Floriade and Gardens of Holland

Summary

Held every ten years at a different venue in The Netherlands, Floriade is one of the premier events of the horticultural world. In 2022 the spotlight falls on Almere, a new city near Amsterdam, where a purpose-built site has been created to provide a ‘living laboratory’ with inspirational and innovative exhibitions by countries, cities and businesses. There will also be a host of impressive attractions, heaps of art and culture and a unique collection of trees, shrubs and flowers. The theme of this, the seventh iteration of the event, is ‘Growing Green Cities’. With the world’s urban population expanding to 70%, cities will have to find creative, green and sustainable solutions to remain safe, healthy and attractive and these proposed solutions will be central to the exhibits at the 2022 Expo.

This longer version of our Floriade tour includes visits to two of the best gardens in The Netherlands. Mien Ruys is a key figure in Dutch gardening and her extensive garden reflects her influence, with 25 different areas, each with a distinct character. The dazzling garden created by Ada Hofman is the largest complex of water gardens in Holland, with no fewer than 30 separate gardens and 50 ponds. The way the water reflects both the planting and the sky is breathtaking. We also visit the beautiful country house garden of De Wiersse, the sumptuous formal gardens of Het Loo and the fascinating outdoor museum complex at Zaanse Schans, complete with its iconic windmills.  

We are based at the 4-star Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel, conveniently located in the centre of Almere, meaning negligible transfer times between the hotel and the site.