Johannes Hubertus Ebben establishes the 'First Land of Cuijk Tree Nurseries'. He learnt cultivation from the Crosiers of Saint Agatha, who possessed a wealth of knowledge on cultivation of trees. The tree nursery covered an area of five hectares and specialised in the cultivation of fruit trees and the creation of gardens at cloisters, churches and schools.
Sons Wilhelmus and Henricus Ebben join the business. The nursery is renamed 'J.H. Ebben & Sons'. In 1921 - following the death of their father - the two brothers become owners of the tree nursery. The nursery specialises further in landscape architecture and begins to provide plant-related green advice to its clients, now spread across the country.
Brothers André and Harrie Ebben - Wilhelmus' sons - start up their own tree nursery 'André Ebben Tree Cultivation'. Apart from knowledge and experience on cultivating trees, the sons have also inherited their father's passion for design and creation of green projects. This results in beautiful cloister and private gardens, with innovation in material use and application of unusual trees playing an increasingly important role.
The tree nursery and design agency elements of the business are each given a separate location. The tree nursery remains at the location in Cuijk whilst the design agency and garden centre, including the cultivation of perennials, moves to Malden. In 1975 the tree nursery moves to the current location on the Beerseweg in Cuijk. The growing area increases to 75 hectares.
Toon Ebben takes over his father's nursery and changes the company name to 'Boomkwekerij Ebben B.V.' (Ebben Nurseries B.V.). The cultivation of trees for avenues and export of these grows exponentially. The tree nursery is further specialised, new techniques are developed and put into practice. Through close contact with landscape architects throughout Europe, the range is extended with feathered trees, multi-stem trees and large solitary shrubs.
Employees at the tree nursery specialise in environmentally-friendly crop protection and fertilisation and in September Ebben receives the Milieukeur ecolabel for all its products. The nursery now stretches over 350 hectares. The range is continuously expanded over the years with feathered trees, multi-stem trees, climbing trees, climate trees, topiary trees and large solitary shrubs.
Ebben is 150 years old! The new office is opened and enters use. A beautiful auditorium provides space for large audiences. Ebben is the knowledge centre for tree cultivation, landscape architecture, dendrology and unusual applications of this. The nursery now covers 420 hectares, with around eighty permanent employees.
Since 2012 there have been many special occasions following one after another in quick succession. In 2016 Ebben won the Horticulture Entrepreneur Prize – partly thanks to specialisation in naturally shaped multi-stem trees. Director Toon Ebben received the piece of art in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Máxima, and the nursery could call itself ambassador for the horticulture sector for a year.
In 2016 (and in 2018) the nursery also won the Belgian 1.2. Tree Award in the private, semi and public project category.
As of 1 January 2018 the roots of Ebben Nurseries were strengthened even further with the entry of the fifth generation: son of Toon, Dirk Ebben had already been working for the nurseries for a long time, and the passion for plants is also in his blood. In 2018 the nursery started with subsidiary Garmundo, a very extensive plants webshop for both private individuals and business customers.
Ebben breathes plants and is constantly evolving. In 2020 it was decided that the roof garden over the office had to be renewed. The intended result was a 1400 m2 inspirational and educational roof garden with a wide variety of multi-stem trees, trees and shrubs with edible fruits, perennials, herbs and green walls. The new roof garden was handed over in November 2021, and in summer 2022 it was awarded the Rooftop Award 2022.
Ebben Nurseries started The Urban Jungle Project in cooperation with Daan and Maarten Grasveld and Stef Janssen. The aim of this initiative is to improve the climate and quality of life in our cities, with innovative solutions which green places where it otherwise is not possible. Also in this year, cultivation of organic trees according to the principles of the Skal Biocontrole foundation was started on an area of 10 hectares. The transition phase for organic cultivation spans three years, so the first fully organic trees will come from these plots in 2024.
Under the watchful eye of all employees, Toon Ebben will step aside on 21 June 2024 after more than 35 years and hand over the baton to son Dirk Ebben. Toon will still be involved in the company as a member of the management board, but the day-to-day management will be in Dirk's hands.
Ebben has existed for 160 years. The nursery now covers more than 500 hectares and employs more than 130 workers. Ebben Nurseries has expanded to become the knowledge partner in the field of plants and vegetation. Identity and experience increasingly define the planting. In the built environment too, the green experience is increasingly attracting the attention that it deserves. We are seeing a shift towards mixed planting and space to allow the tree to reach full maturity in its natural shape. A perfect breeding ground to expand the vision and passion of Ebben Nurseries even further.
