As an eleven-year old, Jan began to work for a flower business in Zutphen making up customers' orders after school. Within a fortnight, he had been bitten by the flower bug; the beautiful art of flower arranging make a powerful impression on him.

At the age of 19 he launched his own business, the ‘Bloembinderij Jan Aartsen’ in Zutphen (1971-1996). During this period he was twice the Netherlands' Flower Arranging Champion (1977 and 1979).
His shop was a florist with a special atmosphere and its philosophy was one of selling natural, seasonal flowers and plants.
Nature always was and still is the source of his inspiration. His work showcases a combination of greenery, stone, wood and other organic materials with flowers. 
Unusually for the time, he sold flowers individually, rather than by the bunch.
Bloembinderij Jan Aartsen was a concept of its time and excelled in all types of floral decoration. During this period, Jan Aartsen and his team made more than 4,000 bridal arrangements.

He closed the business in 1996, and since then has worked under the name Organic Move as a freelance flower arranger. He now works for plant and flower exporters, growers, the Flower Council of Holland and other sectoral organisations, generally abroad, and gives demonstrations, shows, workshops, and seminars. He also advises on exhibitions, exceptional decorations and flower shops. In 2007 he opened his own studio for organic items at his home in Vorden.

"I give demonstrations, shows, workshops, and seminars. Also giving advise on exhibitions, exceptional decorations and flower shops".