2_1_DiscoverBenelux_22_Oct_2015_Scan Magazine 1 30/09/2015 20:48 Page 52
Discover Benelux | Rotterdam Special | The Markthal Shopping Experience / Interior Design at Shopping Mall Alexandrium
Nature’s delicious fruits and vegetables TEXT: CATHY VAN KLAVEREN | PHOTOS: VERS VAN DE TELER
They started out three and a half years ago as a growers’ association with members who share a passion: growing fruit and vegetables to be made the way they are supposed to be - delicious. That is what Van Nature and their shop, Vers van de Teler, is about. Van Nature, a relatively young company, is one of the leading growers’ associations in the Netherlands. When the Markthal in Rotterdam opened, the organisation decided to open a shop called Vers van de Teler (fresh from the grower), just like their website and Facebook page. It’s all in the name, fresh products straight from the fields and greenhouses. Van Nature’s growers produce quality products that preserve excellent taste and they make sure it goes directly to the shop after the harvest. “People value knowing
where their foods come from,” says Mark Versluis from Van Nature. “The Markthal also provides us with an opportunity to get to know what they prefer, so we can make the right selection for the public. We offer different ‘bites to go’ that are very popular such as strawberries, our vegetable chips, fresh soups and smoothies. Homemade with only natural ingredients are the best.” As it’s hard for an individual grower to open and run a shop, Van Nature provides their members with a platform for their products, from bell pepper to eggplant growers and from tomato to Brussels sprouts producers. After all, they are lovingly grown by farmers who understand their profession the way it’s meant to be, by nature. www.versvandeteler.nl
Sleep to live Improve the quality of your sleep profoundly, just by replacing your mattress. Sounds like a pipe dream? Not quite. “Our mattresses reduce tossing and turning at night by up to 40 per cent, resulting in a well-rested feeling in the morning,” explains Living Comfort owner Peter Trompert. “Our mattresses by Energy+ and MediActive are made from NASA memory foam. In contrary to conventional mattresses, this material does not put pressure on your blood vessels and nerves, which causes the uneasy nights. Besides, the lying comfort is high and the material has a pleasant feel.”
52 | Issue 22 | October 2015
TEXT: JANINE STERENBORG PHOTOS: PETRIT VAN DER SPOEL
Another common problem that leads to bad nights, is waking up feeling overheated and covered in sweat. Living Comfort’s mattress cover by ClimaBest solves this problem. “It’s made from a unique 3D structure, allowing the sweat to spread and thus evaporate rapidly.” Normal mattresses absorb the moist, causing the sweaty wake up. And it’s not hygienic either: “A conventional mattress is one of the most contaminated objects in a household. After seven years it harbours four to five kilos of waste, including dust mites’ excrements, which can lead to allergic reactions. In our mattresses we’ve incorporated an ecosystem of probiotics
that gets rid of these allergens. This way you can keep your mattress cover clean, without having to wash it regularly.” Living Comfort’s mattresses are produced in their own factory in Friesland in the north of the Netherlands. They are available at various Living Comfort showrooms and can be delivered throughout the Netherlands and Flanders. “Everyone who decides to purchase a mattress, gets a free 14day trial. We also have a flagship store in Rotterdam Alexandrium, opened seven days a week, where you can try them out as well.” www.livingcomfort.nl