{"id":811,"date":"2025-09-18T10:10:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T09:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/about-us\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T06:54:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T05:54:03","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"<section data-theme-section=\"dark\" data-bg-section=\"geen\" class=\"section__wrapper subpage-hero\">\n\t<div class=\"section__background\">\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"section__container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row align-center\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 col-md-5 col-offset-md-1 mb-4 z-index-99\">\n\t\t\t\t<nav  aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BreadcrumbList\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\" itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ListItem\"><span itemprop=\"name\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M11.5605 4.52381L7.76801 0.730813C7.29863 0.262808 6.66284 0 6.00001 0C5.33718 0 4.70139 0.262808 4.23201 0.730813L0.439506 4.52381C0.299719 4.66271 0.188891 4.82796 0.113447 5.01001C0.0380036 5.19205 -0.0005552 5.38726 6.03974e-06 5.58431V10.4928C6.03974e-06 10.8906 0.158041 11.2722 0.439346 11.5535C0.720651 11.8348 1.10218 11.9928 1.50001 11.9928H10.5C10.8978 11.9928 11.2794 11.8348 11.5607 11.5535C11.842 11.2722 12 10.8906 12 10.4928V5.58431C12.0006 5.38726 11.962 5.19205 11.8866 5.01001C11.8111 4.82796 11.7003 4.66271 11.5605 4.52381V4.52381ZM7.50001 10.9928H4.50001V9.02581C4.50001 8.62799 4.65804 8.24646 4.93935 7.96515C5.22065 7.68385 5.60218 7.52581 6.00001 7.52581C6.39783 7.52581 6.77936 7.68385 7.06067 7.96515C7.34197 8.24646 7.50001 8.62799 7.50001 9.02581V10.9928ZM11 10.4928C11 10.6254 10.9473 10.7526 10.8536 10.8464C10.7598 10.9401 10.6326 10.9928 10.5 10.9928H8.50001V9.02581C8.50001 8.36277 8.23662 7.72689 7.76777 7.25805C7.29893 6.78921 6.66305 6.52581 6.00001 6.52581C5.33697 6.52581 4.70108 6.78921 4.23224 7.25805C3.7634 7.72689 3.50001 8.36277 3.50001 9.02581V10.9928H1.50001C1.3674 10.9928 1.24022 10.9401 1.14645 10.8464C1.05268 10.7526 1.00001 10.6254 1.00001 10.4928V5.58431C1.00047 5.4518 1.0531 5.32481 1.14651 5.23081L4.93901 1.43931C5.22086 1.15878 5.60234 1.00128 6.00001 1.00128C6.39767 1.00128 6.77916 1.15878 7.06101 1.43931L10.8535 5.23231C10.9465 5.32594 10.9992 5.45232 11 5.58431V10.4928Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/span><meta itemprop=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/li><\/ol><\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"text-bleed\">More than a wholesaler, a team that thinks along with you<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"w-47 mt-3 mb-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\tGerard Heemskerk is all about people and cooperation. We supply fresh flowers, plants and decoration, but above all overview and reliability. With fixed contact persons, short lines of communication and a down-to-earth approach, we support wholesalers and line drivers in their daily practice.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"button__row gap-2 flex-h align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-mask\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-scroll data-scroll-speed=\"-.2\" src=\"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Florentis-49.webp\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div  class=\"element__wrapper mirror hero-sub-element\"\n\tdata-position=\"left bottom\">\n\t<div class=\"element__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"769\" height=\"769\" viewBox=\"0 0 769 769\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\td=\"M208.94 735.601C305.981 735.601 384.69 656.943 384.69 559.851C384.69 462.759 463.348 384.101 560.44 384.101C657.533 384.101 736.19 305.443 736.19 208.351C736.19 111.259 657.481 32.601 560.44 32.601C463.399 32.601 384.69 111.31 384.69 208.351C384.69 305.392 305.981 384.101 208.94 384.101C111.9 384.101 33.1904 462.81 33.1904 559.851C33.1904 656.892 111.848 735.601 208.94 735.601Z\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke=\"url(#paint0_linear_146_71)\" stroke-width=\"65\" stroke-miterlimit=\"10\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<defs>\n\t\t\t\t\t<linearGradient id=\"paint0_linear_146_71\" x1=\"245.793\" y1=\"143.537\" x2=\"523.571\" y2=\"624.648\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tgradientUnits=\"userSpaceOnUse\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<stop class=\"dark\" stop-color=\"#1C2F50\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<stop offset=\"1\" stop-color=\"var(--color-site)\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/linearGradient>\n\t\t\t\t<\/defs>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<main>\n\n\t\n<section class=\"section__wrapper pb-4\" data-theme-section=dark >\n\t<div class=\"section__container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 col-md-8 col-offset-md-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote \">\n\t<div class=\"quote__content\">\n\n\t\t<h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGerard Heemskerk\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"image-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/roos-klein.png\" alt=\"\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tis a supplier that looks beyond the product alone and believes in working with permanent people, clear agreements and a way of working that fits the daily practice of our customers\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"section__wrapper pt-1\" data-theme-section=dark >\n\t\t<div class=\"section__container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 col-md-4 col-offset-md-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Gerard Heemskerk originated from practice and still works with both feet on the floor. We supply flowers, plants and decorations to professionals who can count on quality and continuity on a daily basis. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s all about clarity, fixed agreements and doing what we promise.<\/p>\n<p>With us, you don&#8217;t work with anonymous systems, but with people who know your way of working. Whether it&#8217;s purchasing, logistics or support: we think along, switch quickly and build long-term partnerships that continue to function, even if the market or planning changes.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"btn-primary btn-sm mt-3\" href=\"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/about-us\/\" target=\"_self\" 0=\"data-magnetic-strength\">\n\t\t<span>How did we ever start?<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 col-md-5 col-offset-md-6\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-wrapper rounded square\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Florentis-45.webp\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n<section id=\"grote-slider\" class=\"section__wrapper \" data-theme-section=dark data-divider=bottom >\n\t<div class=\"section__container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 mb-2 col-sm-10 col-offset-sm-1\" data-sticky>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Built on guts, grown through perseverance<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-navigation flex-h gap-2\">\n\t<button data-magnetic-strength=\"10\" data-slider-prev>\n\t\t<svg width=\"14\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 12\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\td=\"M14 6.00006C13.9951 5.47396 13.7832 4.97096 13.41 4.60007L9.12 0.30007C8.93264 0.113819 8.67919 0.00927734 8.415 0.00927734C8.15081 0.00927734 7.89736 0.113819 7.71 0.30007C7.61627 0.393033 7.54188 0.503634 7.49111 0.625493C7.44034 0.747352 7.4142 0.878057 7.4142 1.01007C7.4142 1.14208 7.44034 1.27279 7.49111 1.39465C7.54188 1.5165 7.61627 1.62711 7.71 1.72007L11 5.00006H1C0.734784 5.00006 0.48043 5.10542 0.292893 5.29296C0.105357 5.48049 0 5.73485 0 6.00006C0 6.26528 0.105357 6.51963 0.292893 6.70717C0.48043 6.89471 0.734784 7.00006 1 7.00006H11L7.71 10.2901C7.5217 10.477 7.41538 10.7312 7.41444 10.9965C7.41351 11.2619 7.51802 11.5168 7.705 11.7051C7.89198 11.8934 8.1461 11.9997 8.41146 12.0006C8.67683 12.0016 8.9317 11.897 9.12 11.7101L13.41 7.41006C13.7856 7.03671 13.9978 6.52964 14 6.00006Z\"\n\t\t\t\tfill=\"white\" \/>\n\t\t<\/svg>\n\n\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-navigation-items\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-navigation-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#slider-item-0\" class=\"tag\" data-slider-item=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe beginning\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#slider-item-1\" class=\"tag\" data-slider-item=\"1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpension\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#slider-item-2\" class=\"tag\" data-slider-item=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTransformation\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#slider-item-3\" class=\"tag\" data-slider-item=\"3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProfessionalization\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<button data-magnetic-strength=\"10\" data-slider-next>\n\t\t<svg width=\"14\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 12\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\td=\"M14 6.00006C13.9951 5.47396 13.7832 4.97096 13.41 4.60007L9.12 0.30007C8.93264 0.113819 8.67919 0.00927734 8.415 0.00927734C8.15081 0.00927734 7.89736 0.113819 7.71 0.30007C7.61627 0.393033 7.54188 0.503634 7.49111 0.625493C7.44034 0.747352 7.4142 0.878057 7.4142 1.01007C7.4142 1.14208 7.44034 1.27279 7.49111 1.39465C7.54188 1.5165 7.61627 1.62711 7.71 1.72007L11 5.00006H1C0.734784 5.00006 0.48043 5.10542 0.292893 5.29296C0.105357 5.48049 0 5.73485 0 6.00006C0 6.26528 0.105357 6.51963 0.292893 6.70717C0.48043 6.89471 0.734784 7.00006 1 7.00006H11L7.71 10.2901C7.5217 10.477 7.41538 10.7312 7.41444 10.9965C7.41351 11.2619 7.51802 11.5168 7.705 11.7051C7.89198 11.8934 8.1461 11.9997 8.41146 12.0006C8.67683 12.0016 8.9317 11.897 9.12 11.7101L13.41 7.41006C13.7856 7.03671 13.9978 6.52964 14 6.00006Z\"\n\t\t\t\tfill=\"white\" \/>\n\t\t<\/svg>\n\n\t<\/button>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-wrapper col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"slider-item-0\" class=\"slider-item is-active\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-item-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tag\">The beginning<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"mb-2 mt-2\">From tour driver to professional entrepreneur<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In January 1981, Gerard Heemskerk started as a tour driver. First in the Utrecht region, but due to hard competition soon towards Germany, around Bielefeld. Monday to Thursday on the road, Friday and Saturday residual sale in Gehrden. Loading new stock on Sunday, drive again on Sunday evening. Hard work, every week.    <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"tag\">The beginning<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-item-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Florentis-110.webp\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"slider-item-1\" class=\"slider-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-item-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tag\">Expension<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"mb-2 mt-2\">Growth across the border<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Around 1984, the tour was extended to Hildesheim and the Harz Mountains. Also, a flower shop was started in Hildesheim. In 1990, a second Tour followed in the Munich region, together with brother Frank. Shortly afterwards, the stand and store were sold to fully focus on further growth.   <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"tag\">Expension<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-item-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Florentis-78.webp\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"slider-item-2\" class=\"slider-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-item-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tag\">Transformation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"mb-2 mt-2\">From tour driver to buying partner and exporter<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Due to economies of scale at the auctions of Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk and Rijnsburg, turnover had to increase in order to remain in the competition. Through collaborations with other Flying Dutchmans, the volume grew. The company developed more and more into a buying partner, with export customers in Sweden and Germany, among others  <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"tag\">Transformation<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-item-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Florentis-3.webp\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"slider-item-3\" class=\"slider-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-item-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tag\">Professionalization<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"mb-2 mt-2\">Expansion into a serious export company<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 1999, Kees Guijt, Marcel van Duijn and Jan Durieux joined as co-owners. Turnover doubled and the company grew into a serious export player. With highs and lows, but growth every year. In 2018, Gerard van der Plas took over the share from Gerard Heemskerk   <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"tag\">Professionalization<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"slider-item-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Florentis-50.webp\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t<\/main>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-811","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=811"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":834,"href":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/811\/revisions\/834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gerardheemskerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}