Bloemencorso

Bloemencorso is a flower parade in the Netherlands featuring large floats that are entirely decorated with fresh flowers or floral materials. The name translates to flower procession.

Floats are built by local clubs and guilds and often reflect a yearly theme chosen by the organizers. The decorations rely on living flowers, typically garden tulips, hyacinths, chrysanthemums, and dahlias, supplemented with leaves and other plant materials. The work is usually performed by volunteers over weeks or months, and the finished floats are wheeled along a designated route where spectators line the streets.

In the Netherlands, the best-known Bloemencorso events include Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, held in spring along the coastal route from Noordwijk to Haarlem, and Bloemencorso Zundert, held in Zundert in North Brabant in late summer. These parades draw tens of thousands of visitors and feature not only floats but also marching bands, regional music, and related festivities.

The parades are widely covered by media and form part of regional identity and tourism.

The tradition has roots in horticultural exhibitions and local associations in the 19th and early 20th centuries and was revived and expanded after World War II. Today, Bloemencorso celebrations are organized by volunteer committees and municipal or regional organizations, reflecting a combination of artistic design, horticultural industry, and community participation.