Floriade was an international exhibition and garden festival, held every 10 years in the Netherlands. All the Floriades were World Horticultural Expositions and they were listed as A1 category exhibitions by the International Association of Horticultural Producers[1] and hence recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions. The last event, Floriade 2022, was held in Almere.[2]
Prior to the Floriade in the Netherlands, flower and garden shows were called Flora Exhibitions held at Groenendaal parkinHeemstede in 1925, 1935 and 1953, and earlier in 1910 in the Haarlemmerhout inHaarlem.[3] The first Floriade was held in Rotterdam in Het Park with the Euromast observation tower being erected to mark the event.[4]
The Floriade was coordinated by the Dutch Horticultural Council which was founded in 1908 and aims to strengthen the image of the Dutch horticulture and to promote exports. The Floriade's location varied and it was awarded to a city after a bidding phase.
| Floriade | City | Venue | Date | Edition | Motto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floriade 1960 | Rotterdam | Het Park | 25 March – September 1960 | 1 | |
| Floriade 1972 | Amsterdam | Amstelpark and Beatrixpark | 30 March – 1 October 1972 | 5 | |
| Floriade 1982 | Amsterdam | Gaasperpark | 8 April – 10 October 1982 | 9 | |
| Floriade 1992 | Zoetermeer | Rokkeveen | 9 April – 10 October 1992 | 13 | |
| Floriade 2002 | Haarlemmermeer | Haarlemmermeerse Woods | 6 April – 20 October 2002 | 16 | Feel the art of nature |
| Floriade 2012 | Venlo | Venlo Greenpark | 6 April – 7 October 2012 | 19 | Be part of the theatre in nature; get closer to the quality of life. |
| Floriade 2022 | Almere | Weerwater | 14 April – 9 October 2022 | 23 | Growing Green Cities |
The 1992 Floriade was held in Zoetermeer and ran from 9 April to 10 October. The event was held on converted pasture outside the newtown of Zoetermeer, covered 168 acres and had participants from more than 20 countries.[5]
The 2002 Floriade was held in Haarlemmermeer with a theme of Contribution of Horticulture in the quality of life in the 21st century. It ran from 5 April to 20 October, covered 65 ha and had 30 participating countries[6]
The Floriade 2012 was held from 5 April to 7 October 2012, in Venlo. The sixth Floriade and nineteenth AIPH world horticultural exposition, the Floriade spanned 66 acres and hosted 25 countries.
The Floriade 2022 was held in Almere[2] with the masterplan designed by MVRDV.[7]
