WIM TAKKEBOS, THE GREEN CONTRACTORS

As a child, Wim Takkebos was not particularly keen to help his father in the garden, but nowadays he and his partner Duuk Muilwijk have owned The Green Contractors for five years. They handle all your gardening needs and create gardens you will love. Who gave Wim his first pruning set?

As a child, Wim Takkebos was not really keen to help his father in the garden, but nowadays he and his partner Duuk Muilwijk have been the proud owners of The Green Contractors for five years. They take care of all your gardening worries and create gardens that you'll love. Who gave Wim his first pruning set? Text: Mical Joseph
Image: The Green Contractors

What was your very first job?

“In addition to having my own newspaper route as a teenager, I soon started working at a tree nursery on Saturdays. This was in De Bilt. In the meantime, I was in high school and after obtaining my diploma I started a commercial study with the idea of ​​at least doing something with sales. What I absolutely didn't want was to end up in the office in a tight suit, that really didn't seem fun to me. But what did I want?”

How did you end up in your current job?

“Always being on the road and being in contact with people suited me well. I came into contact again with the tree nursery where I did my holiday work as a young boy. The owner's condition was that I first master the entire trade, so I started as a production employee after my studies. From weeding, to digging plants out of the ground, learning all plant species and sometimes also being in contact with the clientele: after three years I ended up in the sales department at the age of 22. The company was not very big, so at some point I moved to another company as an international buyer and seller.

I felt completely at home and after a few years I became director. My plan was to buy the company together with my colleague, but this did not work out and so we started our own company in 2015: The Green Contractors.”

Who was your wheelbarrow in that?

“I didn't really have a specific wheelbarrow, I mainly took my own opportunities during my career and had a clear goal in mind. Of course I worked together with others and learned a lot from there. I am also a man of my word and I have always had the same type of entrepreneurs around me. I believe in getting opportunities, but purchasing these opportunities myself.”

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

“Selecting the most beautiful plants for my customers and bringing mature plants to a garden. These can be trees up to twelve meters high, but also hedges that give you that extra bit of privacy. Plants are so valuable in a garden: they provide atmosphere and appearance. But don't get me wrong, on an attractive balcony with beautiful decoration where you open the swinging doors in the morning and drink your cappuccino, that is just as much happiness! My profession makes me happy.”

I'm curious, what does your own garden look like?

“I actually only have a large front garden. It has high hedges and in the middle of the garden there is an old thick plane tree with grass around it. Very simple, but with a certain structure. I'm not someone who stands for tree big, planter dead. If you spend a little more money on a particular plant, you buy the time and the results. Beautiful."

What unique moment do you remember in your career so far?

“What I still find very special is that my partner and I placed a two-hundred-year-old tree in a customer's garden. This tree is such a special monument, which customers really value and are still reaping the benefits of. We also flew to Spain together with another customer and picked up a special tree and then planted it in the backyard of an Amsterdam mansion. This tree gives such a cool effect in the garden: the whole picture is just right.”

What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?

“Don't put all your time into your work. Since I was eighteen, I have worked day and night to achieve what I have achieved now. Very good of course, but when I look back now it was also good to slow down sometimes and also give friends the necessary attention.”

Have you been a wheelbarrow for someone?

“I am an ambassador and wheelbarrow when I talk to people about trees and plants. For anyone specific, personally I am not a wheelbarrower. Together with my partner, we are a good match and we try to transfer our vision and passion to the people and customers around us.”