Ronico wins the 40th Horticultural Entrepreneur Award

Broekpolder 2040 wins the Theme Prize for Cooperation & Cohesion

Ronico is the major winner of the 2026 Horticultural Entrepreneur Award. This was announced om 11 March 2026 by State Secretary Silvio Erkens for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature during the award ceremony at Keukenhof. It was the 40th time this prestigious award has been presented to a horticultural entrepreneur. Broekpolder 2040 won the Theme Prize for Cooperation & Cohesion. They received the award from Meindert Stolk, Deputy for Economy and Innovation of the Province of South Holland.

State Secretary Erkens said:
“I am particularly honored to present this award. Around the world, people look with admiration at how Dutch horticulture operates and innovates. This award ceremony, and especially today’s nominees, show exactly why this is the case. I am extremely proud of that.”

A sustainable tulip ís possible

Ronico is a grower, forcer, and packer of more than 250 million tulips per year. It is an international family business based in Hem, North Holland. Founded in 1939, it has been led since 2004 by the third generation: Niels and Robèr de Wit.

According to the independent professional jury, Ronico is a leader and global player in tulip and bulb cultivation:
“It is impressive to see how the company has invested in automation in recent years. Ronico thinks big and manages the entire chain: from bulb to tulip. These are true entrepreneurs who seize opportunities and dare to take bold steps. This is where our sector needs to go. It is an enormous achievement that you show a sustainable, climate-neutral tulip in the vase really is possible.”

Thriving socially through participation and an integrated approach

Broekpolder 2040 is an association of entrepreneurs and homeowners that aims to contribute to the redevelopment of this horticultural polder in the Westland region.

According to the jury:
“This area cooperative shows that through an integrated approach and collaboration with the local community, it is possible to thrive. Connecting so many different interests and truly working together toward a broadly supported end result is a major challenge. The integrated approach around themes such as water, energy and recreation creates a new vision for the future in which living and doing business in the Broekpolder will be secured for the next generations.”

From producer to connector

Prior to the award ceremony, panel discussions took place with Erkens, Stolk, and Rob Heesen, Director of Business Development & Partnerships at Albert Heijn. The 39 previous winners present also actively participated.

The conclusion was that if the Netherlands wants to maintain its leading position in horticulture, a system change is necessary. A redesign is needed in which horticultural entrepreneurs are not only producers, but also drivers and connectors. New core competencies such as social value creation and transparency are essential to win the support of citizens and consumers for the product and the sector.

40 years of the Horticultural Entrepreneur Award

The extra festive anniversary celebration was made possible by the event sponsors: Keukenhof, the Province of South Holland, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Rijk Zwaan, Bejo Seeds, Van Iperen, Plants & Flowers Foundation Holland, KAVB and MPS.

The Horticultural Entrepreneur Award Foundation is supported by partners: Flynth advisors and accountants, Glastuinbouw Nederland, Interpolis, Rabobank, Royal FloraHolland and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature. This year also Greenport Duin- en Bollenstreek, which was co-organizer of the Theme Prize.

Photo captions:
Ronico wins the 40th Horticultural Entrepreneur Award from State Secretary Silvio Erkens (Ministry of LVVN) // Photo credits: Fotostudio Vlekke
Broekpolder 2040 wins the Theme Prize for Cooperation & Cohesion from Meindert Stolk (Deputy, Province of South Holland) // Photo credits: Fotostudio Vlekke