Municipality of Aalsmeer and Uithoorn together with Greenport Aalsmeer and the Weerbare Sierteeltsector approach organized a successful meeting at The Beach in Aalsmeer on Wednesday, Nov. 20. This meeting focused on floriculture entrepreneurs and government parties. The goal of this networking event was to make everyone aware of undermining and to make entrepreneurs more resilient against this growing threat.

Mayor Oude Kotte of Aalsmeer opened the meeting and emphasized the importance of awareness around undermining for both businesses, their staff and their families. Ronald van den Breevaart, director of Greenport Aalsmeer also indicated the importance of a safe working environment and the cooperation needed between the business community and the government. Criminals abuse the strength of the sector. This results in all kinds of disadvantages for the entrepreneur, besides security it is about costs, reputation but also about an unfair business climate that is created this way.

Royal FloraHolland shared insights on how they work on security on and around their premises. From the police, there were tips for entrepreneurs on what they themselves can do and what signs might be. Think of colleagues walking on the shop floor where they should not be, working different shifts than logical or suddenly having a different spending pattern. But also the call to report if you see something that is not right. A special speaker at this meeting was the presence of an ex-con. This expert by experience who himself walked the criminal path in the past gave insight into how he operated and how he always looked for opportunities to get his “trade” transported.

The meeting was concluded by Mayor Heiliegers of the Municipality of Uithoorn. “Reporting, reporting and reporting (also anonymously), that’s really very important, as is evident again today. Let your gut feel speak, if something doesn’t feel right, it often does. In this way we can tackle this form of crime together.”