75 years of colour, flavour and nature: the Netherlands at Grüne Woche

As the first international exhibitor in 1951, the Netherlands is celebrating its 75th anniversary at Grüne Woche. Visitors to Hall 18 are greeted by an orange backdrop featuring the iconic windmill, a hall of mirrors filled with orchids and a sea of colourful tulips, including the “Berlin Jubilee”, which was bred especially for Grüne Woche. Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer christened it with sparkling wine during the opening tour under the guidance of his Dutch counterpart, Femke Marije Wiersma.

A culinary detour to Street Food Hall 6.2 and Hall 8.2 is also worthwhile. Dutch classics such as poffertjes, stroopwafel liqueur and crispy chips with cheese sauce await you there. The Netherlands' most famous brass band, Kleintje Pils, also performed on the Grüne Woche stage – in authentic wooden shoes. The 15-piece traditional band has regularly represented the kingdom at world championships, Olympic Games and royal weddings since 1975.

In harmony with nature

Under the theme ‘Farming the Future’, the Netherlands is using its anniversary year in Hall 18 to show how sustainable agriculture, regional products and experiences in rural areas go hand in hand. Bas Huisman from the Reestlandhoeve winery in Overijssel presents regionally produced wine not only as a luxury product but also as a social project: As part of the production process, Reestlandhoeve offers courses for people with dementia, who can help with the harvest under supervision. The vines are also treated to classical music. Bas Huisman has noticed a clear difference since classical music began playing in the vineyard: ‘The grapes are more resistant, they grow faster, become larger and we have fewer infestations,’ he says.

Flevoland: from seabed to farmland

The aim is to reconnect people with nature, and agritourism is part of this: ‘People want to know where their food comes from, and agritourism can help them experience that,’ says Anouk van Eekelen from the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC). Against this backdrop, the province of Flevoland could be particularly interesting. Flevoland, near Amsterdam, is still the largest land reclamation project in the world. From the seabed, from which the two islands of Urk and the island of Schokland, flooded in 1825 and 1916, protruded, Flevoland was created through a dyke construction project, the twelfth and youngest province of the Netherlands and the Schokland World Heritage Site.

Holistic value chain ‘from farm to fork’

Respect for nature is evident in sustainable agriculture: ‘Here in Flevoland, we bring everything together: from field to plate, from cultivation to preparation,’ says Sharon de Miranda. The chef and cookbook author is known in the Netherlands as the TV chef on the programme BinnensteBuiten. She works closely with the government in Flevoland as an ambassador for local, sustainable and plant-based food that brings joy. ‘Food is more than just a dish on your plate. It's a story, a connection and an opportunity to do something beautiful. When you understand that, every meal becomes more valuable,’ she says.

Sharon de Miranda presents dry-aged organic beetroot with an intense aroma, sustainably grown sweet potatoes and soybeans from Dutch cultivation. ‘I am proud to cook with products from Flevoland and tell their story,’ she says.