1960s
Founding of De Jong Lelies
Klaas de Jong (1925–2007) was the founder of what is now De Jong Lelies. He was a true pioneer when he began experimenting with lily cultivation in the Netherlands during the 1960s. Growing, harvesting, treating, storing, forcing… there was no existing knowledge — he had to figure it all out himself.
Import from Oregon
De Jong sourced lilies from Japan and the United States. From his hometown of Andijk, he traveled to places like Gresham, where he met lily expert Jan de Graaff of the Oregon Bulb Farm. This visit sparked a successful collaboration: the exclusive import of lily bulbs from Oregon to the Netherlands. From Andijk, these bulbs were sold and distributed to forcing companies throughout the Netherlands, and later to other countries across Europe.
1970s
Own Breeding Program
In the meantime, De Jong had also started growing bulbs himself and setting up his own breeding program. ‘Mona’, ‘Sarina’, and ‘Lorina’ are well-known cultivars developed by him. From that moment on, he was doing what De Jong Lelies still does today: breeding, cultivating, storing, and internationally trading high-quality lily bulbs.
First Company Building
In 1970, the first company building of De Jong Lelies became a reality. A storage cell for the bulbs and the packing hall were constructed, marking an important step in the professionalization of the company.
Expansion in 1977
In 1977, the company building was expanded. A large cold storage facility and a modern laboratory were added, laying the foundation for further development of the breeding program.
1980s
Member of SOL Greenhouse and Company Takeover
During this period, De Jong Lelies became a member of the SOL greenhouse group, which played an important role in the further development of cultivation and breeding. In 1987, Marcel Kroezen and Wijnand van der Kooij took over the company from founder Klaas de Jong.
Expansion of Facilities and New Varieties
In the same year, the company premises were expanded once again with the construction of office space and a greenhouse complex. It was here that the first yellow Asiatic lily, ‘Mona’, was developed within the company’s own breeding program.
1990s
Major expansions and internationalization
In 1994, the company continued to grow. Additional cold storage units, a washing area, and an extra processing facility were added. In 1998, the oldest part of the current company building was renovated to match the increasing scale of the business.
New Zealand
In 1995, cultivation facilities were established in New Zealand — a strategic move to enable year-round production of high-quality lilies. Each year, around 10 hectares of lilies are grown there, mainly for the Asian and Australian markets.
Late 1990s/Early 2000s
Birth of the Diamond Series
The popular “Diamond” series was born from De Jong Lelies’ breeding program. Varieties such as Yellow Diamond, Indian Diamond, and Party Diamond became favorites within the assortment.
Australia
In 2000, De Jong Lelies Australia Pty. Ltd. was established in Monbulk, Victoria. This marked an important step toward global presence and distribution in the Australian market. This year, our Australian facility celebrates its 25th anniversary.
2010s
New Generation and Expansion
In 2011, the 50th anniversary was celebrated, and the next generation joined the company: Michiel and Remco. A second company location on Harde Grondweg in Andijk was completed, featuring six cold storage units, a washing- and packing area, and a large processing hall.
Acquisition of Ruiter Bloembollen
In 2014, the cultivation activities of Ruiter Bloembollen were acquired. As a result, lily cultivation grew from 10 to 80 hectares. In 2014, Marcel Kroezen, a key figure within the company, passed away.
Modernization and Sustainability
In 2013, the cold storage facilities at Kerkepad were completely renovated, and now run entirely on ammonia. In 2019, 1,660 solar panels were installed at the Harde Grondweg location, marking an important step towards sustainability.
2020s
Acquisitions and Automation
De Jong Lelies continues to evolve; in the 2020s, Deleeuw Flowerbulbs from Sassenheim was acquired. A new, high-speed lily packing line was also installed, built by Machinefabriek Akerboom. This investment marks the focus on innovation and efficiency.
Greenhouse
In 2020, the new greenhouse at Kerkepad was put into use. The oldest section of the greenhouse was demolished and rebuilt, and the existing show greenhouses were expanded to a total of 5,700 square meters. This expansion is essential to ensure the continuity of our breeding activities for the future.