Begonia cultivation in Holland
In 1957 Arie saw a field of begonias plants in Spanboek, grown on contract for a company from Belgium. These were tubers left over from the previous year. That year Arie visited the field with the begonias many times and fell in love with the product. However, this was not grown in the Netherlands. So Arie drove to Belgium in the spring of 1958, in search of knowledge and seed to grow tuberous begonias himself. There he collected his first 100,000 rooted begonia plants: the start of begonia cultivation in the Netherlands.
Company relocation to Dirkshorn
Arie's sons had been working in the business since childhood. When the location in Zwaagdijk became too small and expansion there became difficult, the company moved to Dirkshorn. From 1976, the company was continued here by the four brothers Frans, Theo, Aad and John. Here, based on technological developments, the cultivation was further developed and major steps were taken in automation of the cultivation processes.
Introduction transplanting robot
In 2000, the first transplanting robot was purchased. A technological development that enabled the transplanting of begonias, which until then was all done by hand, to be taken over by robot.
Innovation and efficiency
The techonological and sustainable developments continue, including the construction of a growing label greenhouse, a new transplanting robot and a rolling container system in the greenhouses.
Expand in export activities
With the takeover of P.A. de Groot Export, we expanded our forcing export activities to Scandinavia. All bulbs are processed, prepared and made ready for delivery from our new warehouse location in ‘t Veld.
