Construction of Rijk Zwaan’s new open-field demo location is officially underway

The site comprises approximately six hectares in total. In addition to new demo fields for open-field crops, around 2.5 hectares of greenhouse space will be created, including for selection plants, and a new machinery shed is being built to serve Rijk Zwaan’s 130 hectares of selection fields in West Brabant. The facility will also house a reception area for visitors, a workshop, a digital phenotyping workspace, and offices for the open-field breeding team.

“With this construction project, we are developing a fully-fledged facility, both for our open-field selection activities and to internationally showcase our varieties. At the same time, we are creating space for further growth at our nearby location in Fijnaart,” comments Martijn Eggink.

Best wishes for the construction of Rijk Zwaan’s Trial Centre Open Field.

Reuse of rubble

All the old sheds, greenhouses and other buildings at the site in Heijningen, which was an existing Rijk Zwaan location, have been demolished to make way for the new development. “We’re reusing the rubble from the old buildings in the foundations of the new buildings, roads and car park,” says Tom Hollemans, Station Manager West Brabant. “This reduces the transport of construction materials, which is more sustainable and good for the environment.”

Biodiverse design

Green landscaping of the site was a starting point for the design. Around 10% of the total space has been reserved for greenery – a carefully chosen mix of shrubs, grasses and trees. The aim is to increase biodiversity, create a pleasant working environment, and optimally integrate the facility into the landscape. “By designing less steep slopes for the water basins, for instance, we can plant grasses so that the basins blend in better with their surroundings,” explains Tom Hollemans.

Thanks to this forward-thinking design, the landscaping will contribute to a rural look and feel and a clear view of the demofields. Besides plenty of room for the machines to manoeuvre, this approach also avoids disadvantages (e.g. shade) affecting the demo fields, selection fields and greenhouse.

Ready in April 2026

The project – including all the new buildings and landscaping of the entire site – is scheduled for completion in April 2026. The open-field team will then move to the new location. The first open-field demo will be held at the new facility in autumn 2026.

Growing team

Around 30 employees will be based at the new facility all year round, with this number rising to as many as 50 in the summer. The new premises offer room for growth. The team is diverse; ranging from crop maintenance assistants and crop specialists to breeders. They work closely together to develop sustainable vegetables as the basis for Rijk Zwaan to contribute to a healthy diet in around 100 countries worldwide.