For twenty years, the desired growth within the company was hindered, as it was located outside the designated tree nursery zone. However, thanks to a pilot program with the municipality and the water board, there are now opportunities that provide a future outlook and space for entrepreneurial spirit. So, be sure to visit Van Dijck Young Plants at GrootGroenPlus. They have much to share with you.

Source: Heidi Peters

The name Van Dijck Young Plants is brand new, just like the logo accompanying this article. Until 1 July, the company operated under the name Boomkwekerij E. van Dijck, a name it had used since 1992. Van Dijck is a propagation/seedling company. Erik van Dijck started out with conifer and shrub seedlings, along with some open-field cultivation. Now the focus is on seedlings, with the addition of container fields.

Van Dijck and his son, Glenn, wanted to expand into new cultivation methods and carefully considered what would be suitable. Last year, an excellent opportunity arose: a fellow entrepreneur from the Zundert area decided to stop producing pot-set rootstocks. This cultivation is now being added to Van Dijck's offerings. Erik van Dijck shares: "Last year, we started with some trial varieties to get a feel for this type of cultivation. Next year, we'll have 600,000 to 700,000 pots, and we need to be familiar with the cultivation process. Fertilisation, rooting, delivery, and potting times – it’s all a bit different. The former grower is advising us along the way."

Impression tree nursery

The nursery spans 3.5 hectares, with 7,000 square meters of greenhouses. Plans are underway to expand the greenhouse by 1.2 hectares and to develop 1.5 hectares of container fields. For this expansion, a compensation of over 0.5 hectares must be realised, which will be implemented in the form of a 'wadi' – a rainwater basin where water will collect and infiltrate the ground. 30% of the products are exported to the Baltic States, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

GrootGroenPlus

At the trade fair, Van Dijck will present not only container and shrub seedlings but also promote the pot-set rootstocks to increase awareness of this product. Visitors will learn that the rootstock range is broad, offering plenty of choices. Van Dijck emphasises: "We are quality growers, and we strive to deliver weed-free products. Our customers can expect the same high quality from our new products, the pot-set rootstocks. We stand behind our products. For instance, last year we began mulching with Miscanthus. Initially, it was a trial, but we are very pleased with the results, and it looks promising." Glenn van Dijck adds: "This year, we invested in two potting lines: one for pots and one for cultivation trays. We see that younger growers are open to this and have already opted for it. Older growers are still hesitant, but it’s less work for our customers, and the trays last up to fifteen years. That’s sustainable."

New name, new generation

The nursery is managed by father, mother, and son Van Dijck, along with a few permanent staff members and temporary workers. Son Glenn recently joined the company, and as mentioned above, there are many plans for innovation. These reasons led to a rebranding of the nursery’s name and logo. For twenty years, Van Dijck Young Plants was not permitted to develop further due to its location in the 'green-blue zone' and outside the designated area for the tree nursery industry. Now, with the creation of the compensatory 'wadi,' the space for growth is available once again. "We’ve finally reached this point," laughs Erik van Dijck. "With a fresh start, our son joining us, and new plans, we want to move forward into the future with a new name."