Holstein Flowers 75 years

From vegetables to flowers

1969 Eldest son Willem enters the company and in 1975 son Leo also starts in the greenhouse. The younger generation decides to switch from vegetables to gerbera cultivation in 1974. In these early days, we grow gerberas in the ground. Our first varieties are the large-flowered Zonnepracht, Petra, Ronald, Arendsoog, Clementine and Apple Blossom. Only the large-flowered gerberas exist. We quickly grow in size and the company expands further.

Cuttings new plants

1977 The foundation of Vof H.A. van Holsteijn & Zn. is a fact. One by one the sons join the company. Son Tom also joined the company a few years later. He soon learns everything about gerbera cultivation. Such as the annual replacing of the plants. After Mother's Day we remove all the plants and the ground is steamed and disinfected. In the past, if you wanted new plants, you had to make cuttings. Ordering plants from the laboratory, as we do today, was not yet possible at the time. You returned the motherplants to the owner of that variety. You received a little cutting for each mother plant you returned. In these early days, the little cuttings are still all made by hand. This is hard work. Later we also make cuttings of our own varieties. First the harvesting was done completely by hand and shovel, later a harvesting machine was developed to make the work lighter. We also develop a new trolley during this time, a successful invention that is being adopted by other growers.

Moving to The Hague

1979 We buy a 2-hectare nursery in a horticultural area in The Hague. Unfortunately, we have to leave again four years later. The greenhouses have to make way for housing and industry. But we will not let this put us off. We soon find a new location in De Lier. The new nursery will be named "Holger", referring to Holstein Gerbera. Until now, we have grown gerberas in the open ground, but in 1986 we start growing on substrate, on rock wool mats. Gerbera 'Jaguar' is the first variety that we grow on substrate. In 1988 the fourth son Mathieu also joins the company and a few years later he joins the management.

1st spherical gerbera

2004 We are one of the first growers to market the spherical gerbera. The first varieties are Belfi and Pimpernel. Innovation has always been very important to us and is still our driving force.

The New Cultivation

2012 In the renewed Futura we are the first gerbera grower to start with “The New Cultivation” (Het Nieuwe Telen, HNT). This way of cultivation ensures that the climate in the greenhouse remains as stable as possible and that hardly any energy is lost. We use physical knowledge to optimally control the cultivation in terms of temperature, moisture, CO2 dosing, light and screens.

We open our own laboratory at the Bastille location. Now we can propagate gerberas ourselves.

Germicros en Gerpastas

2019 Over the years, we keep adding unique and special gerberas. We now have Gerberas, Germinis, Gerspiders and Gerponis in our range. In 2019 we add a new gerbera group: the tiny Germicros with a diameter of only 3 - 5 cm. In 2021, the Gerpastas are added with their curly petals. We offer a wide and complete range of gerberas with unique shapes, sizes and color combinations.

Holstein Flowers 75 years!

May 2021 Holstein Flowers celebrates its 75th anniversary! A special milestone. We are proud of where we stand today: a family business with an extensive assortment, a strong breeding department complete with selection greenhouse and laboratory, and the newest cultivation techniques. Our special anniversary logo will be displayed on all communications of the company this year.