In 1950, Jan van der Knaap founded a business that formed the basis of   KP Holland as we know it now. KP Holland started producing potted plants in 1968 under the guidance of Jan van der Knaap. Between 1975 and 1980 4 sons joined to company and a new business was started up by each.   

The companies were deliberately set up independently. The philosophy has always been to keep the companies modern and therefore replace the older company with a new one. 

Since 1985 each company has had its own crop and was therefore able to focus on one product, distinguishing itself in expertise and quality. The advantages of partnership manifested themselves particularly in quality improvement, risk spreading and synergy.

A number of policy issues were highlighted in the five-year plan at the time (1985):
*    setting up a specialised internal selection and growing company;
*    the further automation of the production companies;   
*    professionalising the sales of the end products.

This formed the basis for the forwards and backwards integration in the chain. 

In recent years, the team has been expanded to include breeding, quality control, young plant sales, flowering plant sales, PR & communications, personnel & organisation, purchasing, marketing, automation and transport divisions.