History

Bert Heemskerk sr. starts as an independent flower trader together with a partner. The business rests on two legs. On the one hand, line driving. On the other hand, purchasing for third parties on commission. Over the years, the business activities are expanded by setting up a line to Germany.

We have our own flower dyeing facility. Especially in France and England, tinted flowers are in high demand. We are busy developing an environmentally friendly dyeing method. Harmful substances are extracted through a special filter, and released alcohol and dyes are reused in factories where they produce ink.

The partnership with the aforementioned associate has now been broken. Export to the United Kingdom is set up. A. Heemskerk BV, together with a Rijnsburg-based bodywork company, develops the small lorry with roller shutters, which is very suitable for liner shipping to England. These low trucks can join the deck for passenger cars during the crossing.

England is proving to be a market with great potential. English flower-shoppers are charmed by the quality of our products and the breadth of the range. We are rapidly gaining popularity.

As demand rose for bouquets and mono bunches in the UK, a large instore bouquet department was set up with a designer and designers. A large range of bouquets in different shapes and prices. Bouquets can be wrapped in foil, bags, linen and paper, according to the latest trends and colours.

We receive an Anglo-Dutch Award for Enterprise, as one of the leading exporting companies from the Netherlands to the UK.

160 English customers were invited to enjoy a flower spectacle! The entire Holiday Inn hotel in Leiden was hired for this spectacle.

In Hall G3 of the Flora Auction in Rijnsburg, an office has been created that spans the entire width of the hall.

A land sale contract has been signed for of a 26,500 sq m piece of land at Flora Park.

The official handover of twelve Mercedes Actros truck combinations. The large semi-trailer allows a lot of volume to be transported abroad.

Thousands of Rijnsburg residents attended the open day of Bert Heemskerk’s flower procurement center. After a formal opening with 600 guests, the open house attracted thousands more. The 10,500 m² facility employs 140 people and supports couriers and commission agents. Mayor Arie van der Lee praised Bert Heemskerk for his leadership and investment. Visitors enjoyed cake, champagne, and children’s activities.

Using the power of the internet to offer the best of both worlds. Through ‘live pictures’, customers can see the quality of the product they are buying. The new internet system is designed to offer all the facilities of a cash and carry. Customers have 24/7 time to buy, so no matter where they are or what they are doing. As long as florists have internet connection, they can buy!

This year, a conveyor belt is being hard at work. Previously, there was a belt in only one part of the premises, which still required a lot of manual work. This new belt will run throughout the building.

Heemskerk Flowers uses custom-built Mercedes-Benz Sprinters to deliver flowers quickly and fresh. Reliability and quality are key, as is their 30-year partnership with Mercedes-Benz. "Our Sprinters are heavily used, sometimes covering half a million kilometers in two years. The service and maintenance are excellent, allowing us to focus on our core business.

Pick by Vision has been developed; order picking through smart data glasses / Google Glass Enterprise Edition that shows the way. It helps our order pickers process orders much more accurately, faster and with fewer errors. We started using Pick by Vision in the plants department this year.

Heemskerk Flowers exists 60 years! The family thanks all customers, associates and staff for their commitment. On to another 60 years of Heemskerk Flowers!

Heemskerk Flowers warmly welcomes EZFlower as a proud subsidiary. Through this partnership, we combine our strengths to offer customers a wider range, improved service, and innovative solutions. Together, we continue to build a future full of growth, quality, and inspiration.

The APP Flowercrate is the innovation for sustainable flower transport. With its unique design and high-quality HDPE plastic, this reusable flower crate provides optimal protection, efficient space utilization, and a minimum lifespan of 10 years. A green choice that combines quality and sustainability.

We proudly introduce our new slogan: "With Passion we bloom the world." Alongside this, we are launching a refreshed website and expanded branding to better reflect our passion and global impact.