80th anniversary

Anthura proudly celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2018.


Anthura’s family roots go back to 1938, the year when the first generation of the Van der Knaap family started a horticultural company. In eighty years we have grown from a small family business to a worldwide specialist in Orchids and Anthurium.

1938
Jan van der Knaap started a horticultural company in Wateringen, the Netherlands. The company grew vegetables like tomatoes. Years later, in 1959 his son Nic van der Knaap started working with his father.

1959
The young Nic van der Knaap started working with his father Jan van der Knaap at the age of 15. At that time, it took a lot of manual labour in the mine wood greenhouses.

In 1973 Nic van der Knaap takes over the company of his father and focuses more and more on the breeding of Anthurium.

1973
Nic van der Knaap took over his father’s company together with his wife Jeannette van der Knaap. That year the horticultural company switched from growing vegetables to the cultivation of Anthurium. Although Nic van der Knaap breeds his own Anthurium varieties on a small scale, the breeding business now really took off.

In 1984 the company name changed to Nic van der Knaap Anthuriumselecties B.V., an important step in the history of Anthura. Nic van der Knaap’s innovative entrepreneurial approach ensured a continuous and stable growth.

1984
Nic van der Knaap profiled himself as breeder and supplier of young plant material. The business took place under the company name `Nic van der Knaap Anthuriumselecties’.

In 1991 the production location for Anthurium young plants at the Groendalseweg in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands was officially opened.

1991
The company moved and opened a large greenhouse at the Groendalseweg in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Nic van der Knaap Anthuriumselecties is now a fully equipped cultivation company for Anthurium plants.

A few years later, in 1995, the company took over the German company Gunter Arndt Jungplantzen, located close to the Dutch border. This is when Phalaenopsis genus was added to the assortment. At the same time, the company’s name changed to Anthura B.V..

1995
Anthura B.V. supplies Anthurium and Orchid young plants worldwide.

Anthura continues to grow and almost every two years new locations are being opened or extended.

2004
After 40 years at the helm, Nic van der Knaap officially handed over his responsibilities as owner and the younger generation took over.  The new direction comprises Mark van der Knaap, Marco van Herk and Iwan van der Knaap.

The following period was characterized by visibility through international growth. From that moment on, developments and innovations followed at a fast pace. While Anthura Arndt expanded firstly in Germany, Anthura also expanded its business for the Chinese local market.

2007
The company Anthura Horticulture Co. Ltd. in China is officially opened.

2009
The modern greenhouse producing young Anthurium plants at the Cyclamenweg in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands was opened in 2009.

 

Over two years ago, in 2015 a private laboratory in Macedonia is opened and the expansion of Anthura Arndt started.

2015
A private invitro laboratory in Macedonia was opened for the propagation of orchids.

The history of Anthura may seem to be one of continuous prosperity, but in fact is the result of adhering to a long-term vision, a clear focus on expertise, entrepreneurship and flexibility. Today we are a global player in Orchids and Anthurium.

With this ‘rich’ history behind us, it promises to be a memorable 80th anniversary and we are looking forward to celebrating our 100th anniversary in the future!