Netherlands in NYC…Tulip Day!

Forget waiting for cherry blossoms to bloom, a traditional indicator of the start of spring season in New York City. Yesterday, The Netherlands delivered us from the antipation of colorful sightings by taking over the iconic Union Square with almost 200k Tulip bulbs in various shades known to man… all free of charge! Yes, you read that right. There’s actually something you can get in the city without paying a single penny for besides a subway ride to get to Union Square. Once there, you get to pick out your own Tulips! Yesterday would be the sophomore year of the initiative that started last year. The event commenced with the park officials and Dutch Consulate General Ahmed Dadou, and other dignitaries who all gave speeches with more insights on the purpose of the event. Let’s face it, it’s not everyday that you get free flowers in the city, and tulips for that matter! They don’t come cheap. The eagerly waiting crowd in the thousands were told the event was to promote Dutch trade and culture in Tulip bulbs in the US, which was proudly sponsored by the European Union. The organizers enlisted volunteers locally and from Europe to help in putting it all together, resulting in a remarkable success that will now become an annual fixture on Union Square, in what would be known as “Tulip Day”! Furthermore, the event ushered in the joyful spring season with vibrant blanket of colors at Union Square.The festivity opened with the blessing of a bouquet of Tulips with Moonshot drink poured over it. And with that, that gates opened to the public. The lucky guests who were able the secure a spot during the online reservation period few days ago, (which filled up in a fast NY minute), trickled into the allocated space to start picking their flowers. Few hours later, the bulbs were picked clean! Influencers of various ages (as young as few months old) and genders, and pets, wasted no time in pouring over the impeccably lined up landscape to get their social media contents. Just about every method of media gadgets and scripting were utilized. Spring has indeed sprung!

The Tulips were locally grown in the US with seeds from the Netherlands, further promoting the long lasting impact of Dutch tradition and culture in the US, spanning over 400 years.

I have fond memories of Holland from my visits few years ago, and can’t wait to return. For now, I’m grateful for a bit of it to NYC via the Tulip Day.

Click here to watch the event video posted on instagram.