Our company was founded by Jan de Wit in 1922, and was located in Bovenkarspel at the time. In the beginning, the company only grew vegetables and potatoes, but in 1925 they started growing tulips as well. The tulip business became a success and flower bulbs quickly became the sole focus of the company.
At first, our flower bulbs were only sold in the Netherlands, but in 1951 the first bulbs were exported to Germany and Sweden. This was the beginning of the export, which is now the biggest activity of our company. The company grew larger and more help was needed to manage everything. That is why all seven sons of Jan de Wit joined the company in 1952.
The company continued to grow and the location in Bovenkarspel became too small. In 1957, the company moved to Enkhuizen, where we are still located. This location was big enough to build sufficient facilities to meet the growing demand for our flower bulbs. Our bulbs also became popular outside of Europe. In 1962, our bulbs were exported to Japan for the first time, and we still supply our bulbs to this particular customer.
Our flower bulb assortment was expanded with lily bulbs in 1983. This cultivation developed quickly after the introduction of Orientals such as Casablanca and Le Reve, and there was a growing demand for lilies from Japanese customers. The export of lily bulbs turned out to be a good move, because they are now one of our biggest export products.
Japan was not the only country outside of Europe that had a demand for our bulbs. China and Taiwan followed in the 1980s. Later, Russia, the United States, Canada, and Mexico could also be added to the list, and nowadays we export our bulbs to more than twenty countries. It is our goal to obtain and maintain a substantial market share with widespread sales in the countries in which we operate, in order to become an important market party.
In 1995, the company was transferred to the third De Wit generation. Nine grandsons of our founder are currently working at the company, and they are involved in different activities. There are also several great-grandsons of Jan de Wit currently working at our company.
In 2023, we discontinued our own nursery. Growing our own bulbs was the foundation of our company and was an important activity for us for a long time. For decades, we cultivated approximately 40 hectares of flower bulbs on clay soils in the West Friesland region. This not only allowed us to build extensive knowledge and experience, but also gave us full control over quality throughout the entire process, from bulb to flower. The expertise we developed during those years remains an essential part of our company today. Thanks to this experience, we know exactly what it takes to produce strong, healthy bulbs and to achieve an optimal growing process. We continue to apply this knowledge and expertise in the selection and guidance of our growers, ensuring that our customers can always rely on flower bulbs of consistently top quality.
Winner of the Deshima Business Award in the category "Well-Established" for our impressive business achievements in the Japanese market.
Baptism of the tulip "Maitri" by the Hon'ble President of India H.E. Mr Ram Nath Kovind and the first lady Mrs Savita Kovind, in honour of 75 years of friendship and collaboration between India and the Netherlands.
Release of the book "The Fellows of Jan de Wit" in celebration of our 100th anniversary. The book looks back at the long-lasting history of Jan de Wit en Zonen.
Celebration of our 100th anniversary and granting of the honorary title "By Appointment to the Court of the Netherlands" by King Willem-Alexander.
Closing of the nursery in Anna Paulowna.
First livestream and active engagement through all our social media platforms, expanding our reach to new markets.
First participation in the Tulip Trade Event.
Launch of in-house developed version of the Dynamics NAV ERP system for the nursery.
Marcel Fit joins the board, as first not "De Wit"
Passing away of Arie, last son of founder Jan de Wit and former director.
Online customer portal my.jandewitenzonen.com opens.
Launch of in-house developed Android app for all workplace processes, resulting in a completely paperless workplace.
Opening tulip testing and show garden.
Introduction of x-ray technology for fusarium selection of tulips.
New website in 9 languages online.
First flower bulb company with phytosanitary export certificate from CLIENT Export.
New entry and exit to the premises via the Veilingweg, relieving the neighbourhood from traffic.
Expansion of summer activities at CNB on 10,000m².
First edition and participation in the Zwaagdijk Trade Show.
Commissioning and development of the Ketenregister (Supply Chain Register) in cooperation with Anthos and BKD.
Last edition and participation Holland (Food &) Flower Festival (formerly Westfriese Flora).
Celebration of our 90th anniversary
Introduction of our new company style
Introduction of mobile website
Known Consignor Airfreight
AEO certification
We become a member of tulip breeding association Tuliko
Participant in the Keukenhof exhibition for the first time
Royal decoration from the Dutch Queen awarded to Mr S.G. de Wit, who was a member of the board of directors of Jan de Wit en Zonen B.V. for more than 25 years
Introduction of barcode scanning system for tracking and tracing products in our warehouse
Our Mr Harm Groot is awarded the Colourful Yunnan Friendship Award 2006 by the Chinese province Yunnan
Start of export to Russia
Opening of the test greenhouse especially for lilies
Introduction of Microsoft Dynamics Navision ERP system
Introduction of the website www.jandewitenzonen.com
Obtainment of MPS-A certificate
Name giving ceremony of the tulip Monica, named after Sister Monica de Wit of the Sister Augustinessen of the City of God, daughter of our founder Jan de Wit
Registration of Double Surprise, the first double lily.
New office and warehouse/storage facilities
Celebration of our 75th anniversary
Winner of the China Traders Award for the successful introduction of tulips, handed out by the Vice Minister of Economy
Name giving ceremony for tulip 'Hermitage' at the famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in Russia
Company passed on to the third generation
First time harvesting tulip and iris bulbs in net machine on the clay soil
Participant in the Third China National Flower Fair
Winner of the Silver tulip at the Westfriese Flora flower exhibition for the first time
Start of export to Norway
New warehouse and cooling facilities
Start of export to Taiwan
Introduction of new computer system ABM Microlegger
First tulip bulbs shipped to China
Participation in the 50th Westfriese Flora flower exhibition
Start of the lily business
Winner of the Silver Boat at the Westfriese Flora Flower exhibition for the first time
Passing away of our founder Jan de Wit
Start of export to Finland
Winning the gold medal at the Floriade exhibition, handed out by Queen Juliana
Establishment of the production company in Anna Paulowna
Introduction of iris Blue Magic
Start of export to Japan
The company moves from Bovenkarspel to Enkhuizen
All seven sons join the company
Start of export to Germany and Sweden
Introduction of tulip Prominence
Establishment of / first participation in the 'Westfriese Flora' flower exhibition
First tulips and irises are grown
Start of the company as vegetable and potato grower
Westeinde 176
1601 BN Enkhuizen
Postbus 98
1610 AB Bovenkarspel
info@jandewitenzonen.com
Click here to open our customer portal
By Appointment to the Court of the Netherlands
