Dutch Horticultural Event Opens Near Amsterdam
A huge horticultural show that happens only once every 10 years opened this week in the Netherlands. Horticulture is the science of growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
The event, or exhibition, is called Floriade. It will run until October of this year. The exhibition seeks to show how developments in horticulture can make cities more sustainable and healthier.
More than 25 nations are presenting sustainable ideas during this year’s show under the idea “Growing Green Cities.” The Netherlands, a world leader in horticulture, has a one-hectare greenhouse where farmers are showing off their newest inventions.
Other countries are combining old and new methods in their national exhibits. China, for example, is demonstrating new uses for bamboo plants.
Annemarie Jorritsma is a senior Dutch representative at the show. She said of China’s efforts, “What I like very much is that China has taken the trouble to do not something traditional, but to use a traditional material — bamboo — for a very modern developments.”
The event is taking place in Almere, about 30 kilometers from Amsterdam. The area where the event is being held has a new university building and a block of apartment buildings with images of flowers on them.
There is also a large piece of steel artwork that shows two humans formed out of tens of thousands of insects called bees. The artist, Florentijn Hofman, said he is sending a message about protecting biodiversity.
“The work is about the relationship between bees and humanity, about connection. It’s about…a respectful relationship between humans and animals and our complex interrelationship with nature,” he said.
The land where Floriade is taking place celebrates Dutch technical knowledge; it is built on land taken from the sea many years ago. And, as the country deals with an ongoing housing crisis, the Floriade area will become a new city area with 3,000 homes after the exhibition ends on October 9.
Dutch King Willem-Alexander opened the event Wednesday. It expects to welcome 2 million visitors in total. The exhibits will change with the seasons, from springtime to summer and autumn.
Floriade events of the past have been about building parks, while this edition is about building a city, said architect Winy Maas. He designed the layout of this year’s Floriade area.
“For the first time, this is a Floriade that can become a neighborhood,” he said.
I’m Gregory Stachel.
Mike Corder reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story
exhibition – n. an event at which objects (such as works of art) are put out in a public space for people to look at: a public show of something
sustainable – adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources
afford – v. to be able to pay for (something)
architect – n. a person who designs buildings
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