Arable farmer Jan van der Giessen from Slootdorp did not like to sit still during the quiet December month on the farm. He slowly started selling Christmas trees. A quarter of a century ago there were fifty, now his yard is full of trees from Denmark and home-grown trees from Limburg.
“If we could grow Christmas trees here, I would have the land full of them,” says Van der Giessen between his trees in the yard, “But you need a continental climate. So I grow them together with someone in Limburg and also on a piece of land in Drenthe. I think it’s beautiful. You’re always among people, you always have a chat. Only cheerful people come to the yard.”
Everything has changed in those 25 years. “People want the trees in their homes earlier and earlier,” he says, “It used to be after Sinterklaas, now it’s before. I even got a call at the beginning of November asking if I might already have Christmas trees. I still think that’s a big deal. early.”
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Jan van der Giessen is visibly enjoying himself among all the spruce trees. “These are Nordmen of the highest quality, AA class.” While many people are now slowly slipping into Christmas mode, for him the season has already started. “I start selecting the trees in July. Most people are not yet busy with it. I indeed place orders in my shorts.”
Farmer Jan is not thinking about quitting yet. “I want to keep this up for as long as possible. It’s quite tough but I like it.” He has already chosen a tree himself. “It’s there. We’ll first put it in the utility room and then slowly into the house. Otherwise the transition is too big, so acclimatize. Otherwise the tree will diminish and everything will be on the ground at Christmas. Then you have a weeping willow.” , he says laughing.