VeraN

We are thinking of going to the big flower festival, Floriade, which is held once every 10 years. Has anyone been this year? Is it great, or merely so-so? It is out of the way, so need to justify the time, effort and expense to add this to our itinerary. Any comments?

hetismij2

Annhig is going this week, or maybe next, I believe. No doubt she will post a trip report once she has been.

I shan't be going. Not my thing.

Hotels in the area are apparently fully booked for the duration of the Floriade so you will either have to visit it as a long day trip from Amsterdam (I assume you are staying in Amsterdam) or find a hotel a bit further afield, possibly in Germany even. I don't know if this will affect your decision.

VeraN

Thanks for your quick reply. I had not even considered that the hotels would be booked! I look forward to reading Annhig's trip report.

GlendaG

I have only just spotted your thread having replied earlier today on another Floriade link. We have just got back from Floriade and would certainly advise anyone who has not yet booked to rethink. We spoke to several people after the trip and all were disappointed. It is advertised as a horticultural experience but certainly does not fit that bill. If you are nearby anyway it might be worth seeing but certainly not good enough to make a special trip fpr.

DonTopaz

Also just saw this.

What a total bore. I went with my then-GF to the Floriade in 2002 -- with all the publicity, it sounded like a nice way to spend a day outside the city. But ... blecch. Virtually nothing of any interest. And it wasn't really even a nice place to walk (a gazillion people, more concrete than grass, etc.). Plus, it was a pain to get there and back from central Amsterdam.

A much better way to spend a sunny half-day would have been wandering the Vondelpark.

nancythenice

We went last week and most in our group were disappointed. While there are some flower plantings that are nice, and the one big building housing flower arrangements is kind of interesting, it was all too commercial. Many of the exhibits, for the various countries for example, had absolutely nothing to do with flowers or horticulture at all. Many of the ones that did have something to do with plants were incredibly cheesy. In the Italy exhibit, for example, they were just handing out brochures about various parts of Italy that would be nice to visit. If I had it to do again, I would go back to Keukenhoff (sp?) Gardens for a second day instead. It is spectacular and I would have loved to have time to go through it a second or even third time. And don't miss the huge wholesale flower market. It is fascinating and much more worthwhile than the Floriade.

hetismij2

Several people I know have been, combining it with a Keukenhof visit. Most said they thought it would be better in a month or so, that it is all too new now, and really can't complete with the Keukenhof extravaganza.
One is planning on going again at the end of June.

Dukey1

I went to Floriade the last time it was presented and IMO to go somewhere for floral displays my trip to Keukenhof a couple years ago (admittedly it was in April when there were LOTS of blooming bulbs, etc.) was far, FAR more memorable.