The Dutch nursery region of Zundert, located in the southern province of North Brabant near the Belgian border, is preparing to welcome the international horticultural community for the 36th edition of GrootGroenPlus, taking place from 30 September to 2 October 2026. Recognised as one of Europe’s most specialised nursery trade fairs, the event continues to attract growers, breeders, suppliers, landscape professionals and buyers from across the continent and beyond.

This year’s edition will be presented under the theme “Growing Together,” a message that reflects the collaborative nature of the nursery industry and the importance of bringing together professionals from different countries, disciplines and sectors. As international markets continue to evolve, GrootGroenPlus provides an established platform where innovation, knowledge exchange and commercial opportunities meet in a highly specialised environment.

Approximately 275 exhibitors from several countries are expected to participate, presenting an extensive range of nursery stock together with products, services and technologies supporting modern plant production. Thousands of professional visitors are anticipated, reinforcing the exhibition’s reputation as an essential annual meeting for the European nursery sector.

The history of GrootGroenPlus is closely connected with the development of Zundert itself, one of the Netherlands’ most important nursery production regions. When the exhibition was first established, it primarily promoted forest trees and hedge plants, which represented the area’s principal crops. The original name, GrootGroen, was derived from the Dutch technical term grootgroenproducten, referring to larger nursery products such as trees, shrubs and hedge plants.

As both the regional nursery industry and international markets expanded, the exhibition evolved accordingly. In 2009, it adopted the name GrootGroenPlus, reflecting the wider diversity of nursery production now cultivated in North Brabant and the increasingly international profile of the event. Today, the exhibition showcases the complete spectrum of nursery stock while continuing to strengthen its position as a leading business platform for the green sector.

Plants remain the undisputed focus of GrootGroenPlus, but the exhibition extends well beyond plant displays. Visitors will also discover technical innovations, production systems and practical solutions designed to support the changing needs of professional nurseries and landscape businesses. Equally important is the exhibition layout itself, carefully designed to guide visitors past every exhibitor, encouraging meaningful encounters and maximising networking opportunities throughout the three-day event.

Among the most anticipated highlights is the return of the Green Grand Prix, where exhibitors can submit outstanding plants for evaluation by recognised industry specialists. The competition offers valuable professional recognition for exceptional cultivation quality and provides visitors with an opportunity to discover noteworthy plant material selected by independent experts.

Innovation will once again receive particular attention through the internationally respected KVBC (Royal Society for Boskoop Horticulture), which will organise its renowned evaluations of new plant introductions. Both exhibitors and non-exhibiting breeders are invited to submit their latest nursery innovations, making the exhibition an important showcase for emerging cultivars and future market trends.

International trade remains central to the philosophy of GrootGroenPlus. Through its dedicated Buyers’ Program, purchasing managers from wholesale nurseries, garden centres, landscape companies and public-sector green procurement departments are invited to establish new business contacts and explore commercial opportunities directly with producers. The initiative further reinforces the exhibition’s role as a gateway to international markets.

The event also attracts a considerable number of specialised horticultural journalists from around the world, reflecting its growing influence within the global green industry. For media professionals, GrootGroenPlus offers an opportunity to identify new trends, discover innovative plant material and report on developments shaping the future of nursery production.

With more than three decades of continuous growth, GrootGroenPlus has become far more than a regional trade exhibition. It represents one of Europe’s most important meeting points for the nursery industry, combining commercial exchange, technical expertise and professional networking within one of the continent’s most dynamic horticultural regions. Under this year’s theme, “Growing Together,” the organisers once again emphasise that collaboration remains the key to building a resilient, innovative and internationally connected nursery sector.

Registration for visitors, applications for the Buyers’ Program and entries for the novelty evaluations are available through the official GrootGroenPlus website (https://www.grootgroenplus.nl/) and the exhibition’s free mobile app.