'Follow your feeling, make a translation'

Florist Sjacco Gerritsen is happy about the summer. 'The theme summer is great! When winter is over and spring begins, everything blossoms and colors come to life; that makes you happy, doesn't it?'

‘Summer is a busy, lively time for nature when everything is at its most powerful. Bright, saturated colors, warm and vibrant. The summer theme has a lot to offer; it is the time of outdoor living, conviviality and leisure.’

‘I mainly get my inspiration from nature, there are so many beautiful shapes, colors, and scents. Let nature influence you. Look around you and you will see beautiful fields with extending green grass, among which you can discover more and more flowering flowers. Isn't that happiness?’

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

'Beauty lies in the moment'

Florist and master binder Ilona Oostenveld runs her studio with heart and soul. ‘After having a shop for years, I recently chose a new path: no more opening hours, but a studio where work is only done on order. I wanted more freedom and creativity in my work. In a store you are often bound by 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 daily life, a walk through the forest or beautiful art that I come across, those are things that stimulate me. Nature gives me endless ideas, especially in the summer. That is the most beautiful season for me: everything blooms, lives, and sparkles. 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 lies in the moment - if you have an eye for it. I love the colors and the trend of today: organic shapes and natural tones, which brings nature even more inside!'

Summer power

We've already had a taste of it this spring: summer. And what is particularly striking about those first beautiful summer days is the power that this brings about. 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 aims for the perfect detail when creating bridal work. ‘Of course, you should always go for the best, but especially for bridal work! The bride carries it all day, and it is, of course, photographed a lot, so mistakes are really a no-go! I always say, you only get one chance to do it right. If parts fail or flowers droop, there is often very little you can do about it. The result is that every photo features a bridal bouquet or floral work that you don't stand behind: so, don't take any risks.’

'Valuable additional points of attention are, for example, the bridesmaids: if they form a cohesive whole with the bride, for example, through a mini copy of the bridal bouquet or a matching diadem, it acts as the icing on the cake. People, and brides, love that.'

‘And there are also many fun and creative solutions to think of for an item such as a ring pillow. By working with symbolism, for example, you also create real added value. You certainly don't always have to opt for a mix of many types of flowers. You can also make beautiful work with one or two types. It's all about the attention to detail, the best quality materials and perfect technique.’

'Mono is trending. The purer, the better'

‘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 now. After years of experience as a business manager and running my own store in Delft, I found my passion in bridal floral work by creating unique creations for the most special day in life with my company De Bruidsbloemist: the wedding. This has now grown into Beyond Blossom, with which we are going one step further. Beyond Blossom gives me the chance to make my dreams come true: putting together wedding designs that are not only beautiful, but also unique and personal.’

‘I get inspiration from my travels to Kenya, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, among other places. My style is playful and generous. I also love working with rare and special flowers. In addition to ribbons, mono arrangements are a trend for bridal work in 2025; the purer, the better.’

‘Flowers are an experience’

'There is nothing like the beauty of flowers in their purest form,' says floral designer Johan Martens. 'As a floral arranger, I see daily how powerful and expressive flowers can be. For years I have worked for companies at home and abroad, where I create floral designs with great love and dedication that touch, surprise and connect.'

'My style is recognizable by combining decorative shapes with natural lines and structures 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 such as 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 decoration, they are an experience.'