Lans Dinteloord

On the horticultural area Nieuw Prinsenland, this year the existing new construction site from 2018 was expanded with 8 hectares of high-tech tomato cultivation, complete with full LED lighting, coated glass, and smart automation to improve performance and save energy.

Plug and play integration

Stolze spoke with Jan van Marrewijk, operational director, and Erwin van der Lans, owner of Lans Dinteloord. It is clear: Lans loves innovation, efficiency, and is well-prepared for the future. By scoring a 10 in all areas, from labor to energy and sustainability, the best yield can be achieved. “We call it Champions League cultivation,” Jan says.

Jan explains that Stolze aligns well with their goal as a renowned partner for water, climate, and electricity: “They know our company well and have experience in large-scale horticulture, which greatly benefits us. During the construction of Phase 1, they already took future expansion into account, allowing the systems for Phase 2 to be almost ‘plug-and-play’ integrated.” New pumps and units with UV disinfection were connected to the existing piping. In the new greenhouse, Lans continues to operate according to the day-stock principle, ensuring the crops receive exactly the right amount of water and nutrients. With an auto-fill system, this is automatically replenished, so the correct stock is always available. This results in more efficient water use and minimal waste.

Partner Hoogendoorn

Lans considered the new greenhouse as a good opportunity to switch to a new climate system. This was a first: Stolze integrated IIVO from their new partner Hoogendoorn Growth Management for the first time on Dutch soil. IIVO fits well with the needs of Lans, partly due to smart tools that respond to new market developments such as e-boilers and dimming control for LED lighting. The user-friendly app with a lighting program that allows easy dimming also offers advantages to Lans.

Room for expansion

An additional advantage of this system is its potential for future expansion. Lans is far from finishing its growth. They work according to the principle of implementing and continuously developing. In addition to the location in Dinteloord, there are two more plots of 8 hectares each, which will be cultivated after the implementation of Phase 2. Originally from the Westland, Lans strategically chose this location in Dinteloord because of its ample expansion possibilities, the strategic location between the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp, and the favorable climate.

Valuable investments

As an active member of the cooperative of the ‘horticulture paradise’ Nieuw Prinsenland, Lans has contributed to impressive joint achievements that are of great value to the area. For instance, the cooperation established a joint gas reception station, a drainage water system that reuses water from the beet industry, and preparations are underway to connect the area to Osiris, a link that transports residual heat and CO2 from waste processing to the horticultural area. Each of these investments will become increasingly valuable in the future, according to Lans.

The tomato cultivation company also keeps an eye out for opportunities beyond Dinteloord. While the exact location for further expansion is not yet clear, Jan van Marrewijk assures us that investing on a large scale remains essential.

Stolze appreciates the partnership with this renowned company and reflects on the success of their collaborative project.