The Beekeeper from Syria

Featured in the magazine of the Dutch Beekeepers Association (NBV).

My journey as a beekeeper began in Latakia, Syria, a coastal city on the Mediterranean Sea. As a child, I spent a lot of time with my grandfather, who was both a farmer and a beekeeper. Among the beehives and the traditional tools he used, I discovered a world that would eventually shape my life.

My grandfather introduced me to the fascinating world of honeybees. What began as childhood curiosity grew into a lifelong passion for nature, agriculture, and beekeeping.

I studied agricultural engineering, specialising in animal production and honeybees, at the University of Latakia. After graduating, I worked as a university lecturer while developing my own apiary in Syria.

For me, bees have always been about more than honey. They play an essential role in pollination, biodiversity, and food production. Understanding and protecting them became an important part of both my professional and personal life.

Because of the war in Syria, it became increasingly difficult to continue my work and build a future in my home country. Eventually, I had to leave and begin a new chapter in the Netherlands.

Starting over in another country is not easy. There is a new language to learn, a new culture to understand, and a new life to build. However, one thing remained unchanged: my passion for bees.

In the Netherlands, I continued learning about beekeeping and the local environment. I worked on improving my Dutch, building connections, and finding ways to continue sharing my knowledge and experience.

Although my surroundings changed, my connection with bees remained a constant source of motivation. Over time, this experience helped me develop a new vision: creating a business that connects beekeeping, biodiversity, and people.

At Holland Bijen, the native European Dark Bee (Apis mellifera mellifera) has a special place.

This honeybee is native to northwestern Europe and has adapted to the region’s climate and seasonal conditions. I believe it deserves greater recognition and protection.

My approach to beekeeping goes beyond honey production. I want to consider the needs of the bees, the health of their colonies, and the natural environment in which they live.

Through Holland Bijen, I aim to promote responsible beekeeping and raise awareness of the importance of preserving native honeybee populations.

For me, protecting bees means thinking beyond what we can harvest today. It means helping to create a healthier environment for the future.

These values inspired me to establish Holland Bijen.

My goal is to connect businesses, organisations, farmers, schools, and nature enthusiasts with the world of bees. I want to make it easier for people to contribute to biodiversity in a practical and meaningful way.

Holland Bijen focuses on three main activities:

• Pollination services: Providing honeybee colonies to support the pollination of fruit trees and agricultural crops.
• Bee adoption: Helping businesses and organisations support beekeeping while learning more about their adopted colonies and the importance of pollinators.
• Education and workshops: Introducing people to honeybees, biodiversity, and the fascinating products bees create.

I believe that people are more likely to protect nature when they understand it. By bringing people closer to bees, I hope to inspire greater appreciation for the small creatures that play such an important role in our food systems.

My ambition is to continue developing Holland Bijen, share my knowledge, and build partnerships with businesses, farmers, and organisations that care about biodiversity.

I want to organise educational workshops, support pollination, and create opportunities for more people to discover the importance of honeybees.

My goal is not simply to build a successful business. I want to create something that has a lasting, positive impact on nature.

From my grandfather’s beehives in Syria to my work in the Netherlands, bees have always been part of my story.

With Holland Bijen, I want to continue that story and help build a future in which people and nature can thrive together.

Majd Saleh, founder of Holland Bijen