RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 39
Hope for the future
Arie Vijn is still the finance expert and can almost
Fortunately, perseverance and a great sense of
always be found at the office on Zaagmolenkade,
optimism are two of Rijk Zwaan’s many character
while Rijk Zwaan is usually busy in the field with
traits. He needs them both in those first few years
his breeding activities. Rijk Zwaan’s perseverance
after the liberation of the Netherlands. In his
is rewarded in 1946 when the Breeders’ Decree
first post-war catalogue, which is still printed on
comes into effect. From then on, the plant
bad-quality paper, he takes a minute to look back
breeding profession is effectively protected.
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47
Gladoro
Beetroot
and also expresses his hopes for the future:
To take full advantage of the new regulation, the
‘Fortunately, this blackest of nights of sorrow and misery
company needs to expand. In order to obtain
has come to an end, and the often fearful struggle for
the finances required for the new investments,
Freedom, Peace and Justice culminated in success on the
Rijk Zwaan negotiates with a number of money
5th of May of this year. The guise in which this catalogue
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48
Furore
Bean
lenders. In 1939, his total debts amount to around
appears still bears the stamp of times of war. We count
30 thousand guilders. In 1946, this amount has
ourselves fortunate, nevertheless, to have managed to do
increased to around 80 thousand guilders. Ever
this, and we hope to publish a pre-war edition next year.’
since he founded his company in 1924, Rijk Zwaan
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46
First
hybridisation
in the Netherlands.
has been convinced that a good company needs
Since 1943, Rijk Zwaan has had a warehouse in
a good car, and the new Chevrolet is therefore
Rotterdam (De Eendracht in Terbregge) in addition
one of his first post-war investments. He buys a
to the nursery and the office on Zaagmolenkade,
motorbike for his sales reps and two trucks for
and the company employs 20 people to keep the
the nursery: one from the German manufacturer
business running.
Hanomag and one from American company
19
46
Breeders’ Decree
comes into
effect.
Dodge.
Dodge Pickup, 1946.
1945-1960 | Reconstruction | A bitter pill
1946-1947
37
Turnover
FTE
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