Making the Most of every single Millimeter…

Space is limited in the Netherlands. The country is (in)famous for having one of the highest populations densities in the world.  This has a knock-on effect that land prices are expensive. Naturally houses are compact, gardens tiny, staircases steep,  shops try and make best use of the small space they have. for some of them it’s an art form.

Last summer, whilst out walking I spied a flower shop on the Weimarstraat that certainly takes the award for the most pavement conveniently commandeered for business promotion  purposes… it’s neat and tidy, and smelled of the perfume of many flowers. Ingenious!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

No, …Not *just* Tulips From Amsterdam…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Ok, even if you can’t remember the tune or the words, you may at least have heard of the Title of the famous song “Tulips from Amsterdam“…

…but they aren’t the only flowers that the Dutch love.

Apartment living means that many Dutch city dwellers don’t have any garden of their own, but where there are steps, footpaths, windows and balconies, the inner gardener of the Amsterdam populous blooms at every opportunity.

Sometimes in the form of window boxes, sometimes just a few demur potted plants, sometimes squeezed onto the pavements, the spaces may be limited but the imagination on how to use it  is not.

In my first photo, the brown thing at bottom left, is a bollard to stop cars driving on the pavement… so yes, this ensemble is directly on the footpath outside their front door LOL.

And if you are weary from walking and admiring the blooms, there is ample space for quick rest on these over-sized chairs or this massive wheelbarrow  / bench (it’s about three quarters the length of a single bed!)

I did come across this flower (second photo) that I have never seen before and don’t know the name of.. . Wow, the form, texture and colours! this takes my appreciation of flowers to a whole new level and it’s my brand new all time favourite flower!

Granted, I do have to confess to being a little (ok, if I’m really honest),  severely horticulturally challenged so not knowing what it is, is par for the course.

If anyone knows what it’s called and can tell me, I’d love to know!

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Something is afoot (or a-float) in Katwijk aan Zee…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

There is something very strange going on in Katwijk aan Zee.

Streets are being cordoned off, there are police everywhere, we see a film crew for a local TV station and we pass by more and more people who are sitting on the footpath.

Not sitting as in: we were walking, got tired and needed a wee rest… but properly sitting down, on plastic folding chairs, wooden kitchen chairs, plastic stools, picnic blankets.

Many of them have their cameras, some of them even have small folding tables, with cold drinks.

The evidence is mounting up fast my dear Watson, I smell a mystery that needs solving.

Equipped as I am with amazing powers of deduction I looked up and down the road in question and the answer to the mystery was clear to me in a matter of moments.

(sigh) that actually means is: I rolled down the car window, and asked an elderly gent if he had any idea what was going on…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Apparently in five to ten minutes, there will be a parade though Katwijk in celebration of the local flower growing businesses and the horticultural services that support them.

It’s simply not possible to overestimate the importance and scale of the cut flower business in this part of the world.

Flowers here are grown in glasshouses that are measured in size not by the meter by the kilometer… and that’s not just kilometers long, that’s kilometers square.

The glasshouses themselves are already massive, and this area of the Netherlands they are built one next to the other in massive “blocks”.

Inside are billions of flowers that will be loaded onto temperature controlled trucks within a hour of being  picked and will arrive quickly and efficiently at the Flower Markets for auction and swift dispatch around the world.

Two main areas in the Netherlands  (the Westkland and Aalsmeer)  together are the center of the world flower trade.

We have arrived just in time to see them make a public display of all things floral…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Bring your own band…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Bring your own bread… to a flower parade? oh heck, why not?

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

they first wanted to throw on the kitchen sink, but I suppose that this was more “convenient”…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Heck, throw in the back garden while you are at it, no?…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

This police van is going to get some funny looks if it’s needed on an unexpected call out…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

There’s music, sunshine and everyone is having a great time… THEN.. just around the corner….