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

1938

Mr. J.van der Knaap started a horticultural company in Wateringen, the Netherlands. The company grew vegetables like tomatoes.

1959

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  wooden greenhouses.

1974

1974

Nic van der Knaap took over the company together with his wife Jeannette. That year the horticultural company switched to the cultivation of Anthurium. Nic van der Knaap starts breeding his own Anthurium varieties on a small scale.

1984

1984

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

1991

1991

The production location for young Anthurium plants at the Groendalseweg in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, was officially opened. The production location was a fully equipped cultivation company for Anthurium plants.

1995

1995

In 1995 the company took over the German firm Gunter Arndt Jungpflanzen, located close to the Dutch border. This is when Phalaenopsis was added to the assortment. At the same time, the company’s named changed to Anthura B.V.

2004

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 management comprises Mark van der Knaap, Marco van Herk and Iwan van der Knaap.

2007

2007

Anthura expands its position on the Chinese local market. Anthura Horticulture Co. Ltd. in China is officially opened.

2009

2009

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

2015

2015

A private invitro laboratory in Macedonia was opened for the propagation of orchids. At the same time Anthura Arndt is expanding in Germany.

2017

2017

A new Research and development department in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands is opened.

2018

2018

Anthura celebrates its 80th anniversary.