Jumbo Games facts for kids

Jumbo Games is a super old company from the Netherlands that makes awesome jigsaw puzzles and games! It started way back in 1853. Jumbo makes all its puzzles and cardboard games in its own factory in the Netherlands. Their main office is there, but they also have offices in the UK, Germany, and Belgium.

In the UK, Jumbo used to be called Falcon Games. That name was used for their puzzles for grown-ups. Falcon started in 1976, and some people in the UK still call Jumbo by that name.

How Jumbo Games Started

Jumbo Games began a long time ago, in the mid-1800s. It started with a partnership between Engelbert Hausemann and Wilhelm Hotte. Hausemann owned a department store in Amsterdam. Together, they brought games and puzzles into the Netherlands.

Growing the Business

After the First World War, Hausemann & Hotte started selling even more toys and games. They imported cool items like Meccano metal building kits. They also brought in rubber balls, dolls' prams, and even mouth organs. They sold cars, figurines, and other fun games too.

The Birth of the Elephant Brand

Between the two World Wars, Hausemann & Hotte ordered wooden toys. These toys were made by a company called Mauritz en Ball. The toys had to be super strong. People said they were strong enough "that a wooden elephant could stand on them"! These strong toys were sold under the name Jumbo. This is how the famous elephant logo for Jumbo was born.

Making Their Own Games

After the Second World War, it was hard to get products from other countries. So, Hausemann & Hotte started making their own games. They used strong cardboard from local makers. The elephant symbol was still used to show how strong their products were.

In 1950, Hausemann & Hotte opened their own cardboard factory. It was called De Netherlandse Spellenfabriek B.V., or NSF for short. This helped them make sure their games were always top quality. During this time, they created the game Electro and many puzzles. They also launched the classic board game Stratego. Stratego became very popular in America. It was made there by Milton Bradley under a special agreement.

This connection to America continued when Hausemann & Hotte brought the Barbie doll to the Netherlands.

Focusing on Jumbo

By 1967, more and more people wanted games. Hausemann & Hotte stopped importing other brands. They decided to focus only on their own brand, Jumbo. After this, their warehouse and factory moved to a new place called Wognum.

Famous Puzzle Artists

In 1980, a famous artist named Jan van Haasteren started drawing jigsaw puzzles for Jumbo. Today, about 40% of all Jumbo puzzles are Jan van Haasteren puzzles! In 1997, they introduced a unique puzzle called Wasgij. Wasgij is just "jigsaw" spelled backward! Wasgij puzzles are drawn by a group of artists. One of them is Graham Thompson, who has worked with Jumbo for many years.

Games You Might Know

Jumbo Games makes many puzzles and games for grown-ups. Some popular ones include Wasgij, Falcon de luxe, and Jan van Haasteren puzzles. They also have puzzles based on shows like Coronation Street and movies like Carry On.

For kids, Jumbo makes puzzles and games with characters you love! These include Peppa Pig, Everything's Rosie, the Little Kingdom, Fireman Sam, and many Disney characters.