Ten years ago, thanks to then Dutch Consul General Johannes Vervloed, I was invited by the Dutch government to participate in a sustainability media tour of the Netherlands. Two of our stops were the 'new town' of Almere, about 30 km from Amsterdam, and Floriade - an international exhibition and garden festival held every 10 years in the Netherlands. It took place in Venio in south-eastern Netherlands. Unfortunately, we only had a brief stop at Floriade and did not get to tour the festival. However, I wrote at the time that if I was alive ten years later, I would attend the next Floriade. At the time, the venue had not been selected but Almere was hoping to host it. I was even asked if I could obtain a letter from then Mayor Gregor Robertson to support Almere's bid. which I did. Almere was ultimately successful in winning the bid.
While the exposition ran from April to October, I was too busy over the spring and summer to attend. But I decided to fulfill my 10-year-old promise and attend before the end, especially since an early October visit would also coincide with an ISOCARP conference in Brussels, and the fifth architectural biennale in Rotterdam. (I learned about the biennale when I was on my tour ten years ago.) The dates also coincided with my 75th birthday.
So I'm here. I am staying at the Leonardo Hotel which fortunately is just a manageable walk from the train station through the pedestrianized town centre, and across the road from the dock where one can take a small boat to Floriade. Since Floriade ends in a week, it is too late for you to attend, but I am pleased to share some initial images taken during my first afternoon in Almere and at the fair.
From the train station one can walk through the pedestrian town centre, much of which was designed by Rem Koolhaus. More about the town's architecture later.
My first siting of the hotel, overlooking the waterfront
Across from the hotel is the pier from which boats take you to the Floriade site. The site is also accessible by bus and private vehicles.
The captain allowed all the young children to pilot the boat, except when it docked!
The colourful Floriade Logo
One of the best ways to get an overview of the site is from this gondola, which will go to a ski resort in Germany after the fair finishes.
Some of the sights from above the site
The well-known Dutch architectural firm MVRDV designed the overall site and this intriguing building
I need to learn more about this and many of the other pavilions!
About 30 countries have international pavilions at the fair, but most are very modest
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The most highly regarded pavilion is that of Germany, and I was told many of the fair's visitors have come from Germany. Few international other international visitors have attended.
This building is the only one occupied at the present time. However, when the fair is over, the entire site will become a model, sustainable community
I'm not sure what they were thinking!
Just to prove I am here!
Fortunately there are rest room facilities throughout the site. I like the doors.
