By Marilou Francisco
EBC Europe
Eagle News Service
(Eagle News) — The tulip is one of the world famous icons of the Netherlands. The star of flower bulbs takes the spotlight on the National Tulip Day held every year on the third Saturday of January at the historical center of Amsterdam, on Dam Square, near the Royal Palace.
For 2019, the National Tulip Day took place on January 19 with the theme Flower Power. This marked the new tulip season which lasts until late May.
Tulip growers under the Tulip Promotion Netherlands foundation (TPN) organized the event. On the yearly celebration, tulip fans, local and international, can pick their own bunch of tulips free of charge in a temporary garden with over 200,000 tulips in a variety of colors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8CWrYCjKRE&feature=youtu.be
“Tulip Day in Amsterdam has grown into a global event that annually attracts some 17,000 visitors from over 100 countries. This year, the picking garden’s design is extra colourful to emphasize that tulips are inclusive. Irrespective of nationality, gender expression or background. Tulip Day is a unifying festivity, full of positivity!” said TPN chairman Arjan Smit as quoted in a report by keukenhof,nl.
At present, Tulip Day is now celebrated in Belgium, Germany, and the United States.
(with photos and video by Sam and Shina Laureta, Eaglenews Amsterdam, Netherlands; additional file photos from Marie Francisco-Weir, Eagle News Service)
