Eef Zwinkels may not have been born with a tomato in his hand, as his mother says, but from the age of four, he wanted to join his father in the tomato greenhouse. Over sixty years later, after a lifetime dedicated to horticulture, Eef is nearing retirement. His farewell was celebrated yesterday at Tomatoworld, although he will remain available until after the conclusion of GreenTech 2025.
The greenhouse where Eef roamed as a child is vastly different from today's horticulture, and he believes this evolution is what makes the sector so remarkable. "Horticulture is unique," he says. "Every day brings new dynamics, with constant problem-solving. For instance, pipe rail heating was developed when paths became longer and carrying products became too challenging. The introduction of pipe rails was a real breakthrough," he explains.
Over the years, Eef has experienced numerous developments, first as a grower and later from the supply side. Being fluent in the language of horticulture has been a significant advantage throughout his career. During his more than thirty years at BE De Lier, he saw the introduction of rock wool. "We used to make good margins on it, but growers didn't mind because they were also earning more money," he recalls.
Laying substrate in Spain - nothing changed, right!?
The innovative power of horticulture comes with a learning curve, and Eef has certainly experienced it. He and his father decided to build an innovative and sustainable greenhouse in Bleiswijk to address the high energy prices at the time. Unfortunately, this decision proved to be a mistake, especially as it came during a period when banks were not very supportive of horticulture. "We constructed a Maxolux greenhouse using double-walled polycarbonate panels. Internationally, we saw tomatoes thriving under these plastic panels, but in Bleiswijk, it was too dark, resulting in lower yields and higher humidity. If LED lighting and DryGair had been available then, we could have grown quality tomatoes," he reflects. The nursery ultimately closed after being damaged by hailstones. It was a tough period for his father, as bankruptcy was particularly painful for a Westlander.
It wasn't easy for Eef either. Newly married and having worked for Jan Doedel for eight years, he decided to become a line driver. He reached out to Jac van der Eijk to see if he could join BE De Lier during the interim weeks. "I was able to start the next morning at 6 a.m., and I stayed for thirty years." The job involved long days, sometimes including evening truck trips to places like Sint Kathelijne Waver or Limburg to supply a branch, but it was a rewarding time. Eef advanced from warehouse master to water technology specialist, designing and selling systems like substrate units, disinfectors, irrigation, and underground water storage. He fondly remembers his strong relationship with Jac, which continued even after BE De Lier was taken over and he left the company.
Innovation and family business
Eef has been with Royal Brinkman for over ten years now. "I had to adjust at first, but it has been a wonderful decade at a company that's truly growing," he says. "The blend of horticultural innovation, customer focus, and the essence of a family business with a genuine concern for people makes it special." He recalls how Bas Brinkman managed the arrangements for Beekenkamp's new garden, a highly technical and impressive project. "Bas told the customer, 'If there's anything, you can call me 24/7.' That shows you're not just an employer giving orders but someone who stands by their word. If I ever had to apply for a job again, I know where I'd go."
At Royal Brinkman, Eef has been responsible for the DryGair dehumidifiers, which introduced him to the international side of horticulture. "I'm truly grateful for this opportunity. The communication has been excellent from the start, and my English and German have improved quickly," he laughs. Eef is now passing the baton to Hans Belt, who has worked alongside him for three years. "Hans is very driven, enthusiastic, passionate, and eager to learn, so I feel confident about leaving things in his hands." Hans will work with Justin van Putten, and Rene Mondt will also support the team.
Eef and DryGair! This is also ten years ago
Eef can laugh about needing three people to replace him. "But honestly, we've discussed the market situation. Horticulture is cautious right now, but things could change. As it stands, they'll manage," he predicts, noting that a significant step was recently made in the tomato sector. In the Netherlands, DryGair has primarily advanced in floriculture in recent years, but in the final weeks of his career, Eef also secured Agro Care as a client. "They evaluated everything, considered international experiences, conducted a trial, and ultimately chose DryGair. That's a nice compliment. If their experiences with tomatoes confirm what I expect, Royal Brinkman should be ready for increased demand."
With that, Eef's journey with tomatoes comes full circle. There's also a personal connection to the Wilgenlei, the street in Bleiswijk where he once grew tomatoes with his father and brother Ben. "My daughter is married to Roy Persoon, who grows peppers and vegetable seeds for Rijk Zwaan on the Wilgenlei," he shares. "So, I find myself there regularly again." However, they need not worry about Eef visiting daily after retirement. Officially, he will continue working until after the GreenTech event, and then he plans to enjoy the summer with his two granddaughters. "I've long wanted to walk the Santiago de Compostela. After that, I'll tackle a home renovation and expand my volunteer work at De Zonnebloem to include more administrative tasks. Then winter will come, and I'll see what opportunities come my way."
For more information:
Eef Zwinkels
Royal Brinkman
Woutersweg 10
2691 PR 's-Gravenzande
eef.zwinkels@royalbrinkman.com
www.brinkman.nl