Floating Flower Parade announces ‘On Stage’ theme for 2023 event

Last year marked the first time the Floating Flower Parade sailed through the scenic canals of The Hague. Photo credit: Varend Corso Westland/Arnaud Roelofsz.

Next year will mark the 24th anniversary of the Dutch Floating Flower Parade (Varend Corso). The floral flotilla, which sets off at the end of June each year, will sail through Westland, Midden-Delfland, Schiedam, Vlaardingen, Maassluis, Rijswijk, The Hague and the beautiful city of Delft. The 2023 theme is ‘On Stage.’

Volunteers (without whom there would be no Floating Flower Parade!), sponsors, and other professionals from the Dutch horticultural community are excited about next year’s ‘On Stage’ theme. Organisers have asked participating vessels – some of them have already reserved their spot – to revel in all things ‘On Stage’ with everything from the world of musicals to opera and broadway up for the celebration.

The 2023 theme falls in the footsteps of last year’s theme, ‘Finally Showtime’ and will provide plenty of inspiration for over 60 boats which will be lavishly decked out with flowers, plants, fruits and vegetables, all grown in the Netherlands’ most famous horticultural region of Westland.

The 24th edition of the Floating Flower Parade will open on Thursday, 22 June 2023 and pass through the Dutch canals until Sunday, 25 June 2023.

Last year, the event was finally back after a two-year hiatus due to Corona and proved it still has what it takes to wow audiences with a spectacular and energetic floral flotilla. It marked the first time the Dutch Floating Flower Parade travelled to The Hague.

A ‘fourth’ sailing day was also added.  Expanding the event to four instead of three days allowed the organisers to attract more visitors and local sponsors and offered a great opportunity to bridge the gap between municipalities.

Rob Baan, chairman of the Floating Flower Parade, touts the Parade’s premiere in The Hague as a great success. “It was a show like no other with the people of the Hague embracing our event. We proudly showed what the horticultural region Westland stands for: healthy and beautiful products, plenty of job opportunities and high tech greenhouse horticulture and an international business environment.”

Recent recognition by UNESCO added to the festive mood, which awarded Dutch ‘corsos’ with the intangible cultural heritage status at the beginning of this year.

For more information, visit www.varendcorso.nl