The nursery
Introduction
W. van der Poel & Zoon is an open-ground nursery of approx. 5 ha in Hazerswoude, The Netherlands. This village is adjacent to Boskoop and also situated in a unique low-lying natural peat polder with extremely fertile and light soil. Together with the waterways, it provides for an almost ideal climate to grow ornamental shrubs and conifers.
Currently, we are a team of 5 people who share a goal to grow plants in many different varieties for European customers who appreciate quality, a wide range and good selections. In the nursery, we take our time, our plants are grown for a minimum of two and a half years on our premises.
Our history
While we are firmly focused on an exciting future, we are also proud of our past and maintaining a tradition. It is unique to continue a business established by the current owner's great-grandfather.
Willem van der Poel started the business in 1887 at Loeteweg, just a kilometre away from our current location. His son, Maarten, joined the business around 1932 and added export activities. Maarten's sons, Wim and Alphons, started the current location and managed the company until 2012, when the 4th generation, Jan-Willem, took over the reins.
By not embracing container growing, our nursery still resembles, to a certain degree, the ancestral way of growing plants. Of course, a lot has also changed, we use the latest equipment, machinery and insights to enable the production of plants to today’s standards.
Top picture: Layering (typical Boskoop propagation method) by Maarten van der Poel, 2nd generation,
July 1989
Bottom picture: Wim en Alphons van der Poel, 3rd generation, December 2012
The 'sister' entreprises
The nursery activity is one of the four separate businesses, all related through a van der Poel ‘family connection’. Based in the region of Boskoop-Hazerswoude in the Netherlands, the activities are:
Avaxa
An international trading company handling trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs throughout Europe and further afield if needed.
Valkplant
An independent bureau handling all aspects of plant breeders' rights and assortment innovation.
ColorChoice Plants Europe
A company managing the European shrub program of the Proven Winners® brand.
interested in a job or an internship ?
At W&Z, we are always looking for enthusiastic people to join our team.
It does not matter if you are not yet a qualified grower or have no nursery experience! Do get in touch if you are keen to work outdoors and learn about propagating and growing garden plants.