'In the current zeitgeist, vegetative design is difficult to execute commercially'

According to floral designer Max van de Sluis, the theme Nature, Naturally! can be approached in various ways. 'For me as a florist, vegetative is the most obvious and perhaps the most ultimate in its beauty. Yet, in the current zeitgeist, vegetative is difficult to execute commercially.'

'The reason I went in a more realistic direction, with the starting point being the materials that you can easily obtain from the wholesaler, and then make arrangements with a natural look with them.'

‘I wanted to achieve that natural look by processing the flowers in a certain way. Consider solutions such as processing each type at a more or less individual height, a more parallel placement, growth forms, movement, seeking combinations with old natural flower shapes from outside and/or by processing branches.’

‘This significantly expands the possibilities and makes it possible to incorporate your style, emotion, and feeling. This approach is more commercial and realistic in its feasibility.’

'Reuse to Reduce'

Floral designer Hanneke Frankema is always looking around for bases. That yielded her, for example, a set of beautiful wooden tables, one of which she was able to use immediately for this edition. ‘Keep your eyes open, I always say. For example, we had bought residual wood from a staircase maker, and what was at the bottom of the Big Bag? All beautiful cylindrical hardwood pieces in different sizes. I put them in a nice dish and incorporated the flowers in between. Waste can be beautifully reused in this way.’

'I also like to use (residual) wooden boards and beams as a base regularly. For example, a piece of beam that was left over from the construction of my classroom next to our house has found its way into an arrangement where it is used as a base. So what would normally be thrown away could now be used very nicely for an arrangement.'

'Old materials are also regularly given a second life. For example, I used dried Craspedia as the basis of a fine, sweet heart – so I never throw them away! You can make beautiful dried and therefore long-lasting bases or objects from it. You can also often remake the surfaces themselves numerous times with other and/or fresh materials. In short: reuse to reduse!

Nature, naturally!

For the special theme Nature, naturally!, vegetative floral arrangements, as they grow in nature, are the starting point. Transparency also plays a major role here. The arrangements have been created as much as possible through the use of sustainable techniques and responsible materials.

'My preference is for local seasonal materials'

Erik Lockley creates worlds of movement, tension, and balance. He describes himself as a floral wizard, botanical morphological designer, or innovative artist with flowers and plants. 'I have a passion for flora and have been experimenting with plants, branches, and berries for years, and basically with everything that belongs to the plant.'

His modern creations with a classic touch are beautifully balanced but also contain tension. 'I closely follow the golden ratio in my floral art. For competitions and larger assignments, I first make sketches that I then translate into models. This allows me to assess whether the proportions are correct and whether the piece is technically feasible. I like to build constructions that support, but also tell stories about harmony, sustainability and elegance.'

'I prefer local seasonal materials – you don't always have to resort to imported flowers. I have also worked with recycled materials all my life, something that now fits perfectly within the trend of sustainability.'

‘Spring makes floral arrangements shine’

Florist Bente van Meurs is a young floral talent from Brunssum, in the south of South Limburg. During her studies in Flower, Greenery and Styling, she participated in the Skills competitions. ‘That participation was a very enriching experience for me. By training hard and shadowing various florists – including Hanneke Frankema – I even became Dutch Champion. This allowed me to represent the Netherlands at the EuroSkills Gdansk in Poland; a mega great experience!’

'In addition to my studies, I am a teacher of visual arts and design at the Art Academy in Maastricht, and I also have my own company called 'Uniek van Bente'. I give workshops, provide guest lectures, do freelance work and create content for 'Bloemist kleurt je leven' (Florist colors your life), an initiative of the VBW where young florists show how to add color to life through flowers and plants.'

For the special Spring edition, Bente created a number of colorful arrangements. 'In the spring, the days get longer, and the sun shines a little longer and more often. Everything comes into bloom. Spring flowers and green materials regain color and make the floral arrangements shine.'

‘Showing the power of symbolism’

With a passion for nature and creativity, Peter van Asselt combines his work as a nurse with his love for green art. After a number of vocational training courses, he has increasingly focused on liturgical and symbolic floral arrangements, sustainably made with as many organic flowers as possible.

‘As a liturgical arranger, I am associated with the Abbey of Egmond, where I provide floral arrangements for high feasts and special occasions. I also organize workshops and exhibitions such as Symbolism and Green. Through my floral work, I mainly want to show the power of symbolism and natural beauty. Nature is inspiration and at the same time the basis for my arrangements that express wonder and gratitude for nature. What nature gives us, but also what nature asks of us, makes me silent and humble.’

'Together with Hanneke Maassen, I am currently working on a book about natural arrangements based on the rhythm of the seasons, which will be published in mid-2025. For the DPK Floral Magazine special on Spring, I drew inspiration from various themed holidays: Why not also Pink Day and World Bee Day?'