After months of preparation, the transport with flowers left Keukenhof earlier this week for St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Mgr. Van der Hende, Bishop of Rotterdam, came to Keukenhof to bless the flowers before departure.
Since 1985, the Easter celebration on St. Peter’s Square has formed a beautiful backdrop for flowers and plants from Dutch growers and traders. During the pronouncement of the ‘Urbi et Orbi’, the blessing over the city and the world, viewers worldwide can enjoy the Dutch flowers.
Floral artist Piet van den Burg is the creative force behind this special project. The arranger, together with a team of volunteers and Dutch growers, takes care of the design of the floral splendor. The colors from the logo of the holy year 2025 are beautifully reflected in this design.
This annual trip to Rome is preceded by careful preparation. Koninklijke van der Slot is responsible for transporting the flowers from Keukenhof to Vatican City. This is done through a precise process, so that all flowers and necessary materials are available in time to create the sea of flowers on St. Peter’s Square.
In this way, the Dutch floriculture sector is once again making a colourful contribution to the Easter celebrations in Rome.