Last month, a special celebration was held to mark Dutch grower Daan Haket's anniversary in horticulture. These days, he cultivates peonies, but his story began years ago with vegetable growing on Blokweg, together with his father. Daan was even one of the last growers to still plant tomatoes directly in the soil. Telstar Online looked back on his long and remarkable career.
Back on Blokweg, the former vegetable auction of Pijnacker was developing a new horticultural area. Daan's brother Aad made it very clear to local officials, the bank, and the auction's director, Cor Kerklaan—the man in charge of assigning plots—that he only wanted one specific piece of land and nothing else. Later, the previous owner, farmer Piet van Leeuwen from Katwijkerlaan, told the Haket brothers they had ended up with "the best soil in the entire polder."
When Aad reached his early sixties, the brothers decided to switch from vegetables to peony cultivation, choosing the popular variety Sarah Bernhardt. The very same plants they started with back then are still thriving today. Peonies, Daan explains, don't require constant attention throughout the year, which makes them ideal for experienced growers. The only truly busy time is the relatively short harvest period, when the entire Haket family comes together to get the work done. Those weeks are hard work—but also wonderfully lively and full of the old familiar warmth.
Daan's brother Aad passed away recently at the age of ninety. Now 81 himself, Daan admits he never expected to still be physically capable of the demanding work—like manually cutting the crop inside the greenhouse. Yet he keeps going, maintaining his cheerful spirit and making sure there's always room for a bit of fun along the way.
The story Telstar Online captured about Daan's life and career is a true reflection of that enduring passion and positivity. Read the full story here (in Dutch).
