'Proud father of KP Holland' is on his LinkedIn profile. Aad van der Knaap is a familiar face in the ornamental sector. Although he has handed over the daily management of the family business, Aad remains closely involved in the development of new markets and product innovation. As a New Product Developer at KP Holland, he has recently been focusing on Vietnam, a country where he sees plenty of opportunities for the horticultural sector.
© Aad van der Knaap
Political and social support
According to Aad, the lack of political and social support is the biggest threat to our industry. "We have a great story, but we do need to tell it. In the areas of energy, biology, and water, we are making serious strides. Unfortunately, negative news is often exaggerated, while positive developments remain underexposed."
"I think it's important to put the sector in a better light. If we do that well, we give the youth perspective and retain our 'license to produce'. Klaas Knot's visit to our company is a great example of that: He came as a critic and left as an ambassador."
Putting things into perspective
Labor, sales, and energy have always been challenges in horticulture. "That was already the case fifty years ago," laughs Aad. "But in today's world, problems are magnified. Young people are flooded with negative messages on social media. War, climate problems, and it sometimes seems as if we're running into a ravine like lemmings. We need to learn to put things into perspective without downplaying problems."
"At the same time, enormous progress has already been made worldwide. In the past, oil burning in Westland caused heavy air pollution. The laundry outside was black as soon as the boiler was turned on, and there was a landfill behind every greenhouse. Now we have come so much further. And globally, the level of prosperity has increased enormously. It is not perfectly distributed, but broadly speaking, the world is better off than decades ago."
Vietnam
"To make the bridge to Vietnam," Aad continues, "when I was in Hanoi a few weeks ago, I noticed how active and driven the people are. No one is sitting still, everyone is working hard, and the food is fresh and healthy. The focus is still really on the basic needs, and the people are eager. It reminded me of the Netherlands in the 1950s. The eagerness to make something of it seems to have faded a bit."
To be successful in a new market like Vietnam, strong partners are very important according to Aad. "You need parties willing to do propagation and pay royalties." KP Holland had Vietnam on the radar for several years, but travel came to a halt due to the pandemic. They are now working with Dalat Hasfarm, a mega-company of 350 hectares with Dutch management. The Spathiphyllum and Curcuma, which Aad's father once brought from Thailand, are now growing there.
Since 2023, he has been taking the Vietnamese market seriously. He schedules a video call with Dalat Hasfarm every month, where they show the greenhouse. "Then I can give advice, and in half a year I really saw improvement. That's why I decided to go to Hortex, where I even gave a seminar together with our Vietnamese representative. That trade fair confirmed my assessment: Vietnam really has potential."
With a young population and a growing love for flowers and plants, Aad sees Vietnam as a promising growth market for horticulture. "And I am happy that in this way I can still be involved in new projects within our KP Holland."
© Aad van der Knaap
75 years of KP Holland
"Our company passed on to the next generation, my brother and I let go of the daily management 4 years ago," says Aad. "This year we can celebrate 75 years of KP Holland, how wonderful is that?" The secret? "The most important thing in your company is the people. Surround yourself with smart people, preferably smarter than yourself. Some find that exciting, but as an entrepreneur, you shouldn't want to do everything yourself just because you are ultimately responsible."
According to him, entrepreneurship is more than just work; it is a 'way of living'. "Think carefully before you step into a company. The balance between entrepreneurship and management is crucial. At KP Holland, we think we have now found that balance. KP Holland now has 175 employees."
Aad strongly believes in results-oriented leadership. "We don't say: 'You have to do it this way', but rather: 'This is where we want to go, what do you need to achieve that?' That creates involvement and responsibility among employees. Leadership is about creating space for growth, not shouting from the back seat."
Attention = quality
Once Aad learned in a course: 'Attention = quality'. "You have a meter of attention that you have to distribute. If you want to do everything yourself, it becomes millimeter work. That's why you need to gather people around you who are smarter than you. Some entrepreneurs want to be the best at everything, but stepping aside in time is crucial."
For more information:
Aad van der Knaap
KP Holland
aadvanderknaap@kpholland.nl
www.kpholland.nl