To celebrate our 100th article, we have chosen an amazing topic: the story of a secret from one of our loyal exhibitors who has always achieved enormous success for its effectiveness and the presentation of its products.
This story begins as a famous fable by Jean de La Fontaine.

 Work, take the trouble:
This is the fund that is the least lacking.
A humble gardener, seeking the exceptional,
Called his child, spoke to him without witness.
Be careful, he said, not to sell the inheritance,
what your parents left you,
A treasure is hidden inside.

The scene takes place in the NETHERLANDS and more precisely in Katwijk, a town located on the magnificent North Sea coast, known for its many fields of tulip, hyacinth and daffodil flowers.

We are in 1923, THEODORUS VAN RIJN, gardener by trade, cultivates plants and flower bulbs in his greenhouses. This lover of perfection has a goal for his productions, to be the most beautiful in order to obtain the best prices at flowerauctions.

To do this, he searches for a fertilizer to make his wish come true. It was by chance, by mixing different components and plants, that he discovered a wonderful innovative product.
He passes his secret on to his son ADRIANUS VAN RIJN who jealously guards it to maintain his own plants and flowers. In the meantime, they move to BELGIUM in Groot-Bijgaarden where ADRIANUS makes his greenhouses prosper. He has 5 children, 4 daughters and a son KEES, from whom we have all his information. He was kind enough to tell us a little more about this secret that we share with you at the end of the article.

The history of KEES VAN RIJN

KEES was born in Leiden, HOLLAND, on 01/31/1948, but, 15 days after his birth his parents returned to Groot Bijgaarden where they develop their cultures. At 18, he should have taken over the greenery from his parents. However, the oil crisis is very present and it turns out that the ratio investment profitability is negative to support the whole family and the workers.

We must therefore find another solution. Speaking 4 languages (Dutch, French, German, English) like his wife Myriam, he realizes that he can keep his secret, and making the public benefit from his miraculous product. He makes it (by hand) artisanal and sells it at fairs and garden exhibitions.

The first presentation took place at the garden exhibition in Brussels in 1969. Since then, with Myriam, they have crisscrossed Europe and North America:

• 26 in France,
• 13 in Germany
• 7 in Belgium,
• 2 in Switzerland,
• 2 in the United Kingdom,
• 1 in Luxembourg
• 1 in Austria.
• 1 in Guadeloupe
• 1 in Montreal

A few stands in all this years:

Products

The range is limited but offers a flagship product:

1 – The famous fertilizer:

This is the historic product. Invented by the Grandfather. Here is a real nutrient that generates amazing results for all plants, both green and colorful. Flowers are more abundant, orchids bloom often, flower boxes of geraniums, begonias, petunias and other flowers retain a long, magnificent bloom. Home garden vegetables have never tasted so delicious. Can also be used for fruit and citrus trees.

2- The Make up

Developed in 1965. It gives a natural glow to the foliage of the plants. At the same time, it removes dust from the leaves so that the plants can breathe better and be healthier.

3- The Insect K.O.

Designed by the son KRISTOF, here is a universal insecticide effective against flying and crawling insects (flies, mosquitoes, spiders, moths, cockroaches, ants, fleas, bugs, mites, silverfish …). Thanks to its unique formula, Insect K.O. is completely harmless to humans, warm-blooded animals as well as plants and flowers.

Manufacturing and Marketing.

Since the start of production, the production has been artisanal and carried out only in great secret by the VAN RIJN family. Then, for the conditioning, they do a good deed, because the work is done by the disabled in sheltered workshops

The products are mainly distributed in fairs and flower exhibitions. Two other channels were used: mail order and tele-shopping. In 2005, creation of their first online merchant site. This site is proving very useful nowadays with the onset of the global health crisis and the cancellation of most fairs, shows and flower shows.

Advice and loyalty.

In the Van RIJN family, we sell, we advise. We build loyalty by offering an invitation for the next event and many other advantages.

Thus since 1969, KEES and MYRIAM, his wife, his accomplice and his alter-ego, have known as clients, parents, children and grandchildren. They go to the Fair for the annual purchase of the miracle fertilizer. The testimonies are numerous and laudatory. Here is one, among many others, which sums up this state of mind:

I have been using van Rijn’s products for years. I get amazing effects on my flowers and vegetables. I’ve never been able to get them with other products. – Françoise P (Paris).

VAN RIJN fertilizer works very well here in the emirates. – Alex (Abu Dhabi)

PRESS

The VAN RIJN stand has often had the honors of the press and in particular of the dailies. Journalists loved doing interviews.

Learn a little more about the secret.

This is what the best plant food consists of. It is a 100% biodegradable fertilizer, composed of:

– 4% Nitrogen, of which 2% (slow) and 2% (fast)
– 5% phosphorus pentoxide for the coloring of the foliage
– 6% potassium oxide for flowering.

But the biggest secret is the addition of extract of tulip leafs and sea kelp ingredients.

The use is simple : Shake the product well, one cap per liter of sprinkling water every week. For cut flowers, a few drops are sufficient.

Here is the result in a few photos.

Flowers

Plants

From VAN RIJN to VAN RIJN since 1923

The secret has been passed orally from father to son at the time of manufacture for almost 100 years. Today, KEES shares the management with one of his two sons, KRISTOF who takes care of the Fairs. The fifth generation is getting ready because KEES and MYRIAM have three grandchildren.

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To find out more about KEES and MYRIAM Van RIJN

Here is a fusional, happy, endearing couple who complement each other wonderfully. Their welcome is always so warm, and of an extreme kindness.

They are both passionate about sailing and golf. MYRIAM is a fan of this golf and during competitions, she mostly finishes in the first to collect a prize. For sailing, KEES is national race officer in Belgium with MYRIAM his teammate. As such, they participate in many championships.

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Lovers of French gastronomy, epicureans, they shared some of their favorite dishes in France with us.

In Paris, they found a restaurant to taste the grandmother’s sweetbreads.
Strasbourg is traditional to savor their famous “Flammeküche” and frog legs.
Nice, they feast on the delicious fresh fish and make a detour to the “salt crusted sea bass”.

The Info to know everything and our gift for our hundredth article.

To thank you for your loyalty, with KEES and MYRIAM VAN RIJN, we are offering you one gift that are usually reserved for members of the “VAN RIJN’S club”

Receive each month the calendar of flowers and plants in order to know what to do correctly to have very good results. To do this, send your name, first name and email to shop@vanrijns.be or scan the following QR code:

Finally, to discover the range and place an order, go to the site www.vanrijns.be or scan the following Qr code:

Address: VAN RIJN B.V.B.A
Vredestraat 54
B-1830 MACHELEN

To conclude

We are always happy to share our favorites with you, we hope you are satisfied and we are continuing our volunteer work to share our discoveries with you.

PRO Paul and Raydo Obadia April 2021

Photos VAN RIJN