On Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th of June the fifth edition of the Aalsmeer Flower Festival takes place. The flower event can, as they say themselves, count on increased interest from abroad.The organisation of the Aalsmeer Flower Festival got information requests last week from, among others, Iran, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, Sri Lanka and Russia.
Foreign media have also discovered the flower festival, as can be seen from the attention given in Belgium, the United States, the Philippines and England. In the upcoming weekend the festival will be seen on The Travel Show on BBC World News.
Aalsmeer Flower Festival has two locations this year, in which a lot can be seen and done for both young and old. A large number of organizations and companies from and around Aalsmeer are involved. In the former auction house Bloemenlust, now called The Beach a team, under the supervision of head-arranger, Marloes Joore is arranging a large number of floral creations. A team from the Boerma Institute is also at work here. Lions Club Ophelia is arranging floral workshops for kids and adults, while Cultuurpunt Aalsmeer arranges musical and other cultural aspects.Art teacher Annefie van Itterzon came up with the project Green Magic which lets artists and students paint a total of 70 masks with floral patterns. AalsmeerPhoto shows the best pictures from their competition titled ‘Flowers love people’.
The history of the location will be brought to light by means of film, pictures, models and tours under the supervision of experts. Last year’s successful competition between Dutch and Japanese arrangers (Hana Ike Battles) is being held again. Also in Bloemenlust will be a place where organizations can present themselves, among which is Groei & Bloei, the Wellant College and the Flower Art Museum. On Saturday in The Beach there will be a special 'Back in Time' party night with a hint of ‘flower power’.
But also at the other locations, horticulture museum de Historische Tuin, a lot is going to happen. Arranger Elize Eveleens will surprise visitors here with many projects. In cooperation with rose event ROOOZ, the museum will be decorated with over 300 types of roses. In the auction hall there will be public auctions and in the Tuinhuis paintings by Afke Borgman will be displayed. Plantation Belle Epoque will have a stand with garden roses.
Both days will also feature live music; Bites of Music on Saturday and on Sunday Ten Beers After. The Junior Pramenrace (a type of boat race) will make for an extra spectacle on Saturday. Besides all of this, the museum and the extensive collection of flowers and plants of the Tuin are more than worth the visit.
Aalsmeer Flower Festival will be open for visitors on the 16th and 17th from 11:00 till 17:00. Tickets are € 7.50 a piece and are available upon entering and will remain valid throughout the weekend. For children under 14 and people in possession of a Aalsmeer / Amstelveenpas (for minima) entrance is free. With the ticket, you can also make use of the water taxis of Westeinder Rondvaart that will commute between both locations. There are also buses.Aalsmeer Flower Festival is brought to you by the head sponsors Province of North Holland, township of Aalsmeer, Stimuflori, Rabobank Regio Schiphol, Royal FloraHolland, Greenport Aalsmeer and Waterdrinker Aalsmeer. Besides these, there are many companies and groups that contribute to the festival by sponsoring.
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