Ovata's long history started back in 1974 as a hobby of the company's present owner, Mr. Hans Ammerlaan. Ammerlaan was only seven years old when he happened to receive a few Crassula Ovata slips from a neighbouring grower. After several multiplications, in 1978 the first plants were put up for auction in his father's name, also a grower. It was the first time to realise that a hobby could also be enjoyed at a professional level, earning money.
After completing his horticultural study in 1987 the hobby indeed became a profession. So on 1 July 1987 the 4,000 mē one-man business Plantenkwekerij Hans Ammerlaan came into existence.
At first Ovata specialised only in growing Crassulas. Then more and more succulents were added to the selection including Aloe, Agave, Haworthia and Echeveria. In 2000 Ovata also started producing a wide selection of cactuses.
In 1998 the name Plantenkwekerij Hans Ammerlaan was changed into Ovata (named after the first slip). Today Ovata is a major company counting 35 permanent employees and boasting 76,000 mē of greenhouses. In 1999 it settled at the current location (Hoefweg 152) undergoing a major metamorphosis. The outdated greenhouses were removed in late 2005 to make room for a state-of-the-art computerised greenhouse complex. Both the outside and the inside of the company were designed by the renowned architect Hans Kalkhoven. The design paid off with Ovata winning the award BNA building of the year 2008 for the Delta Region.
Using the latest computerisation and mechanisation systems Ovata continues to develop and optimise its business activities.
