Keukenhof’s Annual Rose Show is a special tribute to the die-hards in Dutch roses

Hundreds of spectacular rose varieties were on exhibit during Keukenhof’s Annual Rose Show, held in the spring garden’s Oranje Nassau pavilion between 4-9 April 2024.

Rose growers from the Netherlands and Kenya took the skill of commercially growing roses to the competitive level.

A panel of expert judges evaluated the flower’s quality from the growers’ and traders’ perspective.

No less than 54 growers from across the Netherlands and as far afield as Kenya displayed 323 vases filled with the most exquisite blooms.

Roses came in a rainbow of colours, including white, red, yellow, orange, pink, salmon, peach and mauve.

Sparkling trophies were handed out in two categories: Best Rose for Production and Best Rose for Trade.

In the Best Rose for Production Awards, Rosa ‘Avalanche’ from Den Hoorn-based SK Roses scooped the highest honour in the Dutch Grown Large-Headed Roses category. The jury praised the rose’s healthy and dark green foliage above which emerged heavily petaled creamy white blooms.

Voorn Spray Roses from Luttelgeest walked away with the first prize in the Dutch-Grown Spray Roses category. The company’s fragrant ‘Bridal Flow’ cultivar truly lives up to its name as it makes the perfect wedding rose.

Rosa ‘Candy X Pression’ from De Ruiter Innovations from Amstelveen reigned supreme in the Imported Large Headed Roses category. ‘Candy X_Pression’ is boldly coloured and has a high petal count.

Rosa ‘Elisana’ submitted by Kenyan rose farm Sian Flowers ended first in the Imported Spray Roses category as it stands out for its less mainstream colour and flower shape.

Rosa ‘Big Girl’.

In the Best Rose for Trade Awards, Rosa ‘Big Girl’ submitted by Van der Hulst Rozenkwekerijen from Meterik won the first prize in the Dutch Grown Large Headed Roses category. The rose’s pink colour beautifully contrast with strong and dark green foliage.

Rosa ‘First Date’comes in hues of pink and salmon and is grown by Aad Fransen V.O.F. from De Lier. The cultivar stands out for its spectacular blooms and sturdy stems. It ended first in the Dutch Grown Spray Roses category.

Rosa ‘Pink X_Pression’ submitted by van De Ruiter Innovations B.V. from Amstelveen earned praise from the jury for being brightly coloured, innovative and extravagant. It won the top prize in the Imported Larged Headed Roses category.

Spray rose ‘Pink Fame’grown by Naaldwijk-based Kwekerij De Opstal.

Following a rigorous judging process, the jury presented Holla Roses from De Kwakel with the Rose Industry Award. The company stole the show with its outstanding and innovative range of spray roses

The Keukenhof Rose Awards recognise and promote the very best in commercial rose production and trade undertaken by Dutch entrepreneurs and their counterparts abroad, judged by a panel of expert judges.

The event is also a tribute to the die-hards in Dutch roses, the resilience, perseverance and entrepreneurship of the growers who managed to keep quality high while weathering themselves against the vagaries of an extremely volatile energy market and global uncertainty.

The overall picture in the Dutch rose industry shows a decline in the production area and volume year on year, with production being pushed abroad, notably to Kenya.

The glasshouse area down to roses in the Netherlands has fallen from 800ha to less than 130ha over the last 22 years. The volume of Dutch production passing through Royal FloraHolland fell to below one billion stems, approximately 16 per cent of total sales volume. Five years ago, this percentage was still close to 25 per cent.

On the positive side, never before has the Dutch rose industry so innovative growing a range of farm-fresh roses with excellent shelf life and just in time delivery.