Journalism
Writing is where it all began – and journalism has been the foundation of my work since 1996. Over the years, I have produced thousands of news articles, reports, interviews, and in-depth features for trade publications, corporate media, and general-interest magazines. That flow has never stopped – because the news never stops.
Text & Advice
Whether it’s content for a website, newsletter, or annual report, I deliver tailored, high-quality copy. I help shape the message, tone, and structure to ensure it connects with the intended audience and achieves its purpose.
Books
A book is a document of lasting value. Over the years, I have authored several books, often focusing on the history of companies and industries. Through personal family stories, I bring history to life in a vivid and engaging way – taking readers back in time and offering a clear sense of both what was and what is.
Koen van Wijk
I grew up in the world of greenhouse horticulture (my mother the daughter of a growers, my father a supplier of greenhouse heating systems), so the industry has been part of my life from an early age. After studying Journalism in the 1990s, I have worked as a journalist and copywriter since 1996, with greenhouse horticulture as my core domain.
I specialize in translating complex topics into clear, accessible, and engaging content, ranging from in-depth journalistic storytelling to commercial and corporate communications. I work for publishers, companies, and organizations, and I serve as a copy editor. In addition, I develop and coordinate editorial strategies and publications.
In 2017, I published Land van Glas (Land of Glass) with publisher Thomas Rap (Amsterdam), telling the story of 100 years of Dutch greenhouse horticulture through a family history. I spent ten years as an editor at the agricultural magazine Nieuwe Oogst. After that I served as editor-in-chief of Vakblad Onder Glas. Since 2020 I work as a freelance journalist and copywriter.
In 2024 I published De roem van Boskoop – Boskoop is world-famous of ornamental horticulture – with publisher Noordboek.
In 2025, I founded the multimedia platform Horti Inside.
In 2026, I published The Greenhouse Is Our Life, independently. It’s the English translation of Land van Glas.
NEW: ‘the Greenhouse our Life’ – a Dutch family history
Spring 2026
In the Greenhouse our Life, Koen van Wijk tells the remarkable story of the Dutch horticultural sector, regarded as a global leader. Through the eyes of his own family, he explores not only the rise of this industry, but also the culture and entrepreneurial spirit that shaped it into a model for the world. This book is little less than the Origin of the Dutch Greenhouse Model.
The author’s grandfather, Bram Moerman, is the colourful central character. A passionate tomato grower, he involved his family of ten children in the business – strictly, yet with deep devotion. His sons and sons-in-law, and later several grandsons, continued the profession with the same dedication. The fortunes of the family and their businesses are subtly interwoven with events on the world stage.
The Greenhouse our Life offers a fascinating journey: from the first steps in growing under glass to groundbreaking innovations such as rockwool cultivation and biological crop protection. This book brings
This story was previously published in Dutch as Land van Glas.
Readers about Land van Glas:
* “A gem of a book – easy to read and a wonderful blend of family history, horticulture, and world events.”
* “A book with real literary qualities.”
* “I’m an avid reader but rarely come across such gems.”