Dutch treat (Floriade 2002)

Member Name: alysonfreeman

Product:	Floriade 2002
Date:	20/07/02 (100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Colourful, International

Disadvantages: Weather, Tourists

FLORIADE 2002


Floriade is an international garden exhibition that takes place every 10 years, in Holland.

I was really excited at the idea of going to see a show like this ? after all, Holland is famous for flowers, so the Floriade should be really something. I saved up my money and tried to book a trip ? first obstacle. Most of the trips I could afford were booked up. I found a coach tour with spaces, for the May Bank Holiday.

The day we were to travel dawned (just about ? it was 4.30 in the morning) and we waited for the coach pickup (temperature in Corby, 6 degrees C). The coach was late, the driver was new and the courier turned out to be a previous customer who liked a free trip. Still, it could work out OK?..

We travelled south to Dover, crossed on the ferry to Calais and then drove north through France and Belgium to Holland. We only got lost a few times! Eventually we arrived at the hotel, where they were not expecting to feed us (but it was miles from anywhere). We did get some dinner, which was not too bad, and the room was fine.

The next day we visited a park famous for its tulip displays, which was quite pleasant, but we were really looking forward to Floriade the day after. The hotel was over 2 hours away from the exhibition, so we set off fairly early. It was a rainy day, so everyone had macs and umbrellas at the ready.

The organisers had had 10 years to prepare for Floriade 2002, but the printed guidebooks were not ready. The entry to the park was through a tacky shopping area, with gift shops selling lots of clog and windmill ornaments.

The park itself is set out in 3 main areas ? Near the roof, By the hill and On the lake. We explored the lake area first (developed from an old sandpit). The international flavour was strong, with many countries staging exhibits, few of which had anything to do with gardening. And it rained.

The Hill is an artificial mound with electric cars
taking passengers to the top. There was an excellent view of the whole exhibition from the top.

Between these areas is a valley planted with bedding ? tulips and bulbs when we were there. This was quite spectacular, but we were totally distracted by the Japanese tourists, who seemed obsessed with photographing each other in the middle of flowerbeds.

The Roof is a covered area with a yellow glass roof with solar panels (more than 19000 apparently!) Inside were some attractive garden sets put together by various exhibitors, and a fascinating automated greenhouse.

There were plenty of places to eat and toilets throughout the exhibition. But it rained ? and rained ? and rained. We got WET ? squelchy feet, damp underwear, the lot!

The weather may have had something to do with my disappointment with the whole affair, or perhaps I was expecting too much. I can?t help feeling that the English would have done it much better!

There were some highlights. A sensory garden, with lots of surprises ? rude noises when you stepped on a stone, water spouts activated when you passed by, a winding path with something new round every corner, and a scary rope bridge to cross. Some small gardens with ideas for home. And stunning vertical displays of pansies in beautiful colour co-ordinated patterns. But this was not an exhibition for keen gardeners ? more in the nature of a tourist attraction.

I can?t really recommend this as somewhere to visit specially, although if you were in Holland anyway it might be nice for the day. The trip was expensive (around £200 each for the weekend) ? I wish I?d spent it on plants at my local nursery!

Summary: