Page 26 - Sphere No.21 (Mar 2008)

Springtime is when these flowers transform
the gardens and countryside into a blossoming
symphony. Each October, before the onset of
winter, growers plant bulbs in their millions in
preparation for the spring bloom from March to
May. The most famous tulip garden in the world is
Keukenhof, which boasts some 7.5 million blooms
in 100 varieties and claims to be the most photo-
graphed place in the world.
Keukenhof 2008 is the 59th year of the spring
park’s operation and this year a special treat is in
store – the theme will be entirely devoted to China
in recognition of the Beijing Olympic Games. From
the opening day on 20 March to 18 May, the China
theme will be expressed in various ways that emphasise
the cultural and historic significance of the country, in-
cluding an Olympic Exposition and a “Forbidden City”
garden where a number of new flower bulbs with Chinese
or Olympic names will be presented.
“This spring, visitors to Keukenhof will be dazzled by
swathes of sheer and scintillating colour,” says spokesper-
son Annemarie Gerards.
China in Town, an event looking at the traditional and
modern language of costume, will highlight the traditions
of the various population groups in China. “The event
was inspired by traditional handwork techniques and the
role of symbolism in the patterns on Chinese national
dress and costumes,” she says. “To offset the traditional
costumes, headwear, jewellery and shoes from Chinese
population groups such as the Dong and the Miau, con-
temporary designers have been invited to draw inspira-
tion from China.”
Ms Gerards says the goal for 2008 is to attract ap-
proximately 35 per cent more visitors from China.
Keukenhof is traditionally one of the five attractions
most popular among Chinese tourists in Europe.
The cultural bonding is not limited to the flower
festival. In December, the Netherlands will stage
the Business of Design Week (BODW) in Hong
Kong. Called Open Minds – Presenting Dutch
Design, the programme covers fashion, ar-
chitecture, communication and product
design. The focus will be on three areas of
excellence: water, food and flowers, and
urban life. There will be a series of mas-
NETHERLANDS FACT FILE
Population: 16.4 million
Area: 41,864 sq km (16,164 sq miles)
GDP per capita: USD38,600
Main exports: Metal manufacturing,
chemicals, foodstuffs
Internet domain: .nl
Flowers
transform the
countryside into
a springtime
symphony
of colour.