Video: Bollenstreek flower parade draws over 1 million as pesticide debate intensifies
The Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, one of the best-known flower parades in the Netherlands, began Saturday in Noordwijk, drawing more than 1 million spectators amid growing criticism over pesticide use in flower cultivation.
The event, first held in 1947, attracts both domestic and international visitors. The parade features large floats decorated with spring flowers traveling through five villages in the Bollenstreek before arriving in Haarlem later in the evening, Omroep West reports. The floats will be displayed Sunday on the Grote Markt.
Spectators praised the craftsmanship and scale of the event. “It’s beautiful, all artworks. Everyone is enthusiastic,” an 84-year-old visitor told NOS in Voorhout. Another added, "How much work they put into those floats is unbelievable. How many hours must go into that?”
This year includes a technical addition by float builder Bob Innerzeel, who introduced a moving float described as “revolutionary.” Built in Noordwijkerhout, it features a mechanical wasp with moving wings. “It’s a nice addition to the whole,” Innerzeel told NOS. “All the rotating gears will definitely attract attention. Now we just have to pray everything holds together.”
At the same time, debate over pesticide use in flower cultivation is becoming more prominent. Calls are increasing to switch to organic flowers, though implementation remains limited.
The municipality of Haarlem reduced its subsidy for the event from 149,000 last year to 23,000 euros this weekend, citing a lack of “concrete actions” on sustainability. Officials warned the remaining subsidy could also be withdrawn if no additional plans are implemented by 2029.
Martina Vijver, a professor of ecotoxicology in Leiden, told NH Nieuws that the concerns are valid. Long-term exposure to toxic substances can harm health, she said. “The environment is now being put in the spotlight with poison.”
The number of organic growers remains small. In 2024, there were only 16 organic flower bulb companies nationwide, far too few to supply a parade of this scale. Organic cultivation also makes it harder to produce flowers with identical color and shape, which are required for float designs.
Organizers said they are addressing concerns through a sustainability manifesto, including the use of flowers that cannot be sold commercially.
