First Generation
Before the First World War, Dirk (b. 1889) and his brother Hein (b. 1891) van Haaster started growing flower bulbs. In 1906, the brothers registered the company with the Chamber of Commerce. In 1905, a plot of orchard and woodland between Breeland farm and Zilkerbinnenweg was converted into sandy soil. Around 1910, they cautiously began growing hyacinths on this plot.
Second generation
In 1923, the brothers decided to continue independently. Hein built a modern, new, three-story barn on Zilkerbinnenweg. Four of Hein’s sons: Jan, Kees, Harry, and Louis, began working in the company. Eldest son Jan went to England in the late 1940s to learn the language and work, and eventually, Jan went to America for his first export orders. Kees went to Germany in the 1950s to sell the bulbs. Harry managed the nursery. When his youngest son, Louis, finished school, he also travelled to Germany. In 1957, the four sons took over the company, and father Hein retired. Louis was then 21 years old.
The nursery grew, and several plots of land were purchased for growing flower bulbs. Harry died unexpectedly at the age of 29. Jan and Louis took over Kees’s business, and the American trade was discontinued. Kees then ran the nursery. In 1965, the entire company moved to its new, current location on Bartenweg in Hillegom.
In 1982 it was decided to split up the nursery and trade, and Jan, Kees and Louis continued independently.
Third generation
In 1989, Louis‘ sons, Harry and Louis, took over the company. Harry focused on wholesale and export, and Louis was responsible for the nursery. In 1997, a new building was constructed, featuring a modern barn and cell complex of approximately 6,000 m².
Fourth generation
In 2019, Hein (son of Harry) and Martijn (son of Louis) joined the company. Together with Van der Salm from Boskoop, they established Fleuriche BV. Fleuriche BV uses the flower bulbs to grow beautiful potted bulb products. A new building was added in 2023. In 2024, Lucas (son of Harry) and Floris (son of Louis) also joined the company.
