Full of promise

That applies to all our quality bulbs, of course. They all promise to be a beautiful flowering tulip, freesia or crocus.

And, of course, healthy growth and propagation. Fields itself is also full of promises. Promises to loyal customers whom we often supply for many years. Promises to collaboration partners, with whom we join forces and work together in a sustainable manner. Promises to those in our living environment, that we take good care of everything that grows and flowers. And, of course, promises to our own team, to our own people. We promise to enjoy working on the cultivation of a fantastic product and the development of a professional company every day.

Van Steijn timeline

We are a modern bulb-growing company and mainly look to the future in our business operations. Yet we enjoy sharing the main aspects of our history. De Mariahoeve lies on Westeinde, in the town of Noordwijkerhout. Our 5th generation family business has been established here since the 19th century, and we are rather proud of that.

1842

Birth of Kornelis van de Bosch. He lived on the Mariahoeve, a dairy farm. Boer Kornelis married Maria van der Plas.

1888

Kornelis died at the age of 45, leaving Maria behind with 10 children.

1889

Widow Maria married Koos van Steijn, farm hand at the Mariahoeve.

1892

Maria and Koos had a son together: Cor van Steijn.

1918

Cor married Margaretha Koot. The couple had 13 children together. In addition to keeping cows, Cor also started growing tulips. Part of the grassland was remodelled.

1920s

The business struggled during the years of crisis. When a number of Amsterdammers showed interest in his business, Cor decided to sell the Mariahoeve. He and his family moved to a house on the Kerkstraat in Noordwijkerhout.

After a few years, the Amsterdammers regretted their purchase, and Cor obviously did too. He bought the farm back, far below his previous sale price.

1940

Leonard van Steijn, the youngest son of Cor and Margaretha, was born.

1966

Leonard took over the farm with 50% cows and 50% bulbs from his parents. He married Carla Wennekers that same year. The newly married couple moved to the Mariahoeve. Cor and Margaretha van Steijn built a bungalow (De Orchidee) on an adjacent plot and went and lived there.

1967

Oldest son Patrick van Steijn was born there.

1970

In the mid ’70s, Leonard decided to do away with the cows and focus entirely on bulb growing. VOF LVJ van Steijn grew tulips and daffodils.

1986

Patrick joined the company, having studied at the agricultural school (Middelbare Tuinbouwschool) in Lisse. His two younger brothers had no ambition to join the family business.

1988

Margaretha died. Patrick and his girlfriend Mariëlle Bos went to live in the De Orchidee, next to the farm.

1993

Patrick and Mariëlle got married. Son Daan was born in 1995, and daughter Tessa in 1997.

1998

Leonard and Carla moved to De Orchidee, while Patrick, Mariëlle and family moved into the Mariahoeve.

2000

Patrick and Mariëlle took over the business and called it Firma Patrick van Steijn.

2009

A new warehouse was built. The business was renamed: Fields, Source of Flowers.

2017

Son Daan joined the company as an employee.

2021

The office and the cafeteria underwent radical renovation. A contemporary look and feel, with historic elements.

2022

Daan became co-shareholder.