William Dam Seeds

William Dam Seeds is a family-run Canadian seed company based just outside Dundas, Ontario. It supplies small farmers and gardeners across Canada with seed for food, flowers and soil building, and is known for offering a varied catalogue of many different seed varieties, including old and traditional types. The company traces its origins to William (Wim) Dam and Maria Dam, who immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands in June 1947 aboard the Waterman and started the seed business on their kitchen table in Sarnia, Ontario. Both had previously worked for the Dutch seed company Turkenburg in Bodegraven, Holland. The business later relocated and is now located near Dundas, Ontario. William Dam Seeds emphasizes untreated seed of high quality, a tradition it says it has maintained for over 70 years. Its catalogue spans vegetables, flowers, herbs and soil-building crops, and the company continues to trial new varieties alongside heirloom favourites such as Lucullus Swiss Chard, which appeared in its first price list and remains in the current catalogue. The company operates a store and greenhouse at its Dundas-area location, in addition to online and phone ordering. Its store carries roughly 90% of the items it sells, though store inventory is managed separately from online order fulfilment. The greenhouse opens in mid-May for plants. William Dam Seeds remains privately held and family run, with a customer base of gardeners and small-scale growers rather than large industrial agriculture.

William Dam Seeds began with William (Wim) Dam and Maria Dam, who met while working for the Dutch seed company Turkenburg in Bodegraven, Holland. Wim started at Turkenburg in 1935, while Maria was already working in the office before he arrived. They married in 1938. During World War II and the German occupation of the Netherlands that began in May 1940, Wim was on active duty during mobilization and was actively involved in resistance activities, including hiding fugitives and transporting weapons. Their oldest daughter Joan was born during this period. In June 1947, the couple immigrated to Canada aboard the Waterman. They started the seed company on their kitchen table in Sarnia, Ontario, sometimes checking orders while taking care of children. Maria later recounted this story in the 60th edition of the company catalogue; she passed away shortly after her 100th birthday. The business eventually moved and is now located just outside Dundas, Ontario. It has operated for over 70 years, supplying small farmers and gardeners in Canada with seed for food, flowers and soil building. The company takes pride in a varied catalogue that includes old and traditional varieties, such as Lucullus Swiss Chard, which was listed in its first price list and remains in the current catalogue. It continues to trial new varieties for productivity and plant health. Today William Dam Seeds operates a store and greenhouse at its Dundas-area location alongside online and phone ordering, and remains a family-run private company.

• 1947

  The Dams immigrate to Canada aboard the Waterman in June and start the seed company on their kitchen table in Sarnia, Ontario.

• 1940

  Germany occupies the Netherlands; Wim is on active duty and involved in resistance activities.

• 1938

  William (Wim) Dam and Maria Dam marry.

• 1935

  Wim Dam starts working at the Dutch seed company Turkenburg in Bodegraven, Holland.

• The company relocates to just outside Dundas, Ontario.

• Maria Dam recounts the company's founding in the 60th edition of the catalogue.

Untreated seed of the highest quality for small farmers and gardeners, with a varied catalogue that values old and traditional varieties.

• Lucullus Swiss Chard

• Caraway (Carum carvi)

• Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-gracum)

• Foxglove, Dalmatian Peach

• Peas, Desire PLS595

• Gladioli, Adrenalin

1. 1William Dam Seedsdamseeds.com
2. 2About us – William Dam Seedsdamseeds.com
3. 3Caraway, Caraway – William Dam Seedsdamseeds.com
4. 4Fenugreek, Fenugreek – William Dam Seedsdamseeds.com