Dutch treat at the Ballance House

This venue for their monthly events over several decades is the Ulster New Zealand Trust museum and community hub between Lisburn and Glenavy. Jan Pennings gave a fascinating account of bulb breeding and production in the Netherlands

His grandfather, a dairy farmer, diversified into bulb production in 1930 and the family have built the business up over four generations. They are now exporting bulbs around the world and co-operating with other leading breeders in NZ, Cornwall, Lincs and NI.

Though Jan recalled that in the ‘Hungerwinter’ of 1944/45, when thousands of Dutch died of starvation, still having a dairy herd kept the family alive until liberated by the Allies.

By contrast the sheer joy he and fellow breeders get from their work was obvious, not only in his presentation, but during the question time discussion with NI Daffodil Group members.