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Visiting Lilac Grower Kramer - Everything You Want to Know About Lilacs

Exploring the rich history and passion of Kramer lilacs and more.

By: PETER VAN DELFT | 20-03-2024 | 11 min read
Cut Flowers How It Works
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Welcome again, flower enthusiasts! This week I walked into the amazing world of Kramer Seringen (Seringen is Dutch for Lilacs). Are you joining me in this long read as I do an exploration of not only the cultivation of lilacs but also the history of one of the most cherished lilac nurseries, nestled in the heart of Aalsmeer, the Netherlands? Let's go!

Kramer Seringen Is Built of Generations and Generations

Rooted in history, Kramer Seringen traces its lineage back to the early 1600s, when the art of cultivating lilacs blossomed in the fertile lands of Aalsmeer. For centuries, the nursery has remained a family affair, passed down from father to son, uncle to nephew, and now, from grandfather Maarse to Kees Kramer.

It all began with Cornelis Dirk Arysz, whose pioneering spirit led him to establish roots at the end of the Uiterweg in Aalsmeer. From those humble beginnings, the Maarse family legacy took root, evolving through generations of dedicated lilac cultivation.

 

Erik Kramer Seringen with lilacs
Erik Kramer 

 

The Kramer Lilac Assortment

From early October to early June, our Lilacs are in the greenhouse, intending to supply daily through Royal Flora Holland under the name Kramer Lilacs. The assortment consists of:

What Are the People of the Kramer Nursery Specifically Proud of?

Last season, they were supplying the auction daily, so they are seen as a very reliable supplier. The supply is constant. Also, they are a family business, Menno is 30 years old, and with the nursery at the age of 20. Erik always knew he wanted to work in the nursery. Erik is technical, maintaining machines, among other things, while Menno is more focused on commerce, data, and planning. They do growing together with their father Kees.

 

Kramer Seringen with lilacs brought into greenhouse

 

Lilac is a niche product, they dig the fields themselves, which makes them flexible. They don't need to schedule a labor company, making their work more efficient, and they have the heavy lilac bushes in their own hands. People from the trade who buy from them are very happy that they can offer a special product to their customers. Lilac cultivation has shrunk a lot in the last 10 years; 60 years ago, there were 120 growers near Aalsmeer, and now there are only 12. The brothers hope it doesn't become too small of a product, as then they might be overlooked, and hopefully, it remains a stable product.

 

Lilac White Wonder
Lilac White Wonder

 

Their favorite lilac is the "White Wonder". This lilac has many more advantages over the well-known Stepman; it's more beautiful and technically better to cultivate. The challenges they face are mostly that people are hard to find. They buy bushes from retiring growers. Every year, they order 3000 new plants from a laboratory.

 

Kramer lilacs

 

How Does the Cultivation of Lilacs Work?

The start of a Lilac bush begins in the laboratory. Here, wild Lilacs are propagated through tissue culture. A flow of laboratory, and how this goes is as below:

The lilac cultivation process, aka the growing of the lilac cut flowers, goes as follows:

Lilac Cultivation Cycle:

 

Kramer Seringen with lilacs on boat

 

EXTRA: The History of the Company Kramer Seringen

The history of the company dates back to before 1600. The nursery has always remained in the family. It passed from father to son, from uncle to nephews, and from grandfather Maarse to grandson Kramer. It has always been located on the 'Uiterweg' in Aalsmeer. Before 1600, Cornelis Dirk Arysz (died 1625) settled at the end of the Uiterweg in Aalsmeer. His father Dirk Arysz (died before 1561) lived on the Westeinde. It is suspected that this was on the lakes there, called the 'Westeinderplassen', where a road used to run through (called the 'Dijksloot'). All descendants have been located at the end of the Uiterweg to this day.

The Surname 'Maarse'

During that period, the surname Maarse did not yet exist. From that time on, the nursery was passed down from father to son. Around 1700, the first name Maarten was changed to the surname Meartsz. From 1750, Maertsz was changed to the surname Maarse (later various forms of Maars(s)e(n) emerged). These families were, among other things, tree growers, cattle breeders, and carpenters. Ancestor Willem Maarse (nickname: Willem de Koop, 1840-1879) himself was a merchant/barber, and had a brother Jan Maarse (1854-1934) who took over their father's nursery (Willem Maarse 1810-1889). The youngest son, number 9 in Willem de Koop's family, also named Willem Maarse (1879-1963), was born in the year his father died. Willem Maarse (had 4 sons and a daughter), his brother Cornelis Maarse (1869-1951, had 1 daughter), both worked as employees for their Uncle Jan (childless) at the nursery.

Around 1920, Lilacs!

During that time, trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials, and bedding plants were extensively cultivated. In the archives, it can be read that around 1920 the lilac varieties "Stepman" and "Späthen" were sold as cut flowers. Because Uncle Jan had no children, the nursery was bequeathed to the nephews Willem Maarse and his brother Cornelis Maarse in 1935. Later, the 4 sons of Willem Maarse, who were already working at the nursery, continued the business. These brothers and ancestors traded under the name: Fa. WD. Maarse and were trading nurserymen. Trade was mostly conducted from the nursery and traded at the Singel in Amsterdam and was auctioned in Amsterdam and at the CAV.

VBA Aalsmeer - Now Known as RoyalFlora Holland

Around 1972, Fa. WD Maarse only became a member of VBA Aalsmeer, which is now known as Royal Flora Holland. During the period of the 4 brothers, besides Seringen, other plants such as Violas, bedding plants, Hydrangeas, Cyclamens, and Primulas were grown in, among other things, flat trays in the field and the greenhouse. Later, green plants were also added, including Hedera, Rhoicissus, and Papyrus.

From Maarse to Kramer

Cornelis Maarse, the longest-living of the 4 brothers, together with Geertje Venema, had two daughters Aagje 1930 and Annie 1945. Aagje married Piet Kramer (1925-2011). Piet Kramer was a baker at Bakker Rodenburg until 1975 and then worked at his father-in-law's nursery at the age of 50, and then until his 65th birthday at his son Kees Kramer's nursery. After that, he retired, but he was still on the nursery every day. Grandfather Maarse long thought he had no successor until his grandson Kees, son of Aagje and Piet Kramer, decided to take over the nursery together with his wife Helmi in 1983 (Grandfather was then 72). Helmi is the daughter of farmer Gerrit Griffioen (1939-1990) and Corrie van Walbeek (1941) from Abcoude also completed RMTS (floriculture & floral design). Since 1983, the company has been called Fa. C. Kramer, since then, the cultivation of lilacs has gradually expanded, and the cultivation of bedding and (flowering) plants has been stopped. Besides lilacs, approximately 20 years of Viburnum (snowballs) were grown, which came to an end in 2020. During the same period, Kees and Helmi had 3 children: Susan 1992, Menno 1993, and Erik 1998.

Menno and Erik

Suus found her work in home care. Menno skated passionately until he was 22. During that period, Menno obtained his gardening certificates in the evenings after the Johan Cruijff College. In 2021, alongside his work at the nursery, Menno completed his HBO study in Horticulture and Arable Farming in Dronten. Erik skated passionately until he was 16 and completed his vocational training in floriculture in 2018. Since 2018, Menno and Erik have been in the nursery and share the same passion for lilacs. After the arrival of Menno and Erik in the company, the company started to grow again. Currently, there are over 50,000 bushes in the fields that go into the greenhouse over two years (read: a two-year cultivation cycle). The lilac bushes are spread over 4 hectares of land. Most of the land is islands on the 'Westeinderplassen'.

 

Kramer lilacs greenhouse

 

Lilac Production in Aalsmeer Is Like a Journey Through Time

The history of Kramer Seringen is a story of resilience and adaptation. From the vibrant trade in the bustling markets of Amsterdam to the modern era of auctioning at RoyalFlora Holland, each chapter reflects the enduring spirit of the families who owned the lands.

Over the decades, the nursery witnessed the ebb and flow of floral trends, diversifying its offerings to include a myriad of flowers, from violas to hydrangeas. Yet, amidst the changing landscape, one constant remained—the commitment to lilacs excellence. 

As the growing expertise passed to the next generations, they began to redefine lilac cultivation for the modern era. With a blend of tradition and innovation, they expanded the nursery's offerings, specializing in the timeless beauty of lilacs. The nursery entered a new era of growth and prosperity.

As I drive back from my visit to Kramer Seringen, I am reminded of the enduring power of tradition, innovation, and familial love. Each lilac flower tells the story of dedication and craftsmanship, I am sure of that now. I hope the legacy of Kramer Seringen continues to flourish, inspiring generations to come with its amazing flowers.

 

Peter van Delft at Kramer lilacs
That's me, Peter van Delft (at Kramer lilacs)
Peter van Delft profile picture
Peter van Delft

I am always on the lookout for new flowers, specialties, novelties, and products coming into the season. Working in the Dutch flower industry enables me to see the prettiest flowers in the world, and I can say I really love it!

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