Kwekerij Boonen-van der Heijden B.V. was founded in 1984 by Thei Boonen and Toos Boonen-van der Heijden.
What started as a small family business has grown into a modern nursery and one of the larger players in the groundcover market. Around 5 million plants are produced each year. From cutting to finished product, the plants are fully grown and cared for at our own nursery. Our products are supplied to garden centres, retail, wholesalers, cash-and-carry businesses and landscaping companies both in the Netherlands and abroad. Around 95% of our plants are grown in square 9 cm pots, with the remaining plants grown in larger pots. Sustainability plays an important role within our company. Our greenhouses are heated by our own biomass heating system, which uses, among other things, used growing substrate and rejected plants, mixed with wood chips.
Within our open and informal working environment, around 40 employees work together every day towards one goal: a beautiful, high-quality end product.
A company that changes grows together with the people who are part of it. And over the past few years, several changes have taken place at Kwekerij Boonen-van der Heijden.
Thei and Toos Boonen once started with their first child: Kwekerij Boonen-van der Heijden. What started small grew over the years into a wonderful family business, built with heart, hard work and passion. A company that is not only about plants, but above all about people, memories, challenges and a great deal of passion. After many years of hard work, a new phase began in which their children Monique, Jeroen and Martien each found their own place within the company at different moments. In this way, the next generation became part of the business and the family company continued to grow.
Monique joined the company in 2017. She has since become an integral part of the day-to-day running of the business and is mainly responsible for all office activities, personnel matters and financial administration. She is also involved in part of the sales process and maintains contact with customers. Jeroen joined the company in 2018. He grew alongside the nursery and, over the years that followed, contributed to the further development of the business in various areas. Martien followed his own path and, in the meantime, built his own experience and future. After Jeroen's departure, the time also came for him to take a new step and join the family business.
In this way, each member of the next generation found their own place within the company, at their own time and bringing their own strengths.
And sometimes there comes a moment when you have to learn to let go of your first child, at least a little. Last year, Jeroen Boonen decided to follow his own path and pursue other dreams. For Thei and Toos, this also meant letting go. It is not always easy, because you are not simply letting go of a part of your business – you are letting go of a part of your life's work. But as a family business, we know that growth sometimes also means giving each other the freedom to follow our own paths. We are proud of what Jeroen has meant to the nursery and wish him every happiness and success as he pursues his dreams.
After Jeroen's departure, Monique remained part of the company, while at the same time we began looking towards the next step. Because a growing company needs a strong team and people who are willing to take responsibility. After a few months, Martien joined our team. He has now been part of the Boonen team for almost a year. During this time, he has had the opportunity to get to know our people, our way of working and, of course, everything that happens on a nursery on a daily basis.
Martien mainly focuses on day-to-day management and coordination. But with his technical knowledge, practical approach and experience, you will also find him in many other areas of the business. From the nursery to the technical side of the operation – if there is something that needs doing, chances are Martien will be involved.
After almost a year, we can say with a smile: Martien has truly become part of the team. A new chapter, then. With respect for what has been, confidence in what lies ahead and, above all, great enthusiasm for the future. Because one thing remains the same: Boonen continues to grow. Together with the people who give their best every day.