At just 19 years old, twins Elsbeth and Frederiek Koenders have opened their very own flower shop in Neede. "It's a childhood dream come true," they told Dutch newspaper Tubantia (link in Dutch). Both sisters are studying at Zone.college to prepare for a career in floristry, and when a suitable storefront became available, they decided to take the plunge together. Their shop, Bloemsierkunst Floria, officially opened its doors on Wednesday. Their father, an entrepreneur himself, is always on hand to share advice.
The sisters are also determined to put sustainability at the heart of their business. That ambition grew during an internship in Denmark. "In the Netherlands, people are often too casual about buying flowers," they explain. "It's something you just grab quickly at the supermarket."
In Denmark, however, flowers are considered the perfect gift. Because of that, there's more appreciation for where flowers come from and which varieties are naturally in season. There's less reliance on greenhouse production and a reduced use of pesticides.
With their new shop, Elsbeth and Frederiek hope to bring some of that Danish mindset to their Dutch customers, highlighting seasonal flowers and encouraging people to see a bouquet not just as decoration, but as a thoughtful, sustainable gift.
© Bloemsierkunst Floria
Frederiek and Elsbeth are, of course, also active on social media, including Facebook. In a vlog, the conversion of the shop into a flower shop can be seen.
For more information:
Floral Art Floria
Borculoseweg 14B
7161 HA Neede
[email protected]
https://bloemsierkunstfloria.nl/
