Meet the speakers at Aardbeiendag 2027
During Stawberry Day 2027, a range of speakers will share their knowledge and insights during the plenary sessions. Curious to find out who will take the stage or want to get to know them in advance? Explore the overview below to discover the speakers who will be joining us!
Henny van Gurp | Process Coordinator at Glastuinbouw Nederland
Henny van Gurp has been involved in organising and hosting the Strawberry Day as its chair since 2022. In his day-to-day role, Henny is the Soft Fruit Proces Coordinator at Glastuinbouw Nederland and Programme Manager of the “Kennis in je Kas” (Knowledge in Your Greenhouse) innovation programme within the greenhouse horticulture sector.
He is at the heart of the strawberry industry’s network, where policy matters and research come together. His passion is helping growers tackle shared challenges in the areas of energy, plant health, labour, water, spatial planning and innovation.
Klaas Walraven | Manager soft fruit at Delhpy
Klaas Walraven describes himself as a hands-on team leader of the Soft Fruit Team. As an advisor, he specialises in all types of substrate-grown strawberry crops, from propagation and tray plant production to commercial cultivation on elevated growing systems and in greenhouses. He has been closely involved in organising Aardbeiendag (Strawberry Day) for many years.
Visiting different growing regions, both in the Netherlands and abroad, keeps him up to date and enables him to tailor his advice to local climatic conditions. He enjoys discussing the development of new cultivation concepts, working with new strawberry varieties, and applying innovative technologies, such as sensors, to further optimise crop production.
Annie van de Riet | Chair of the Board ZLTO
Annie van de Riet is Chair of the Board of ZLTO. Annie grew up on a mixed farm in West Brabant and has extensive knowledge of the agricultural and horticultural sectors. She is the former Chair of AVAG, the trade association for technology suppliers in the greenhouse horticulture sector, and former Director of Hortivation.
Previously, she held senior management positions at the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents (NVM) and The Greenery. Her expertise in agricultural and horticultural education, horticulture, innovation, and the functioning of industry associations is a valuable asset to ZLTO.
Aad van Dijk | Key account manager of The Greenery
Richard Schouten | Managing Director of GroentenFruit Huis
Richard Schouten, Managing Director of GroentenFruit Huis, will discuss current market developments in strawberries at Aardbeiendag. How did 2026 unfold? Dutch consumers are eating more and more strawberries each year. How much room is there for further growth in the Dutch market, and how is the Dutch strawberry performing in export markets?
Koen van Bussel | Director Corporate Finance at Aeternus
Koen van Bussel is Director Corporate Finance at Aeternus, a corporate finance firm focused on the Dutch SME and mid-market sectors. He advises entrepreneurs on both buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions, as well as on Value Management, including sale preparation and long-term value creation.
Koen is responsible for the Agri & Food sector team at Aeternus. He has extensive transaction experience in greenhouse horticulture, covering both vegetable and ornamental horticulture, and advises breeders, propagators and growers, among others.
Koen has been working at Aeternus since 2017 and studied Tax Economics and Finance at Tilburg University.
Pim Kleeven | Soft Fruit Researcher at Delphy ISFC
At Delphy ISFC is Pim Kleeven is responsible for setting up and conducting research focused on soft fruit. He is involved in high-tech and mid-tech research on strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.
In addition to conducting research, Delphy ISFC actively shares its knowledge and insights with the sector. Pim Kleeven believes that these studies enable Delphy ISFC to make a valuable contribution to the future of soft fruit.
Liesanne Wieleman | Energy Specialist at Glastuinbouw Nederland
Liesanne Wieleman is Energy Specialist at Glastuinbouw Nederland and works within the Kas als Energiebron programme. She actively connects research and practice and works on breakthroughs in innovation, drawing on her background in innovation at YES!Delft and various startups.
She increasingly takes an integrated approach to sustainability: themes such as energy, water, plant health, labour and circularity are closely connected and therefore need to be studied together. In this way, she contributes to practical, future-oriented innovations for a sustainable greenhouse horticulture sector.
Govert Trouwborst | Plant Physiology Researcher at Plant Lighting
Govert Trouwborst is a Plant Physiology Researcher at Plant Lighting. Plant Lighting specialises in the effects of climate on crop growth and development in greenhouse horticulture. With our expertise in plant physiology, we investigate how light, CO₂, temperature and humidity affect photosynthesis, growth and production. We have experience with a wide range of crops in vegetable, fruit and ornamental horticulture.
Using our own climate chambers with artificial sunlight, experimental greenhouses and advanced measurement techniques, we translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions. We also use crop models to develop tailored cultivation strategies.
We help growers, breeders, suppliers and government agencies achieve their production and sustainability goals. In doing so, we contribute to efficient and future-proof horticulture.
Daphne Ruiter | Plant Physiology Researcher at Plant Lighting
Daphne Ruiter is a Plant Physiology Researcher at Plant Lighting. Plant Lighting specialises in the effects of climate on crop growth and development in greenhouse horticulture. With our expertise in plant physiology, we investigate how light, CO₂, temperature and humidity affect photosynthesis, growth and production. We have experience with a wide range of crops in vegetable, fruit and ornamental horticulture.
Using our own climate chambers with artificial sunlight, experimental greenhouses and advanced measurement techniques, we translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions. We also use crop models to develop tailored cultivation strategies.
We help growers, breeders, suppliers and government agencies achieve their production and sustainability goals. In doing so, we contribute to efficient and future-proof horticulture.
Jacqueline Kroon | Labour Policy Specialist at Glastuinbouw Nederland
Jacqueline Kroon is Labour Policy Specialist at Glastuinbouw Nederland. Her work focuses on labour availability, the development of professional skills and lifelong learning in greenhouse horticulture. She also supports entrepreneurs and HR professionals in promoting good employment practices, with a particular focus on international employees and the challenges this brings for the sector.
In addition, she works on issues surrounding robotics and AI, as well as the new knowledge and skills these developments require. In this way, she contributes to a future-proof greenhouse horticulture sector.
Albert van der Burg | Labour and Safety Specialist at Stigas
As a labour and safety specialist, Albert van der Burg supports social partners in promoting safe, healthy and sustainable working conditions for employees in the greenhouse horticulture sector. Safe, healthy and sustainable working conditions are essential for a healthy and resilient sector.
Eric Kiers | Director Sustainability CropLife NL
Eric Kiers is Director of Sustainability at CropLife NL. He works on complex issues related to crop protection and agriculture, where science, practice, policy and politics often intersect.
A key part of his work involves monitoring and interpreting developments and translating them into strategies and clear positions. In this role, he maintains close contact with politicians, government authorities and other stakeholders.
CropLife NL is the trade association representing manufacturers of biological and chemical crop protection products.
Harrie Pijnenburg | consultant at Delphy
Harrie Pijnenburg is a crop protection specialist for strawberries and field-grown vegetables. He provides cultivation advice to strawberry growers, covering open-field cultivation, elevated growing systems and tunnel production, as well as fruit production and propagation.
He is passionate about helping growers achieve optimal results and enjoys working with independent entrepreneurs.
