Together with national and international companies, organisations and governments we share our knowledge and expertise to promote learning and innovation.
Training courses
Naktuinbouw offers training courses to companies that can be directly applied in their own work. Some example of the courses and trainings oofered in 2025:
- Seed, Soil and Plant Sampling (also in English)
- E-CertNL training for seed exports
- Plant Breeders’ Rights
- Seed Identification
- Seed Analysis
- Following the Seed Trail
- Plant Breeders’ Rights for Food Security and Economic Development (online course)
- Phytosanitairy inspector (refresher training)
We organized 50 training courses, including 24 customized training courses commissioned by companies. A total of 459 participants participated in our regular, technical training offerings. They rated the quality of Naktuinbouw training courses with an average of 8.3.
For international employees of Dutch companies (based at home or abroad), we organize English-language training courses, such as ‘Plant Breeders' Rights for Food Security and Economic Development’ and ‘Professional Seed Sampling’.
New offer
In May, the new e-learning course ‘How to sample fruit, small seed lots, and compartments’ went online for employees of NAL-authorized companies. The e-learning course covers the three phases of the sampling process for small seed lots (< 30,000 seeds).
Various school visits and excursions
We regularly receive requests from vocational and higher professional education schools to introduce students to our work. These schools are grateful to see our work in practice, and the students are enthusiastic. In 2025, students from Leiden University of Applied Sciences, The Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences, Zone College, and Curio visited Naktuinbouw. We also welcomed an Algerian delegation with Q-Point and a group of members of ‘Groei & Bloei’.
Present at career and education fairs
We also enjoy showcasing our work at career fairs to inspire students about the profession and the sector. In 2025, we therefore attended the Meet & Greet Experience in Lisse (February), the MBO education fair in Leiden (October), the WUR Career Day in Wageningen (October), and the career fair at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Almere (December).
LTO Youth Day
Naktuinbouw once again participated in the LTO Professional Group's National Youth Day for Nurseries. It took place on September 5th at a horticultural company in Wezep. The goal of the day was to encourage or encourage young people to work in the nursery sector. LTO called the day a great success. Nearly 200 enthusiastic young people between the ages of 18 and 35 attended to learn more about the profession. There were demonstrations, workshops, and social activities.
Naktuinbouw participated to support the nursery sector. This way, the young people learned about our organization and its role in the sector. An inspector told the young people all about their inspection work and, above all, demonstrated a lot. Our resistance research was also discussed. A current topic in ornamental plants, but also an emerging one in the nursery sector.
Trade fair calendar
In January we attended the international IPM fair in Essen again. Every year, Naktuinbouw shares a stand with the German, Polish, Hungarian and French research stations for DUS testing and the CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office). This collaboration between the various research stations enables the organisations to provide information across the entire spectrum of all existing ornamental and arboricultural crops.
Knowledge platforms
We organized two more knowledge platforms for businesses and executives.
- At the end of May, a Knowledge Platform focused on the risks of diseases and pests and their impact on trade and image. Representatives from the sector, inspection services, and supervisory bodies shared their insights and discussed current challenges within the phytosanitary system in the Netherlands. The central message: only through collaboration and knowledge sharing can we manage risks and maintain our strong international trade position.
- The second Knowledge Platform took place at the end of October at Naktuinbouw. This time, the focus was on the application of DNA information and techniques in plant breeding and variety testing. Speakers with significant professional experience shared their vision for the future of variety testing, identity determination, and breeding using DNA techniques. The central question: (Increased) collaboration and DNA knowledge sharing: what is needed for this?
