In the north of the Netherlands, the De Zeeuw Brothers have steadily expanded their seed potato and onion operations, integrating advanced automation into their workflow. At the centre of their processing system is a box-filling machine that operates year-round, designed with input from the growers themselves to meet the specific requirements of their farm.
Brothers Jaap and Hans de Zeeuw, alongside co-owners Herjan Kloosterman and Arnoud de Zeeuw, oversee the farm's 580 hectares, of which 350 hectares are owned. Their land includes 190 hectares of seed potatoes and 75 hectares of onions at a second location in Nagele. The business has operated with a small team for over three decades, focusing on minimising labour while scaling up production.
The transition from growing table potatoes to seed potatoes was prompted by the purchase of additional farmland. As the scale of the operation grew, the need for more efficient and reliable equipment became apparent. "During harvest, a single person needs to manage the shed," says Kloosterman. "We've gone from unloading 20 tonnes per hour to 60, but we've kept the team size the same."
Previously, the farm used standard box fillers but encountered limitations in drying time and equipment utilisation. The team prioritised even and gentle filling to reduce drying time to two or three days and help prevent disease. The goal was to find a machine capable of operating not just during harvest, but throughout the year.
They worked with an equipment manufacturer to refine a system that includes a V-shaped fall breaker to minimise crop damage and improve box filling consistency. Boxes, although able to hold 1,300 kilograms, are typically filled with 1,250 kilograms to further reduce stress on the produce.
In peak season, the team processes between 8,000 and 9,000 boxes at their main site using two stackers and the filler. At the second location in Nagele, another setup manages between 3,000 and 4,000 boxes. During grading and storage, additional systems are used to handle, rotate, and prepare the potatoes for transport or further processing.
This setup has allowed the farm to reduce labour needs. Kloosterman notes that what once required two people and two machines to process 450 boxes per day can now be done by one person using a single automated system.
The farm also handles crops such as winter carrots and table potatoes, having previously invested in equipment to support these as well. Plans for further expansion include the installation of a grading system with integrated camera technology and fully automated infeed and outfeed logistics.
For more information:
VHM Machinery
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www.vhm-machinery.com