Festive flower parade

A 42 kilometer long parade full of flowers passed through the western region of the Netherlands yesterday.

Dozens of decorated floats traveled from Noordwijk, directly through the Bulb Region, to Haarlem.

Last night it was announced that the float called “Elephant Festival” of the Corsogroep KAVB Hillegom-Haarlem and its surroundings was the most beautiful this year.

It is the biggest spring festival in the Netherlands. According to organizers, the parade attracts almost a million people, who admire the work of some 1,500 volunteers.

It also attracts American tourists. For example, the Gardner family from Boston promised her mother that one day they would go. And despite the strong wind blowing on Noordwijk Boulevard, they thoroughly enjoyed Saturday’s parade.

The Annual Flower Parade has existed since 1947, but since December 2021 it has been part of UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage. It is said that this tradition began when a farmer from Hillegom decorated the first float with flowers and drove it onto the road.— Omroepwest/Euronews