History
Origins
The origins of the Van der Knaap Group date back to 1980 when Ron van der Knaap started making compressed peat blocks. After a few years, Ron's brother Perry van der Knaap joined the company, which relocated to an industrial site at Bovendijk in Kwintsheul in 1988. This site offered enough space to expand the production capacity.
Producing all these products required reliable raw materials so the ‘modest’ Van der Knaap acquired Holland Potgrond in 1994. In 1999, a branch was added in Grubbenvorst: Holland Potgrond Limburg.
In 2008, Van der Knaap started a partnership with Braam Plug Products from Aalsmeer which resulted in two branches of Van der Knaap-Braam; one in Aalsmeer and one in Kwintsheul. Van der Knaap Retail was founded in 2008 to serve the consumer market with high-quality potting soil products.
Innovation has played a key role in the organisation for decades. Following years of research, the first successful practical trials using an organic nutrient solution - produced by an in-house developed bioreactor - were performed in 2015. This was a highly significant development focused on the future.
In 2024, there was a strategic reorientation in the collaboration between Van der Knaap and Braam. Since then, the Braam family has specialised entirely in production for the retail market, while the Van der Knaap Group has sharpened its focus on professional horticulture.
In the same year, Van der Knaap Group climbed from 25th to 21st place in the Hillenraad100. This list ranks the 100 leading companies in the Dutch greenhouse and horticulture sector. The ranking highlights the position of the Van der Knaap Group as a progressive and reliable partner in the sector.
In January 2025, Jelte Veenstra was appointed CEO, succeeding Ron van der Knaap. In the same year, a strategic partnership was announced with Premier Tech from Canada. Premier Tech is a family-owned company with over a century of history and a well-established reputation for innovation, collaboration and sustainability. Through this partnership, both our companies can deliver even greater value to our customers by sharing and combining our expertise and product portfolios, driving innovation and consolidating our global presence.
Van der Knaap Group and Premier Tech have enjoyed an excellent working relationship for years and had already successfully collaborated through Van der Knaap's partner in Sri Lanka. Further cooperation was therefore a logical step. This strategic move not only enhances our delivery reliability, but also supports the continuity and sustainability of the solutions we offer our customers.
“As a partner, we strengthen our capabilities and expertise while remaining committed to our own identity, culture and values. This partnership represents a logical progression and strengthens our core principles and identity”, Jelte Veenstra, CEO Van der Knaap Group.
Ambassador Award
In 2014, the Van der Knaap Group won the Ambassador Award for the Growrite Substrates coco production facility in Sri Lanka. A jury consisting of SMEs from the Netherlands, Rabobank and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised Van der Knaap as an innovative company that has persevered and succeeded in developing a new market for coco products.
Coco
Coco peat was 'discovered' in the 1990s as a raw material for potting soil: an organic material offering many technical advantages for cultivation. Forteco joined the Group to market coco products. To meet the increasing demand for coco peat products, the first coco production site was opened in 2006: Growrite Sri Lanka. Facilities in India and the Dominican Republic followed in the next few years. Production sites have since also been established in Turkey and Spain, mainly to serve local markets.
Peat
To guarantee the availability and quality of our peat resources, Van der Knaap has obtained permits to produce peat in Estonia. The Responsibly Produced Peat (RPP) certification system monitors whether peat extraction is performed sustainably.