With its head in the trees

A beautiful mature exotic tree in the garden is like the proverbial icing on the cake. Like no other, Wim Takkebos and Duuk Muilwijk of The Green Contractors, independent experts in exclusive garden projects, know where to find such special trees. MASTERS accompanied the gentlemen to a nursery in a southern country. "We are a kind of tree matchmakers: the customer has a wish, we make sure that wish is fulfilled," they say.

A patch of land around your villa, but no idea what you want to do with it? The Green Contractors know what to do with it. They take complete control, find the right parties - garden architect, contractor, landscaper -, make a suitable plan to realize your dream garden and monitor quality and budget. They themselves see it as 'building supervision for the outdoor space', with all the aspects that go with it. They are at home in all markets, you can do anything with them: modern, Mediterranean or classic, with lounge terrace, swimming pool or natural pond. You name it! And the great thing is: The Green Contractors use mature plantings. So you don't have to wait years for a tree or hedge to finally provide shade or shelter, the garden is delivered "finished. The impact! Suddenly there is a huge tree in your garden... It catches the eye immediately and strongly determines the atmosphere.Wim Takkebos and Duuk Muilwijk specialize in high-quality and exclusive planting and have invested over the years in setting up an extensive network of tree and commercial nurseries in Europe. Looking for unique trees or shrubs? They know where to knock and buy directly from the source, so they can offer the best value for money. They often take the customer to the nursery. "You have to experience it for yourself. And how nice is it to choose your own tree, which many generations after you will also enjoy?" Besides, it is absolutely no punishment to go on an adventure with these men - they are full of humor and stories and know how to order a wine in Spanish. We experienced this firsthand last June when we went with them to a nursery in Mediterranean coastal areas. On safari among the trees: sycamores, punicas, magnolias, holm oaks, cork oaks, poplars, palms... And also olive trees as old as 2,500 years: "They lived through the Crusades!"

How do you get specialized in high-quality and exclusive plantings?

Wim: "I simply love trees and plants. That is my passion and then you want to know everything about them. I especially like the older specimens that already have their own character. In some projects I 'see' an exclusive tree already in the garden. That garden deserves that, that is for the future. I know from experience which species qualify. We have specialized in the absolute top, looking only for the very best plants. The customer experiences the result immediately and does not have to wait until a tree is mature or a hedge has grown over. People buy time with us: you don't have to let the trees grow. The garden looks 'finished' from delivery and immediately offers plenty of privacy."
Duuk: "A 'green wall' is erected in one or two days and immediately the neighbors are out of sight."
Wim: "That cannot be expressed in value."

Which trees do well in the Netherlands?

Duuk: "Obviously the native species, such as oak, beech, chestnut, lime... We use a lot of them in our projects. But to achieve a different atmosphere, we also import non-native species. The whole experience of the garden has changed over time. For example, there has been a tremendous boom in swimming pools, wellness, outdoor kitchens ... That has taken off. For those projects, people also want a bit of a vacation atmosphere. Species like olive trees and holm oaks contribute to that feeling. On vacation in your own garden! One client wants the Tuscan feeling - then you quickly think of cypress trees -, the other uses the words 'Ibiza' and 'lounge' in the description."Wim: "But it also happens that we show atmospheres that the customer likes. Because often people don't know what they want at all yet. That is also difficult. Based on the customer's style and wishes, we look for a matching designer. He makes a blueprint of the garden. Then, together with the customer, we look at which trees can best fit where in that design. It is just like buying a new house: the floor and the kitchen are in and then you have to decorate it with art. Trees can be compared to beautiful paintings. You buy a work of art. We often go with the customer to different nurseries in Europe to pick out these exclusive pieces together, as the ultimate icing on the cake."

Outline the process when a client agrees to your proposal to include a certain type of tree in his or her garden.

Wim: "Once the tree is selected, a bow is literally put on it. Then the logistical process starts: a truck is hired to transport the tree to the Netherlands. Upon arrival, it is hoisted off the truck with a large crane and placed in its place. Beforehand, we measured the size of the root ball, the hole is already dug, soil improvement is added. When the tree finally stands there, with the bow still tied around it: that is quite a moment. All at once there is a mature tree, the garden immediately comes to life. The customers generally respond with enormous enthusiasm."

Trees have been linked to magic and rituals since time immemorial, as they can live up to a thousand years and tower far above our mortal heads. What significance does the tree hold for you?

Duuk: "A tree stands for growth, for the future. It gets bigger and more beautiful, and lasts longer than man. We also do garden renovations at old villas in the Bloemendaal and Aerdenhout area. They are often surrounded by old trees, beeches and oaks up to two hundred years old. Sometimes trees fall out because of renovations. It is nice to put something back there that you know will give pleasure to the next three or four generations. That there will again be something that has the majesty of today's trees. They will not last forever. It is nice to make a plan in which the successors for the next generations are there. Trees that will then be iconic in the garden."

Thanks to your extensive network of nurseries, you know exactly what plants you need to go where for. Do you have growers all over the world?

Wim: "We only trade with nurseries in Europe, because trees from other continents can only be imported without soil and completely in poison - a no go for us. I am working daily to expand our network. Our aim is to get as close to the source as possible, because then you have the best quality and the best price - the longer the chain, the more people earn. It is also our sport to get the best deal out of the market for our clients. As a garden owner, you are usually dependent on a garden center or wholesaler. If you buy an olive tree there, for example, you are cheaper, but you don't know its origin. If the tree comes from southern Spain, it will be dead after the first winter. And then you don't have to go back to the store with the receipt, because the seller will say you didn't take good care of it. The big difference with us is that we have a very personal approach. We go together to the place of origin, to the nursery, and pick out just that one tree where the customer says "wow, I want that one. And that is a feeling, an emotion. Just that one specimen with that curve in the trunk or those wide branches. That tree with character, in which you can still see that storm from a few years ago. A tree with life!"

MASTERS MAGAZINE

Curious about the rest of the interview? In the fall edition of MASTERS, an interview with LVMH boss Bernard Arnault ("being the richest man in the world didn't do anything for me"), a driving impression of the electric Audi RS e-tron GT, on reportage with the 'tree matchmakers' of The Green Contractors, an interview with celebrity chef Dick Middelweerd and on a visit in Barcelona with Ronald Koeman. The war, the climate crisis, the energy problem... More than ever, leadership and entrepreneurship are being called upon. With MASTERS EXPO | The Colourful Edition (December 8 to 12, RAI Amsterdam), we want to contribute in our own way and give the world a push in the right direction. In this edition of MASTERS, a colorful preview of the most exclusive business fair. Time to think ahead, innovate, connect!

MASTERS #51