Royal Brinkman
Royal Brinkman is a Dutch supplier, installer, and consultant serving professional horticultural businesses with greenhouse technology, cultivation systems, equipment, and operational expertise.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Royal Brinkman is a Dutch horticultural technology and supply company whose roots reach back to 1885, when Cor Brinkman began selling rope and related materials to growers and agricultural traders in the Westland region. From that modest local business, the company developed into a specialist supplier, installer, and consultant for professional horticulture. Its activities cover products and systems used in greenhouse cultivation, including climate control, irrigation and fertigation, crop-support materials, cultivation substrates, machinery, packaging-related equipment, and other operational supplies. The company’s early history was closely linked to the needs of growers and the logistics of the Westland horticultural economy. Brinkman initially sold sparrietouw, a rope used for crates, tarpaulins, and asparagus bundles, before expanding into nets and other cultivation-related materials. Its first notable technology breakthrough came in 1926, when the company won first prize at the Fruit and Vegetable Exhibition in Utrecht for an electric tomato-sorting machine known as the doppenmachine. The machine, an improved form of the Brinkman Puncher, demonstrated an enduring feature of the business: combining distribution with practical engineering for growers. Brinkman experienced difficult periods during the economic downturn of the 1930s, a major fire at its 's-Gravenzande premises in 1934, and the disruption of the Second World War. During the war, property was seized and the company was forced to operate temporarily from a wood-processing facility in De Lier. It subsequently rebuilt its operations as Dutch horticulture modernized after 1945. New crops, improved greenhouse methods, irrigation, heating, automation, and soilless cultivation created demand for more advanced systems and technical support. During the postwar modernization of horticulture, Royal Brinkman moved beyond traditional supplies into controlled-environment technology. It introduced the Micom 85 climate computer, designed to regulate greenhouse conditions, and later the Vocom nutrition computer, which helped manage water and fertilizer dosing for substrate cultivation. The company also supported the transition from soil to above-ground cultivation using peat and, later, stone-wool systems. These approaches were associated with improved control of soil-borne disease, more efficient use of growing space, and potential gains in production and resource management. A major physical expansion took place in 1972, when Brinkman moved to the former vegetable auction hall on Woutersweg in 's-Gravenzande. The new site covered approximately 45,000 square metres and became the company’s continuing headquarters. International development had already begun with exports to the United Kingdom in 1930; a branch near Hull was opened in the early 1970s, providing a base for the company’s subsequent international presence. The designation Royal was granted on 1 April 1985 in connection with the company’s centenary. The predicate recognized Brinkman’s long operating history and was later extended in 2010 through 2035. The business has continued to combine products, project installation, and advisory services rather than positioning itself solely as a catalogue distributor. Its network includes more than 20 offices, with locations in the Netherlands and several other European and non-European markets. The managing board listed in the supplied reference comprises Ton van Mil, Gert-Jan van Peer, Ramon Verdel, Jan Schuttrups, and Ronald van der Tang. Royal Brinkman remains focused on professional horticulture, particularly the technical and operational infrastructure required by commercial greenhouse growers.
History
Royal Brinkman was founded in 1885 by Cor Brinkman in 's-Gravenzande, in the Westland area of the Netherlands. The original business operated from a location known as De Pepersteeg and served local growers by selling sparrietouw, a rope used for agricultural and transport purposes. The assortment later expanded to include nets such as kinnetjesnetten and bollenkinnetjes, which were knitted in Scheveningen and brought to customers by Brinkman. The company moved to the Market Place in 's-Gravenzande in 1917. It acquired its first company car, a T-Ford, in 1919 and its first truck in 1923, reflecting the growing importance of delivery and regional distribution. In 1926, Brinkman received first prize at the Fruit and Vegetable Exhibition in Utrecht for an electric tomato-sorting machine called the doppenmachine. The equipment was an improved version of the Brinkman Puncher and became an important early example of the company’s move into horticultural machinery. A first branch was opened in Rockanje in 1931. The following years brought serious difficulties. The horticultural sector suffered during the economic crisis, and a severe fire in 1934 destroyed the company’s Market Place premises, three trucks, timber stocks, and machinery. Henk Brinkman, representing the third generation of the family, became managing director during this difficult period. During the Second World War, the company’s property in 's-Gravenzande was seized, forcing operations to move temporarily to the former wood factory In 't Veld en de Jong in De Lier. After the seizure ended, Brinkman rebuilt its business. Postwar horticulture created new opportunities. Growers adopted new crops, greenhouse heating and irrigation, automation, and increasingly sophisticated cultivation methods. Brinkman responded by developing and supplying technical systems rather than remaining only a merchant of basic materials. Its Micom 85 horticultural computer was introduced to control greenhouse climate. The company also became involved in the transition from soil cultivation to substrate cultivation, including the use of peat and later stone wool. It developed the Vocom computer to dose water and fertilizers for substrate-grown crops. These technologies became especially successful in the 1970s and 1980s, when greenhouse growers were seeking better control of production and resource use. In 1972, Brinkman moved from the Market Place to the former vegetable auction hall on Woutersweg in 's-Gravenzande. The new property covered approximately 45,000 square metres, and its opening attracted more than 11,000 visitors over five days. The Woutersweg site remains associated with the company’s headquarters. Although Brinkman had exported to the United Kingdom since 1930, its first foreign branch was established near Burstwick, close to Hull, in the early 1970s. The company received the Royal predicate on 1 April 1985, its centenary year. The designation was presented on behalf of Queen Beatrix, and its continuation was later extended in 2010 through 2035. Royal Brinkman won the Horticulture Entrepreneur Prize in 1989 and was nominated again in 2016. In 2012, the headquarters were consolidated in one building at Woutersweg. A new logo was introduced in 2015, and in 2016 the company won first prize in the TASPO Awards’ best-webshop category. In its modern form, Royal Brinkman operates as a business-to-business horticultural partner. It supplies products, installs systems, and provides advice to commercial growers. Its international network includes more than 20 offices, with Dutch locations including 's-Gravenzande, Bleiswijk, Roosendaal, Venlo, and Gameren, as well as offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Hungary, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Australia, and Mexico. The company’s activities span greenhouse technology, cultivation systems, machinery, crop-support materials, irrigation, climate management, and related professional supplies.
- 2016
TASPO webshop award
[1]The company wins first prize for best webshop at the TASPO Awards.
- 2015
New visual identity
[1]Royal Brinkman introduces a new logo.
- 2012
Headquarters consolidated
[1]The headquarters are brought together in one building at Woutersweg in 's-Gravenzande.
- 2010
Royal predicate extended
[1]The Royal predicate is extended for 25 years, through 2035.
- 1989
Horticulture Entrepreneur Prize
[1]Royal Brinkman wins the Horticulture Entrepreneur Prize.
- 1985
Royal predicate granted
[1]The company receives the Royal predicate in its centenary year.
- 1979
Vocom nutrition computer
[1]The company launches the Vocom system for dosing water and fertilizers in substrate cultivation.
- 1975
Micom 85 climate computer
[1]Royal Brinkman launches the Micom 85, a computer designed to control greenhouse climate conditions.
- 1974
First foreign branch
[1]The company opens a branch in Burstwick near Hull in the United Kingdom.
- 1972
Move to Woutersweg
[1]Brinkman relocates to the former vegetable auction hall on Woutersweg in 's-Gravenzande, establishing a large new headquarters site.
Products and positioning
A specialist business-to-business horticultural partner combining distribution, engineering, installation, consultancy, and greenhouse cultivation technology for professional growers.
Tomato-sorting machinery · 1926
Doppenmachine
An electric tomato-sorting machine that won first prize at the 1926 Fruit and Vegetable Exhibition in Utrecht. It was described as an improved version of the Brinkman Puncher and represented one of the company’s earliest documented steps from agricultural supply into horticultural equipment and mechanization.
Greenhouse climate computer · 1975
Micom 85
A horticultural computer introduced to help control greenhouse climate conditions. Its development reflected the increasing use of automation in professional horticulture and Royal Brinkman’s role in supplying technical systems for controlled-environment production.
Water and fertilizer dosing computer · 1979
Vocom
A computer designed to dose water and fertilizers for crops grown in substrate rather than directly in soil. The system supported the more precise management of nutrition and irrigation that accompanied the expansion of soilless greenhouse cultivation in the 1970s and 1980s.
Cultivation systems
Substrate cultivation systems
Royal Brinkman supported the adoption of above-ground cultivation using peat substrates and later stone wool. These systems were associated with improved control over soil diseases, water and nutrient delivery, greenhouse space, and production conditions.
Horticultural installation and automation
Greenhouse climate and irrigation projects
A project-oriented offering covering greenhouse climate management, irrigation, heating, fertigation, and related technical infrastructure. Royal Brinkman combines equipment supply with installation and consultancy for professional horticultural operations.
Horticultural consumables · 1885
Crop-support ropes and nets
The company’s original product area included rope and knitted nets used in agricultural handling, transport, and crop support. These materials established Royal Brinkman’s long-standing relationship with growers and remain representative of its consumables business.
Brand decisions
2015
Introduction of a new logoStrategyBackground
Royal Brinkman updated its corporate presentation during a period in which the company combined international distribution, installation, consultancy, and digital commerce.
Action taken
The company introduced a new logo and visual identity.
Aftermath
The new identity was used to present the Royal Brinkman brand across its horticultural activities.
1979
Launch of the Vocom nutrition computerProduct launchBackground
The spread of substrate cultivation increased the need for accurate water and fertilizer management.
Action taken
Royal Brinkman launched the Vocom computer for dosing water and fertilizers in substrate cultivation.
Aftermath
The system became one of the company’s notable horticultural technology products during the 1970s and 1980s.
1975
Launch of the Micom 85 climate computerProduct launchBackground
Postwar greenhouse horticulture was adopting automation and seeking more consistent control of growing conditions.
Action taken
Royal Brinkman introduced the Micom 85 to control greenhouse climate conditions.
Aftermath
The product became part of the company’s expansion into horticultural automation and technical systems.
Recent events
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