The nursery is in an area not far from the Dutch coast called Noordwijkerhout.

The land here used to consist of hilly sand dunes, but was flattened after World War II as sand was removed and used to reconstruct buildings that had been destroyed during the war.

The surface was levelled at about 30cm (12") above sea level, which provided ideal growing conditions for flower bulbs, and hence the huge industry that now gives the name ‘bollenstreek’ (bulb district) to the surrounding region sprang up.  

The site of the Heemskerk-Rietvink nursery was probably originally used for agriculture. Karel’s ancestors grew vegetables here until after World War II, when his father, along with so many others, switched to production of flower bulbs.

Karel and Kees with a trolley full of D. 'Delft Blue' cutflowers

Karel Heemskerk and his lifelong friend Kees Rietvink took over the nursery together in 1975, and gradually changed production from flower bulbs to cut flowers, using the rolling greenhouse system.

In order to direct people to specific areas on large plots of at the nursery, names are often given to smaller portions of land. D ‘Delft Blue’ was discovered in an area known as ‘legend’, and Karel hopes that the plant will live up to this name.