Kreling Chrysanten wins Horticultural Entrepeneur Award 2025
CE-Line’s Innovative Real-Time Water Analysis Wins Theme Award
March 12, 2025 – Kreling Chrysanten is the big winner of the 2025 Horticulture Entrepreneur Award. Brothers Koen (30) and Arné (25) Kreling, their brother-in-law Henry Satter (31), uncle Gijbert, and father Jan from Bruchem in Gelderland have earned the title of the best horticultural entrepreneurs in the Netherlands this year.
The Theme Award for “Future-Proof Technologies” was awarded to CE-Line, a company from Emmeloord. Founded by Simon Meijer, CE-Line enables growers to perform real-time laboratory analyses of nutrient levels in irrigation and drainage water—an important innovation for horticulture with the potential for major impact beyond the sector.
The Kreling family and Simon Meijer received their awards today from Guido Landheer, Deputy Director-General of Agro at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), and Jelle Beemsterboer, Chairman of Greenport Noord-Holland Noord. The ceremony took place at the Greenport Noord-Holland Noord horticultural cluster, located within the Vertify agricultural research center.
Kreling Chrysanten: A Forward-Thinking Family Business Excelling in Innovation and Collaboration
Cooperative Kreling Chrysanten is a collaboration of five chrysanthemum growers based in Bruchem, Bommelerwaard, with an annual output of 160 million stems for the European retail market. According to the jury, the family business stands out for its commitment to ongoing innovation:
“You are leading your sector in developing and testing new advances in areas like robotics and sustainability—such as soil-based cultivation, three-layer root systems, cutting machines, plug cultivation (which requires less peat), and fertilizers derived from natural sources. Your significant investments are propelling the entire sector forward.”
CE-Line: A Real-Time Water Analysis Solution with Global Impact Potential
CE-Line, a scale-up from Emmeloord in Flevoland, has developed a plug-and-play monitoring system that connects directly to a grower’s existing water supply, allowing automated, real-time analysis of nutrient levels in irrigation and drainage water.
The jury praised the technology:
“This opens a new dimension of plant growth data, automated greenhouse management, research opportunities, and water quality control. A truly future-proof technology for horticulture, with the potential to make a global impact—even beyond the sector.”
Entrepreneurs Taking Initiative to Safeguard the Netherlands’ Global Leadership
Prior to the award ceremony, panel discussions took place with Jaap Bond (Figurehead of the Top Sector Horticulture & Starting Materials), Annie van de Riet (President of AVAG, the Dutch greenhouse technology industry association), and the six nominated companies, including Plantenkwekerij Gitzels, Boltha, TTA-ISO, and Valto Biocontrol.
The key takeaway: to maintain its global leadership and remain a hotbed for innovation, the Dutch horticulture sector must proactively collaborate and take initiative to stay visible and relevant to the national government.
Innovation Network Plaza
After the ceremony, attendees visited the Innovation Plaza, where startups and scale-ups showcased their innovations. The event was made possible by sponsors including Vertify, Province of North Holland, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Top Sector Horticulture & Starting Materials, Rijk Zwaan, Bejo Zaden, Royal Anthos, Van Iperen, MPS, Bloemenbureau Holland, and HortiHeroes.
The Horticulture Entrepreneur Award Foundation is supported by partners including Innovatiefonds Hagelunie/Interpolis, Rabobank, Royal FloraHolland, Flynth Advisors and Accountants, Glastuinbouw Nederland, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature. This year, Greenport Noord-Holland Noord also co-organized the Theme Award.
Photo Captions:
Kreling family wins the 2025 Horticulture Entrepreneur Award, presented by Deputy Director-General Agro Guido Landheer (Ministry of LVVN)
// Photo credit: Fotostudio VlekkeCE-Line wins the Theme Award “Future-Proof Technologies”, presented by Jelle Beemsterboer (Greenport Noord-Holland Noord)
// Photo credit: Fotostudio Vlekke
