Floriade 2012 chooses Securitas

Floriade and Securitas are teaming up for the security of the Floriade World Horticultural Expo 2012. Earlier this month, the cooperation contract signed by Fedor Kwerreveld, Commercial Director Securitas and Paul Beck, General Manager of the Floriade. From now until October 2012 for Securitas provides security on the ground, for both visitors and exhibitors. Floriade 2012 is the largest event organized in 2012 in the Netherlands. From April 5 through October 7, 2012 Floriade expects an average of 20,000 visitors per day from home and abroad. The large visitor flows and the open character of the show require a specific approach to security. Fedor Kwerreveld Securitas: "The procurement of Floriade focused on quality solutions to such an event a successful and safe as possible. Floriade has Securitas chosen because through our knowledge and experience in event security have let shall participate effectively think in total solutions. And for the Floriade, which is also a stage will be on sustainability thinking is very important that Securitas is the only provider that offers the environmental certification ISO 14001:2004. It is our good order within our specialized approach to event security. " Both during the construction of the Floriade and during the exhibition itself will Securitas land and security of visitors and exhibitors. The activities focus primarily on coordinating visitor flows, access, parking, VIP reception and guidance, patrols and alarm follow. About Floriade Floriade 2012 is a unique, exciting and active experience, based on the contribution of horticulture to our quality of life. This combined with the regional culture and regional qualities of the landscape. All visitors, young and old, will be inspired by the range of innovative and authentic information in a fun and memorable way is presented and personally relevant to anyone who comes to Venlo for this once in 10 years to hold event. The website can be found at Floriade www.floriade.nl

Floride To Showcase $14.5 Million 'Healthy Hothouse'

At Wageningen UR, NL, the program 'Gezonde Kas' ('Healty Hothouse)' was initiated this month. Research Institutions and businesses in the border area between Germany and the Netherlands are cooperating in this project.

Inerreg (an initiative of the EU to fade out boundaries), German and Dutch governments, and the business sector have jointly made ten million euro available (about $14.5 million). Wageningen UR is the lead partner and responsible for coordination.

A consortium of Dutch and German research institutions and companies will during the next four years cooperate in developing a sustainable management system of disease and plagues in the modern glass horticulture. In this system, various techniques for the timely discovery and the efficient prevention of disease and plagues will be combined.

This integrated program recognizes the importance of glass horticulture in the region Greenport Venlo and the agrobusiness Nederrijn and stimulates the innovation in horticultural supply in the Dutch-German border area.

Broad cooperation

Carolien Zijlstra of Plant Research International (PRI) of Wageningen UR will coordinate the project 'Gezonde Kas.' She emphasizes the importance of the coupling of technology. "Modern hothouses are large and observation and the fighting of disease and plagues is becoming more and more difficult. There are all kinds of sensors on the market, but a grower is not helped with the separate systems. An observation must be understood correctly and on that the correct decision and efficient measures have to follow. It is therefore central in the project that the technology is adjusted to each step. "

The project ''Gezonde Kas" is to supply a system for plant protection enabling growers with modern hothouses to control disease and plagues better with less chemical means. Following the planning a demonstration hothouse will be established in the region and at Floriade in 2012 in Venlo and at the IPM 2015 in Essen the system will also be shown.

Within Wageningen UR researchers of the business units ‘Bio-interactions and HortiHealth’, ‘Agrosystymatics’, ‘Biometris’ and ‘Hothouse Technology’ in conjunction with the Department for ‘Applied Mathematics and Statistical Methods' of Wageningen University will cooperate in this project.

Furthermore, the following also take part: Landwirtschaftskammers (NRW, Niedersachsen), research institutes: (Gartenbauzentrum Straelen, ZEPP, Forschungszentrum Jülich), universities (Bonn, Hannover), Fachhochschule Osnabrück, suppliers of plant protection means, suppliers of hothouse technology, producers of services, testing laboratories and suppliers of substratum.

Horticulture in Holland

Next year will see the sixth Dutch Floriade take place in the central-eastern region of Venlo in Holland. Abbe Bates gives an insight of what to expect from this impressive event.

The Floriade World Horticultural Expo is staged once every ten years in Holland and returns in 2012 from 5th April until 7th October.

Set in the Venlo region, close to the German and Belgian borders, the 2012 theme is ‘Be part of the theatre in nature, get closer to the quality of life’. It is expected to attract two million people from around the world – and more than 100 participants from 35 different countries and 90 companies.

An overview

The event promises to be a stage for socially responsible production methods in horticulture and a showcase for sustainable and healthy produce. It will also look at the relationship between humankind, nature and food.

A diverse range of shops and restaurants with seating for 4,000 people will be available, with the site itself covering an area of 66 hectares; this includes 40 hectares of actual exhibition space, 7,000 square feet of which will consist of indoor flower and plant shows.
As visitors arrive through a central entrance, they will be greeted with the Floriade Plaza, with its tree-lined avenue featuring 120 different types of rare tree, and can then make their way to a forest of contemporary fruit hedges and 100 classic fruit trees representative of the Limburg region over the ages, planted by ‘Friends of the Floriade’ – regional businesses who have been given the chance to adopt a tree here.

Groups will have the opportunity to further enjoy flowers, plants, trees, fruit and vegetables from around the globe through five themed zones, telling the story of horticulture.

Relax & Heal – Wellbeing

This area aims to emphasise the importance of horticulture in achieving a healthy life. There will be a focus on healthy eating, rituals, religions andsports activities.
Visiting groups will be able to taste, smell, feel, hear and see the positive influences of horticultural products.
The area is being designed to have an organic feel to reflect the human body, with no straight lines but flowing paths, rolling grassy hills and loose shapes.

Green Engine – Sustainability

This zone will focus on the link betweenhorticulture, the economy and sources of green energy. Areas such as bio sciences and the greenhouse as an energy source will be explored and processes such as product development and logistics in this field will be highlighted.
As horticulture is a major driver of the Dutch economy, it will be here that the large indoor exhibition will be found, featuring displays changing on a weekly basis to show the diversity of the Dutch flower sector.

Education & Innovation – The future in our sights

Visitors to this section of the park can expect an insight into the connection between education,innovation and horticulture. It will look at the possibility of increasing knowledge of the horticultural field throughout Europe.
To represent an ever-changing landscape, this area is being designed so that different features obscure others, making it impossible to view the whole site as one area.

Environment – Quality of life

An area that looks at how living and working in a green environment improves our quality of life awaits group members in this zone. As well as looking at how gardens and balconies are integral to the home, the use of natural raw ingredients, how to be green within an urban environment andbetter garden architecture will all feature as topics.
This zone will have the appearance of an urban green city.

World Show Stage – Cultural convergence

As a way to show how international art, culture,entertainment and horticulture inspire one another, a series of events are planned to take place on the open-air World Show Stage, as well as daily throughout the whole park.
These events will include workshops, theatrical performances, tales from regional and national folklore, and interactive creative events that visitors of all ages can take part in.
The World Show Stage area will be themed around water and will feature a Theatre Hill with a capacity for an audience of 1,000. It will be the main location for international participants, further highlighting its global feel.

Leaving a legacy

The 2012 Floriade site is being purpose built for the occasion and past venues have suffered from a lack of use once the event is over. The 2012 show aims to leave behind an environmental legacy, true to its original message, by continuing as the site of GreenPark Venlo, a sustainably developed business park that will still be utilised once the exhibition has come to an end.

Facts and figures at a glance

Duration Open daily 5th April until 7th October 2012, from 10am to 7pm; between 21st June and 2nd September, part of the park will be open until midnight
Expected attendance 2 million visitors
Peak number of visitors a day 35,000
Average visit 7 hours
Cable cart This will show the park from a height of 30 metres over a length of one kilometre; there will be 42 carts, each carrying up to eight people
Refreshments One restaurant and two food stands per themed area as well as an international food and wine festival on the boulevard of the World Stage Show and a Coffee House at the Floriade Plaza

Group Bookings

There are a number of benefits being offered to groups thinking of visiting the Floriade:
Discounted entrance fees for groups of 20 or more with GTOs free (maximum one per coach)
200 free parking places for coaches and a special lounge for coach drivers, plus free entrance to the park
Groups of 20 or more offered a special two-course menu including a soft drink at the five themed restaurants
Each restaurant will have separate seating areas for groups of up to 100 people
Specially themed tours will be available on request
There will be workshops on topics such as flower arranging, cooking and wine tasting
Special packages to Floriade 2012 are also being offered on this site.

Floriade 2012 Showcases Garden Exhibit at Federal

The Federal (Buga) in Koblenz, Germany has opened its doors last weekend and generated 60,000 visitors in 2 days . The Floriade is shocasing a private garden at the Buga.



Floriade Garden has the form of a viewing box built with birch logs. Several holes in the wall offer visitors a view of the garden. Central to the garden are a pair of 12 ft.-high boots. These boots are a work of the respected artist Pii and symbolize the region of North Limburg, a region dominated by agriculture. The garden is planted with shrubs, grasses and various flowers. The boots will be featured at Floriade 2012.

Surrounding the garden is a sensory, interactive journey. Visitors can ask questions about what they taste, touch, smell, hear and see. Participants in the tour could win a trip to the Floriade.

Cooperation between the Federal and Koblenz Floriade 2012 started a year ago. Both events support each other, especially in marketing and communications. "We are working well together with our German colleagues from the Federal" said Paul Beck, General Manager of Floriade 2012. "We are pleased to be able to be part of this beautiful Federal. We can offer visitors to this special garden a small taste of our 2012 Floriade next year."

Federal is an international horticultural exhibition that takes place every two years in Germany. In 2009 there were nearly 2 million visitors.
Koblenz is located in Rhineland-Palatinate and, at the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle, is an important tourist attraction.

Special trees for Floriade 2012

“Be part of the theatre in nature, get closer to the quality of life.”

This is the slogan for Floriade 2012. The World Horticultural Expo, held in the Netherlands every ten years, will open its doors on April 5, 2012. This time the event will take place in Venlo, in the Southeast of the Netherlands.

Trees will be playing a very important role in the large grounds, measuring 66 hectares. In the last few years, more than a thousand trees have been planted. Starting points in the planting scheme were diversity and special species.

Tree-lined avenue with 120 species
A central axis runs from the main entrance into the park. This axis has been developed into a tree-lined avenue with 120 different types of avenue and street trees. A beautiful range of leaf colours has been selected, varying from green and yellow to red and variegated. The same is true for the leaf shapes and habit, from delicate and transparent to very dense leaves which are larger than your hand. Signs with names and descriptions will all be placed with the trees, ensuring that the avenue inspires all visitors, both private and professional visitors, when it comes to tree selection. When the Floriade ends in October 2012, the avenue will become the green leisure area of the future Venlo GreenPark.

Supplies since 2008
Van den Berk Nurseries has been involved with the Floriade since 2007. After long consultations, trees for the avenue and the five different themed fields were selected at the nursery. Mostly larger trees were selected, from stem girths 25-30 to 45-50. Already in February 2008, the first trees were put on a transport to Venlo, to give them plenty of time to get used to their new location, before showing them to the public. The result is an impressive collection with many special species.

"Earth Walk" Rabobank's entry for Floriade 2012

The pavilion is the entry of the Rabobank for the Floriade 2012 called 'Earth Walk'. The building is shaped like a half globe with a diameter of 20 meters.

Inside the 'Earth Walk' visitors get an explanation of the many streams over the world go by, water, energy and food to risks. Visitors undergo a 'day in the life of the earth ", as they walk up to the roof of the world.

Rabobank is the sponsor of the Floriade 2012.

Impression of the on earth walk.

Historic Floriade Postage Stamp!

Intern Opportunities at 'Floriade 2012'

150 interns at Floriade 2012

Floriade 2012 is offering 150 secondary and college students an internship opportunity. Today the signing of the agreement with MBO Services took place. This organization supports the Floriade in the recruitment and supervision of trainees. Most of the trainees will come from the training ROC Tourism, Hospitality and Trade and HBO Hotel Management, Leisure, Marketing and Sales throughout the Netherlands. MBO Services selects the interns and coordinates substantive internship supervision. In 2010 it provided support for 160 students during their internship at the World Expo in Shanghai. MBO graduates and worked there in the Dutch pavilion and fulfilled various functions. At Floriade 2012 this will also be the case with MBO graduates working in the guest reception, marketing, administration, catering, retail and events. "An internship at the Floriade is very popular among students. It is an international internship in their own country, "Jitze Ramaker, director of vocational services."Floriade is a World and MBO students and graduates work together with people from around the world. " Because of the many interns from various disciplines it was decided to seek cooperation with vocational services. Paul Beck, Managing Director Floriade 2012: "Education is a major theme of Floriade 2012. Since the beginning, there were concrete ideas about the involvement of education in the Floriade. For primary education there is the Floriade Kids project, which provides for their own curriculum.For secondary and college students, we now offer a unique learning and working at the World Horticultural Expo. " The first trainees are already employed in preparation for the opening of Floriade on April 5, 2012. Caption: Left to right Jitze Ramaker - MBO Services Director and Paul Beck - General Manager Floriade 2012.

Floriade Tour Program Plans Participation In 3D Business Travel & Meetings Expo

Launched in October 2010, 3D Business Travel & Meetings Expo introduces a new e-platform for today’s modern, green and time-conscious business travel & hotel professionals at 3D Business Travel & Meetings Expo.

Floriade 2012 Tours plans to participate with a special booth.

3D Business Travel & Meetings Expo is an online tradeshow where global business travel, M.I.C.E and hotel services are geared towards an international, regional or local audience. 3D Business Travel & Meetings Expo also introduces fast, effective and affordable Hotel and Travel e-PR services for its online exhibitors with weekly e-newsletter distribution to its 64.346 opt-in database compiled from specific groups of travel buyers and interested global communities of meeting planners, incentive planners, in house M.I.C.E. buyers of corporations, independent travelers and online travel media in 65 countries.