Chairman of the Netherlands’ Floating Flower Parade quits role for personal reasons

Rob Baan will be succeeded by Irma Smits as chairman of the Dutch Floating Flower Parade (Varend Corso), a floral flotilla that once a year sails through Westland, Midden-Delfland, Schiedam, Vlaardingen, Maassluis, Rijswijk, and historic Delft.

The chairman of the Floating Flower Parade has told the event’s organising body he is quitting his role due to ‘personal reasons’. “As a result, I can no longer give the corso what a chairman should,” said Baan, adding that he will continue to act as the event’s ambassador.”

Rob Baan was appointed as chairman of the event in 2019. The event organisers want to thank Baan for his strong leadership and commitment with which he navigated the event through rocky pandemic waters. “Rob managed to continuously put the event on the map and taught us not to be too modest. Even when the parade was not allowed to set sail during the challenging years of the pandemic, he managed to keep the event alive and kicking within the organisation and outside.”

Baan will be succeeded by Irma Smits, who has hold various positions within the organisation over the past 18 years.

As ambassador, Rob Baan will have a similar role as Westland’s former Mayor Sjaak van der Tak has. Both are horticultural veterans with an extensive network and have strong ties with the Varend Corso. In October this year, Baan also stepped down as director of Koppert Cress, a supplier of cresses and microgreens, handing over the reins to his son Stijn.