‘I feel everyone’s love and passion for the Hortus’
As the father of a family with four children, he already visited the Hortus regularly. Now Tom Schreuder also comes there for his work. Every day he travels from Lisse by bike. The new Director Operations calls it a ‘perfect match’.
In a packed Hortus café, he looks around with satisfaction. ‘Nothing more to do here,’ jokes Schreuder. ‘And that on a Tuesday afternoon in February.’ For three weeks now, the brand-new director has been at work in Leiden. After nine years as commercial manager at Keukenhof, he was looking for a new job.
‘In the Hortus everything comes together: culture, nature, tourism and science. Quite unique that I found that.’
In the Hortus, everything comes together
The position of Operations Director seems tailor-made for him. ‘I found what I was looking for; work near Lisse and my affinity with plants and nature must come into its own. I aspired to a position that is a ‘next step’ work-wise. This job involves management, finance and being part of the university. And in the Hortus everything comes together: culture, nature, tourism and science. Quite unique that I found that.’
During his time at Keukenhof, a love for nature developed. ‘I discovered that green has brought us a lot of prosperity. Think of the VOC era, tulips being cultivated; the economic importance was and is great. Besides, greenery and being outdoors make people happy. Everything is connected to nature, history, economy and human well-being. That was an eye-opener.’
Schreuder calls the first weeks at the botanical garden pleasant. ‘I feel at home. At the moment, it is still mainly getting acquainted. The team is a nice mix of young and old with a great passion for the hortus.’
Showpiece for the university
Besides getting acquainted, an important quest is on the agenda in the coming period: finding the new prefect, the academic director with whom Schreuder forms the two-headed board. The main mission will soon be to put a strategic vision of the future on paper. ‘We as the new management must build on the core values the Hortus already has. There is a beautiful establishment, with many visitors. A calling card for the university. What are we going to do to safeguard that future?’
Teamwork is the key to success
By we, the Lisse native refers to the whole team. ‘That’s also where my strength lies. How can you as a team get the most out of it for our visitor? Everyone contributes; education, vegetable team, front office, sales, marketing. Young people bring in their dynamic side and the older colleagues their knowledge and experience.’
It is clear that the Hortus has an impactful story to tell, according to Schreuder. ‘The Hortus has everything. My predecessors laid the first stones here hundreds of years ago. I feel like doing my bit too.’