History

Haakman Flowerbulbs BV finds its origin in 1940 when it was established as a traditional West Frisian farm that grew vegetables. Later on it specialized into one of the most experienced tulip exporters of the Netherlands, partly thanks to their own forcing and cultivation facilities that were part of Haakman for years. Haakman Flowerbulbs BV is also an authority in the export of tulips that are intended for forcing. However, Haakman also supplies tulips in bulk for the dry sale market.

In 1984 Haakman started exporting tulip bulbs to Asia. In the year that the Olympic Games took place in Seoul, the Olympic fire also started mounting for founder Dick Haakman, who took part in a flower show that occurred in Seoul. Later on Haakman went on to China and Taiwan and ultimately also ended up in Japan, which is regarded as a high-quality market. Within a few years Haakman belonged to the top 3 tulip exporters to Japan and even today Haakman is still prominently placed on that market. Haakman was also the first exporter of tulips in bulk by air, which only took place via transport by sea at that time.

At the beginning of this century Haakman spread its wings to other continents and it has now established solid trade with North America, Scandinavia and the former Eastern bloc. Partly due to the fact that Haakman Flowerbulbs can offer Southern Hemisphere tulips from its own nursery in New Zealand, Haakman Flowerbulbs there is added value to the company. It is Haakman’s creed that well begun - with high-quality tulips from October up to and including Christmas - is half done. Over the past years that has certainly proved to be true.