visit.

Van der Laan has plenty of ideas to breath new life into the sweet tradition. Later, this year, for example, thousands of dignatories will come to the city for the annual Nato summit.

“Why not give all the journalists and top dogs a tin of hopjes,” he said. “It would be brilliant. We have to keep this tradition going.”

Fans of the distinctive coffee taste will still be able to buy a different version of the sweet, the Holland Hopje, which is oval rather than square and comes in a bag or tin.

Political concerns

Nevertheless, Richard de Mos, leader of local political party Hart voor Den Haag, has already called on the city council to buy the rights and bring production back to the city.

“How can we let such Hague heritage disappear?,” De Mos said. “We also want a statue of the baron on the Lange Voorhout, outside number 92, where he invented his hopje. Tourists can pose with him for photos.”