‘Line play and movement are essential to me’

The work of floral designer Max van de Sluis often arises from the moment. ‘A single flower, a special texture, or a striking shape can be enough to spark an idea. From there, one or two elements are deliberately emphasized or developed further. You can see this in my compositions: sometimes I work with a very limited palette of species, sometimes with an abundance. This is always a conscious design choice.

The natural properties of the material form the starting point. The length and line of the stems are retained; removing the leaves creates focus and brings out the shape of the flower more strongly. The interplay of lines and movement are essential and give the work tension and direction.

I am constantly searching for new ways of arranging flowers, preferably with them standing directly in water: by developing a construction, preferably with a botanical character, or by making clever use of natural materials. This gives me energy. Experimenting, researching, and continuing to challenge myself are an important part of my process. Here, too, simplicity prevails: one technique or action per design. This creates tranquility and a powerful end result. Everything revolves around balance—too many different "flavors" detract from the essence. The result counts, but it is the journey that gives the work meaning.

Spring outlook

During each Floral Fundamentals photo shoot, ambassadors are invited to create seasonal arrangements that reflect their daily practice. For this series, the focus was on spring work that is commercially applicable to a variety of markets. In doing so, we deliberately looked at differences in approach between countries. These differences are not only visible in the choice of materials and use of color, but also in form, structure, and decorativeness. The arrangements show how diverse the interpretation of "spring" can be.

Finally... Spring

After weeks of dark days, cold, and snow, clear blue skies and sunshine are returning. You can feel that spring is about to reveal itself. Tree buds are about to burst, and here and there the first spring flowers, such as Hamamelis and Galanthus, are already appearing.

First edition of Floréda: inspiration, NK, and purchasing days

The first edition of the Floréda trade event will take place from March 9 to 11, 2026, at Plantion in Ede. In addition to the finals of the Dutch Floral Art Championship, the event will feature a wide range of exhibitors, including Jelle Quint, Vase The World, and HS Potterie. It will also serve as a meeting place for florists, floral designers, and other professionals in the sector.

IPM program focuses on floristic trends

From January 27 to 30, IPM ESSEN 2026 will present an extensive program in Hall 5 with the IPM Flower Stage, BLOOM's Trend Show 2026, and the IPM Discovery Center. International florists will give live demonstrations, while trend experts will showcase five style directions for the coming season. The Discovery Center will offer guided tours of various store concepts for garden centers.

FloraHolland launches Flora Spring Expo

Royal FloraHolland introduces a new spring trade fair: the Flora Spring Expo. It will take place on March 18 and 19 in Aalsmeer-Oost, where the international floriculture industry can now present itself in the spring, in addition to the existing Trade Fair Aalsmeer in the fall.