At the end of May 2026, Van Zanten Flowerbulbs in Hillegom will permanently close its doors. After more than a century and a half, there is an end to one of the oldest bulb companies in the Netherlands. The company originates from the Veldhuyzen van Zanten family; A family that from the end of the 19th century already put the cultivation of and trade in flower bulbs on the global map.

Van Zanten Flowerbulbs is one of the best international players in the bulb business. Over the past 164 years, it has developed into an innovative breeder and grower of lily bulbs, and experienced exporter of lily and tulip bulbs. The company received the designation Royal as early as 1901, and in 1911 the current main location was built – on the 1e Loosterweg in Hillegom. The striking façade with historic nameplate can still be seen today.

In 2018, the investment company Nimbus took over 100 percent of the shares of Royal Van Zanten from the Veldhuyzen van Zanten family. Nimbus buys companies with improvement potential with the ultimate goal of later selling the companies. From the very beginning, the investor further split the company into Van Zanten Breeding (Rijsenhout) and Van Zanten Flowerbulbs (Hillegom). This was achieved in various ways; including separating the real estate for both companies, which would later help sell each company separately.

“Three years ago, we asked how we could continue Van Zanten Flowerbulbs. The starting point was to sell the company as a whole. This turned out to be too complex, so Nimbus decided to sell the company in parts,” said Klaas Jan Vijn, general manager of the flower bulb branch. “We are still in talks about the tulip trade and hope to be able to announce the sale of this last business unit in the short term.”

The real estate and land on the 1e Loosterweg is also for sale. There is a total of 11.5 hectares, of which 15,000 m2 are greenhouses and more than 20,000 m2 are buildings. The property is for sale through Mens Makelaars in Lisse. The impressive façade with the old nameplate is a landmark for every Hillegom resident, or regular train passenger on the Haarlem – Leiden route. Klaas Jan Vijn. “I expect the sale of the property in Hillegom to be completed before May 2026.”

The more than forty employees were informed of the intended business closure in the summer of 2025. The breeding staff have already gone to Hobaho, and a number of commercial staff will be employed by Onings. A special project group within Van Zanten Flowerbulbs has set itself the goal of finding a new workplace for the other employees. An outplacement agency has been called in and there are contacts with fellow export companies where various vacancies are open.

“It’s good to see how you find each other within the sector. We are regularly approached by companies who need good people, and we also actively ask our contacts if they have any openings. We have passed on dozens of vacancies to colleagues, and we have already facilitated various conversations,” said Vijn. “Our team is made up of specialists and passionate colleagues. Each with a passion for the sector and for whom we are 100 percent responsible.”

The lily season will soon start at Van Zanten. This is the last time that lily bulbs will be received, inspected, processed and packed in the warehouse in Hillegom. From January, Van Zanten will say goodbye to colleagues in phases. The last colleagues will leave the company on 31 May, and then the doors will be closed permanently. This brings an end to 164 years of the Van Zanten Flowerbulbs bulb company.