Our History
A Journey Through Time: 135 Years of Excellence
The story of Jan Spek Rozen begins in 1890. That was the year that twenty year old Jan Spek settled in Boskoop, the famous Dutch floriculture town. Jan was born on May 28, 1869 in Nieuwkoop, another town in the same region. He loves to explore his surroundings and discovers Boskoop on one of his trips. His enthusiasm for floriculture is awakened and he sets about learning from growers, with the intention of later starting out on his own.
He is drawn not only to the nurseries in Boskoop, the lovely Aartje Nijveld, Boskoop born and bred, manages to steal his heart. Jan, founder of the Spek dynasty, is in every way enterprising. He knows not only how to acquire a nursery, but also how to win the girl. Aartje Nijveld becomes his wife and the nursery in Boskoop starts.
In the beginning, trade is only domestic but before long sales are made abroad. Successfully too, because it turns out that Jan Spek is an excellent businessman. In 1912, the nurseries are expanded and Jan builds a beautiful mansion, spacious enough for the whole family, which now includes eight children.
The interest in the rose begins in the early 1900s. Jan Spek introduces a couple of new rose cultivars and a number of new rootstocks. The most well-known are the 'Spek's Improved' and the 'Spek's Supreme'. However, even more famous is the 'Rosa Rugosa' rootstock, discovered by Nijveld and introduced onto the market by Jan Spek.
All of Jan Spek's eight children do well. Three of the six boys go abroad. Arie emigrates to the United States and sets up his own nursery there. Piet goes to Canada and Dik to Sweden. They become the sales reps for Jan Spek Kwekerijen. Johan founds his own nursery in Boskoop. It still exists under the name Johan Spek Kwekerijen BV.
Jan Spek II stays in his father's company. He also has an undeniable love for the queen of flowers, the rose. Through this interest, connections are forged quite quickly with well-known rose breeders in Europe and America. Meanwhile, Jan is becoming a recognized rose expert. On dozens of occasions, he acts as a member of a jury at national and international rose certifications. And there are successful introductions such as the 'Spek's Yellow'. In America, this rose causes a stir under the name 'Golden Scepter'.
The Jan Spek Rozen company flourishes until the infamous crash of '29, which precedes the Great Depression. In the period 1929-1940 many fall on hard times and trade stagnates. There is less breeding and people are laid off. The company does its best to stay afloat. Fortunately, there is land available to grow vegetables and potatoes for the necessary sustenance. Jan Spek Rozen manages to continue trading by shipping large cargoes of nursery products to England to be auctioned. This ensures that the company survives the crisis. However, it will be a while before things really get better, because the crisis endures right up to the time of World War II.
During World War II, the years 1940-1945, Jan Spek Rozen, just like many other Boskoop growers, grows tobacco and other 'forbidden' articles. No one cares about floriculture. Survival is more important.
A few years after the war, in 1948, founder Jan Spek dies and management of the company passes to his son, Jan Spek II. He runs the business energetically with his brothers, Piet in Canada, and Dik in Sweden.
On taking over, Jan Spek II has to deal with the issue of breeders' rights. This is introduced by legislation in 1948 and causes the situation in the company to change radically. Under the new legislation, new varieties can be protected and put in the name of the breeder and the client. The varieties can be sold under a license fee to producers.
Many large foreign rose breeders are already acquainted with Jan Spek Rozen and are aware of his knowledge and expertise. Because of the new legislation, it becomes very interesting to call on the company for the introduction of new rose varieties. This heralds a period of international agencies.
Where at that time the garden rose is still important, from the early 60s there is a growing interest in greenhouse roses. They are ideal to use as cut flowers. At Jan Spek Rozen they immediately respond to the new trend by quickly building a greenhouse to test garden roses under glass. The beginning of major innovations.
Cut rose cultivation for greenhouse culture is becoming increasingly important. Breeders are developing new varieties of rose that produce more beautiful flowers per plant and have a larger flower production. They also do better in the vase. Increasing prosperity means consumers have more money to spend. Buying flowers on a regular basis is becoming common practice. As an agent, Jan Spek Rozen introduces a number of rose varieties and Dutch rose growers start to breed these on a large scale. The introduction of new rose varieties is a lucrative business, due in part to the new international legislation which protects the breeder against 'piracy'.
Thanks to successful rose introductions, it is a prosperous time for Jan Spek. Because the company is doing so well, the brothers in Canada and Sweden are bought out. Jan II continues to run the company with his three sons: Jan, Auke and Hette. Jan's daughter Ineke also helps out in the company for a few years. Apparently, the love for roses has been passed down from father to son, because the sons of Jan Spek II are also smitten. Hette in particular is mad about roses. Jan III focuses on the nursery and son Auke on the consumer market for garden roses, which includes several new varieties.
On a business level they enjoy a lot of success, but there is a lot of sadness in the family circle. In 1984, Jan Spek II dies at the age of 80. At the end of 1987, his son Jan Spek III, dies of a serious illness at the age of 56. From now on, Hette Spek takes on the role of Director of Jan Spek Rozen.
In the late eighties and early nineties, the market changes drastically. Rose cultivation moves to countries around the equator, such as Kenya and Ecuador. Climatically and in terms of breeding, these seem to be extremely suitable. This is less favorable for Jan Spek Rozen. There are hardly any earnings to be had as an agent in Africa and South America. The earnings are in the Netherlands, but sales are stagnating there. So, they make a drastic change of course. The agencies are terminated and the company starts to introduce its own roses.
That works out well. World-wide, the company launches new varieties to the market and trades with numerous countries.
On May 22, 1990, H.M. Queen Beatrix awards the title 'Royal Purveyor' which the company is permitted to use for the coming 25 years.
By now the business has been adapted to modern times. The old premises no longer meet requirements, so new offices are built. This beautiful office building, in shades of blue, is the new calling card for Jan Spek Rozen. The characteristic building is built right next to the storage and packing areas. In this way, the entire company is accessible from the offices. There is a rose garden in front of the office.
In the meantime, the family business has been extended with Auke's and Hette's sons. These are Alex, Auke's son, and Jan IV and Erik, Hette's sons. Elsa, Erik's wife, also works in the business. Her work is in the area of office management. Erik is being trained in-house to take over from his father, Hette, when the time comes.
Jan Spek Rozen is a thriving business. Unfortunately, health wise things are not going well for Hette Spek. A chronic illness that manifested when he was in his early twenties is causing him a lot of problems. In 2007, his son, Erik takes over as director. His brother Jan is responsible for plant production and Alex, Auke's son focuses on consumer sales and the selections of garden roses.
In addition to garden roses, greenhouse roses are extremely important. The company does business with a lot of countries world-wide and is represented by local agents.
Then the year 2015 arrives. Jan Spek Rozen celebrates its 125th anniversary. A lot has been achieved since its founder, Jan Spek, arrived in Boskoop. The family business looks back in gratitude on all the years and the many efforts they put in so that Jan Spek Rozen could grow and prosper.
Joy and sadness often lie side by side. So too in this jubilee year. Former Director, Hette Spek passes away on May 29, 2015. In that same period the 'Royal Purveyor' title is renewed. H.M. King Willem-Alexander decides that Jan Spek Rozen may continue to use the title for the coming 25 years.
For Director and Hette's son, Erik Spek, it is a comforting sign of appreciation. More so since the fifth generation is waiting in the wings. Son Yannick is studying floriculture, and daughter Jennifer is studying executive office management. When the time comes, they will follow tradition and join the family business, proud of the achievements of their predecessors and keen to make their own contribution.