History

Ten Kate was established in 1885 by Mr H. ten Kate. In those days, the company consisted of no more than a nursery but even then supplied its materials to a wide surrounding area.
Because then the company did not have a delivery van, all goods were supplied using a delivery bicycle, which sometimes resulted in a delay of a whole day.

In 1895 the company was registered with the Chamber of Commerce. Next, the company expanded with an attractive flower shop; the products sold in this shop consisted of plants and flowers grown by the company as well as products bought at the Aalsmeer flower auction. The customers of the flower shop were predominantly the dignitaries of Deventer and its wide surrounding area. The shop was named "Semperflorens", which means “Forever flowering”.

In 1915, around 20 large bay trees (laurels) were bought, which at the time were between 40 and 50 years old. Currently, 15 of these trees are still around and at an age of 140 years these are the pride and joy of the company.

In 1978, the present owners Suzan and Tom Hutten took over the ten Kate company. The nursery was closed down and the remaining commercial buildings and old greenhouses were demolished in order to build new, to accomodate the plant rental business and the flower shop. From that moment onwards, the plant rental and decoration business developed explosively. From North to South and from East to West Holland, many buildings were decorated with ten Kate’s green products. By the end of the eighties, the rental department had outgrown its premises and a splendid new building was constructed at the Steenenkamer location. Mid 1989, the entire rental department was moved to this location.

In 1997, the shop was renovated into a modern approx. 800 m2 flower shop. In 2008, the rental department was expanded with a new hall, which includes a showroom and a large warehouse, which mainly houses scenery.

Over the years, the ten Kate pay-off was changed on a regular basis; however, the company’s bay tree (laurels) logo remained the same. In general, green is used as a brand colour. Starting last year, the entire logo was restyled, ten Kate Flowers & Decorations being the new name with a corresponding attractive but still recognizable logo that includes a "modern" bay laurel in black and white.

However, no matter which pay-off we add to our name, "semperflorens" will always be a part of it in some way.