If you're in The Netherlands at the right time of year, you won't want to miss the Bloemencorso, or Flower Parade, that winds along a 40km route through the Bollenstreek (bulb-growing area). It's reminiscent of the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA, but on a smaller, more intimate scale. In 2004, the parade is on Saturday April 24. The procession departs the coastal town of Noordwijk at 9:30 a.m., travelling along the main roads through numerous towns including Voorhout, Sassenheim, Lisse, Hillegom, and Bennebroek, to arrive in the city of Haarlem about 8:30 p.m.
The Parade is comprised of about 20 large floats and more than 20 decorated cars, all interspersed with marching bands and other entertainers. Thousands of spectators watch by the roadsides, with many congregating in accessible locations along the route.
The floats and cars are decorated with millions of flowers and other plant parts. Volunteers begin decorating the vehicles in Lisse on Thursday. Their works in progress can be viewed on Thursday and Friday until late in the evening.
At the end of the route, the flower-covered parade vehicles remain on view all that evening and the following day in the Grote Markt in Haarlem. A small part of the parade can also be seen on Sunday on the Wilhelminaboulevard in Noordwijk.
For more information on Bloemencorso, write to Flower Parade, PO Box 115 - 2160 AC, Lisse, The Netherlands, or phone 0031 (0) 252-428237 fax 0031 (0) 252-424796. Or you can contact any of the tourist information offices by phone or fax:
| Noordwijk: | tel. 0031 (0) 71-3619321 | fax 0031 (0) 71-3616945 |
| Lisse: | tel. 0031 (0) 252-414262 | fax 0031 (0) 252-418639 |
| Haarlem: | tel. 0031 (0) 900-616160 | fax 0031 (0) 23-5340537 |
The Aalsmeer Bloemencorso is held every year on the first Saturday in September. This 3 km-long parade is organized by volunteers and business groups aroung Aalsmeer, home of the famous flower auction centre. The approximately 20 floats and 30 cars pass through Amstelveen before reaching the historic Dam Square, the center of Amsterdam.
– Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin
