Free Record Shop founder Hans Breukhoven dies at age 70

Entrepreneur Hans Breukhoven passed away on Friday after a long period of illness, his ex wife Connie Witteman confirmed. He died at age 70 in London, where he lived, NU.nl reports.

Breukhoven was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2014. In January last year his business partner Juan da Silva announced that the cancer spread to his liver and that chemotherapy was not achieving the desired result. According to Prive, Breukhoven will buried in the Netherlands.

The Dutch businessman started the Free Record shop in Schiedam in the early 70's. At the height of the record store's success it had more than 200 branches in the Netherlands and Belgium. The company went bankrupt in 2013, one of many to fall under the economic crisis. And attempts to relaunch it failed.

Along with Da Silva, Breuhoven wrote a book titled Free! Opkomst en ondergang van een eigenwijs bedrijs (Free! Rise and fall of a stubborn company, in English). The book is expected to be in stores in February

Breukhoven leaves behind five children from three relationships.