'Go for your feelings, make a translation'

Florist Sjacco Gerritsen gets excited about summer. 'The summer theme is great! When winter is over and spring begins everything springs out and colors come alive; that makes you happy.

'Summer is a busy, vibrant time for nature when everything is at its most powerful. Bright, saturated colors warm and vibrant. The theme of summer has much to offer, it is the time of outdoor living, sociability and leisure.'

'I get my inspiration mostly from nature, there are so many beautiful shapes, colors and smells. Let nature influence you. Look around you and you see beautiful fields of sprouting green grass, among which you can discover more and more blooming flowers. That's happiness, isn't it?

'In my arrangements I use only seasonal flowers. I don't have a specific preference but with wild flowers, grasses and flared branches you make me very happy. Trends? Just do what makes you happy whether it's a trend or not. What I often do is mix everything together in all colors or just that one branch or flower. Go for your feelings and make a translation'. 

'Beauty is in the moment'

Florist and master florist Ilona Oostenveld runs her studio with heart and soul. 'After years of having a store, I recently chose a new path: no more opening hours, but a studio where I only work on order. I wanted more freedom and creativity in my work. In a store you are often tied to the clock. Now I work by appointment, I can fully focus on the wishes of my customers and I have more time for freelance work.'

'I get my inspiration from everyday life, a walk in the woods or beautiful art I come across, these are things that excite me. Nature gives me endless ideas, especially in the summer. For me, that is the most beautiful season: everything is blooming, alive, vibrant. I like to work with seasonal flowers - Delphinium and peony are the real summer flowers for me.'

Ilona's floral work is an ode to color, seasons and the small happiness of every day. 'In a world that is often rushed, I want to show that beauty is in the moment - if you have an eye for it. I love the colors and trend of today: organic shapes and natural tones, through this we draw nature inside even more!'

Summer power

We have already had a taste of it this spring: summer. And what is striking about those first beautiful summer days is the power it brings. Not only in nature, which literally explodes, but also in people. Everyone seems more cheerful, lively and full of energy.

"Mistakes are really a No Go!

Floral designer Hanneke Frankema always goes for the perfect detail when creating bridal work. Of course you always have to go for the best, but for wedding arrangements it's even more important! The bride walks around with it all day and it will be photographed a lot so mistakes are a no go! I always say, you can only do it right once. If parts fall out or flowers start drooping, there is often not much you can do about it. The result is then that every photo shows a bridal bouquet or floral arrangement that you don't support: so, don't take any risks.'

'Valuable additional focal points, for example, are the bridesmaids: if they form one with the bride, for example by having a mini copy of the bride's bouquet or a matching diadem, that works like icing on the cake. People, and brides, love that.'

'And even for an item like a ring pillow, numerous fun and creative solutions can be thought of. Moreover, by working with symbolism, for example, you really create added value. You certainly don't always have to opt for a mix of very many types of flowers. Even with one or two species you can create beautiful work. It's mainly about attention to detail, the best quality materials and perfect technique.'

'Mono is trending. The more pure, the more beautiful'

'My love for flowers started when I was a little girl,' says florist Claire van der Velden. 'That passion has brought me to where I am today. After years of experience as a manager and running my own store in Delft, I found my passion in bridal floristry by creating unique creations for the most special day in life: the wedding. This has since grown into Beyond Blossom with which we go one step further. Beyond Blossom gives me the opportunity to make my dreams come true: putting together wedding designs that are not only beautiful, but also unique and personal.'

'I draw inspiration from my travels to Kenya, Thailand and Sri Lanka, among other places. My style is playful and generous. I also like to work with rare and unusual flowers. Besides bows, mono arrangements are trend for bridal work in 2025, the more pure, the more beautiful.'

'Flowers are an experience'

'Nothing beats the beauty of flowers in their purest form,' states floral designer Johan Martens. 'As a floral designer, I see daily how powerful and expressive flowers can be. For years I have been working for companies at home and abroad, where I lovingly and diligently create floral creations that touch, surprise and connect.'

'My style is recognizable for combining decorative forms with natural lines and textures of plants. No excess, but rather the power of simplicity and respect for the natural growth of each flower or branch. That balance creates arrangements that breathe. Sometimes they are playful, sometimes subdued, but always in harmony with the environment and with the moment.'

'The greatest pleasure in my profession? Making people happy, especially at special and emotional moments like a wedding, where flowers often say more than a thousand words. Each creation is unique, tailored to the people and their story. Flowers are not a decoration, they are an experience.'