On Friday, April 26, Patricia Pelaez received a royal honour for her remarkable dedication over the past 25 years, contributing to the position of the Netherlands as a leading global influence in the flower trade. After the official ceremony, this memorable moment was celebrated with a short boat trip in Amsterdam.
The process of nominating someone for a royal decoration is an extensive procedure, not only for the nominator, but also for the ones who support the nomination with signed letters and documents. Then, another process is set in motion that ends with the royal decree, and finally, the conferral.
So why Patricia? "She is a person who is more than just a skilled professional in her field; she is an example of integrity and unwavering commitment. Her talent for forging connections, fostering relationships in the international floriculture sector is truly commendable and deserves the highest admiration," the nominator says.
And the supporters, which are persons from Dutch and international companies and associations in the floral industry, agreed: "She was one of the driving forces behind creating a platform for the Dutch floriculture industry, enabling them to excel internationally, during the most challenging circumstances (in, for example, Ecuador and Kenya), one supporter said. And she is not only valued by the Dutch in the floriculture industry, also by many in other flower producing and exporting countries, helping to promote these flowers in the different shows and exhibitions in the Netherlands and abroad.
After the official ceremony, a boat trip took place in Amsterdam. During this boat trip, not only this memorable moment was celebrated, but also Patricia's 25th anniversary at HPP. It was celebrated with family, guests and other colleagues from the floral industry, who have known and worked with Patricia for many years.
Each year in the Netherlands, around 4,500 people receive an honour, or royal decoration, in recognition of special or exceptional services to Dutch society. The event usually takes place on the last working day before the birthday of His Majesty the King (which is April 27, also known as King's Day).