Van de Brug Hoveniers – Safe and Comfortable Working at Height with Henchman | Case Study
“We were able to position the ladder securely without damaging any plants, and still work comfortably at the right height. It was absolutely brilliant.” - Ralph van de Brug
Name: Ralph van de Brug
Company: Van de Brug Hoveniers
Industry: Private Garden Design, Construction and Maintenance
Location: The Netherlands
About Van de Brug Hoveniers
Van de Brug Hoveniers specialises in the design, construction, and maintenance of private gardens. With great attention to detail, craftsmanship, and a genuine love of greenery, owner Ralph van de Brug helps clients bring their dream gardens to life – from concept to a perfectly maintained outdoor space.
From Hobby to Professional
Ralph van de Brug’s passion for gardening began at a young age. “I was sixteen when I started helping some friends in their garden,” he recalls. “I really enjoyed it and kept doing it for years.” Later, after deciding to stop his studies, Ralph chose to turn his hobby into a profession. He enrolled in a professional horticultural training programme, working four days a week and attending school one day a week.
Building His Own Business and Love for the Craft
After gaining experience at several renowned landscaping companies, Ralph founded his own business, Van de Brug Hoveniers, in 2018. Since then, he has created and maintained numerous beautiful private gardens.
What does he enjoy most about his work? “The best thing about working outdoors is experiencing the changing seasons. Even rain and cold have their charm – after a long day outside, a hot shower feels like pure luxury. But if I can choose, I’ll take a lovely spring day any time,” Ralph says with a smile.
Pride in the Final Result
The greatest satisfaction for Ralph comes from realising projects he has designed himself: “When an idea you’ve created comes to life and the client is enthusiastic, it gives you such a proud feeling. That’s the most rewarding part of my job.”
His company focuses entirely on private gardens, with quality, personal attention, and strong results always taking centre stage.
Discovering Henchman in the Netherlands
Ralph first heard about Henchman ladders through a colleague. “I wasn’t familiar with them, but out of curiosity I looked them up online. The benefits and solutions immediately stood out – they addressed many of the challenges we face in landscaping.”
When his previous ladder needed replacing, he decided to invest in a Henchman.
Safety and Comfort in Practice
Ralph mainly uses his Henchman for pruning work, but also occasionally for household tasks. “You stand comfortably and, most importantly, very stably. It’s a huge difference compared to a traditional tripod ladder.”
Previously, placing a ladder safely among planting without causing damage was often tricky. “Because the Henchman stands on three legs, it’s much easier to manoeuvre between plants. That makes a big difference in gardens with borders or uneven ground.”
He also notices a clear improvement in comfort: “The wider rungs and the overall stability make working much more pleasant. Even when standing on the top platform, you feel secure.”
He recalls one particular example while pruning pleached trees above a perennial border: “We were able to position the ladder securely without damaging any plants, and still work comfortably at the right height. It was absolutely brilliant.”
More Efficient and Enjoyable Work
According to Ralph, the Henchman ladder not only makes the job safer, but also more comfortable and efficient: “Because you’re standing more steadily, you can move more freely and work less tensely. It really improves pruning work, without taking any extra time.”
A Great Addition to Any Toolkit
Ralph wholeheartedly recommends the Henchman Fully Adjustable PRO Tripod Ladder to fellow landscapers: “If you regularly do pruning work at height or on uneven ground, you should definitely consider a Henchman. It’s a great addition to your toolkit – we take ours along on most jobs.”
His conclusion is simple: “I would absolutely recommend Henchman – I think all my previous answers already say it all.”