Arable farming company NIVU started in 2004 when two families: Van Nieuwenhuijzen en Van Vugt, started to swap farm machinery. The Van Nieuwenhuijzen family ran an arable farm of about 100 hectares in Achthuizen. The Van Vugt family had an arable farm of about 80 hectares in Oude-Tonge. Both farms are located in the South West of the Netherlands on the island Goeree-Overflakkee.

After having worked together for a number of years in sharing machinery a plan was made to intensify the co-operation. This resulted in the NIVU partnership, creating a single company. Fields were restructured by re-shaping them and removing unnecessary headlands, field roads and paths. The machinery was gradually updated to anticipate on the increased productivity. Surplus machinery was sold and investments were done to increase the working capacity. At the Van Vugt location the old barns were taken down and a new building was erected to house machinery and for potato storage. Management tasks were devided between the partners. This new business structure proved a big leap forward in efficiency, labour and organisation.

In 2006 a nearby farm came up for sale. This farm could only be purchased as a single unit. By means of working together NIVU managed to buy the farm ‘De Pluum’. This meant that more investments in new machinery had to be made. As a follow-up further co-operations were set up with two more local family farms, based on the same principles that NIVU was already applying. By means of efficient planning the arable side of these farms is now being contract farmed by NIVU.

The construction of windfarm Oostflakkee has been finalised. Its origins started with 5 local farmers that helped to erect 8 wind turbines along the sea dike. The wind turbines delivery enough electricity for over 35.000 households on a yearly basis. In the spring of 2021 the windfarm was officially opened.

Windfarm Oostflakkee was initiated by 5 farmers and Dutch project developer Renewable Energy Factory. Tonnie van Peperstraten is one of the local farmers and initiator. “During a period of 11 years we developed windfarm Oostflakkee. Without co-operation from local people we would have never achieved this. Jack van Vugt, farmer and initiator: “I find it satisfying that we can help with the new energy transition in this way. Ronald Kloet, co-founder of Renewable Energy Factory, says: “The location of Windfarm Oostflakkee is ideal for wind turbines. There is enough space and a good wind climate. As with every windfarm a thorough nature assessment was carried out to map the location. During the build and exploitation this is being closely watched.

Erecting the windfarm started in April 2020. The windfarm of 32 MW consists of 8 wind turbines and a 33kV/50kV transformer station. It delivers enough renewable electricity for over 35.000 households and helps to achieve the sustainability goals set by the Goeree-Overflakkee island. Windfarm Oostflakkee results in a saving of 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 during the economic life expectancy of the windfarm. Read more about our innovations here.

The selling of the windfarm made it possible for NIVU to pursue new plans and help to future-proof the company. At the location of Jack and son Donke van Vugt NIVU erected a new climate-controlled box storage where 5.400 tonnes of produce can be stored. This storage location is equipped with a modern condensation curing and drying system developed by Equans.

With this step we add value to our crops and improve quality to serve more sales outlets. It also reduces storage waste. All boxes are fitted with rfid-tags. These are radio frequency tags for the detection of radio waves. In the store floor rfid-tags have also been installed to register every box position so we can trace when the produce has been brought in, where it is location and when it is delivered. Every activity is registered.