Industry veteran Sjaak Langeslag dies at 69

Sjaak Langeslag passed away at home in Voorhout, surrounded by his family, on 29 November 2022. Langeslag previously held the post of AIPH Secretary General and was also the former chairman of the Dutch-based Royal General Bulb Growers’ Association (KAVB).

Left to right Henk Westerhof and Sjaak Langeslag.

The international flower and bulb industry and AIPH members said goodbye to an industry champion and administrator aged 69.

Born in Leimuiden on 28 October 1953, Sjaak Langeslag was named chairman of the KAVB in 1992, with crop protection being his particular field of expertise. He strongly advocated for research and innovation in bulb growing and was a member of the International Bloembollencentrum’s  (IBC) board of directors. As chairman of the Dutch Horticultural Council, he helped organise the world horticultural expo Floriade in 2002 took place in Vijfhuizen, Netherlands.

AIPH’s current Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe, said Sjaak Langeslag served as AIPH’s Secretary General between September 2007 – September 2012. Briercliffe says, “Before this he was Chairman of AIPH’s Marketing Committee. Sjaak had been ill, but in the end his death came quite suddenly. Many of you will have memories of Sjaak, and I know our thoughts will be with his family at this sad time.”

Sjaak is survived by his wife Juliette, his children Sandra and Marcel and two grandchildren.