Reviews Floriade 2012

17/09/2012 I was lucky enough to have been in the Netherlands when the Floriade show was on in 1992 and 2002 and was very keen to visit again this year as I had very fond memories of it. I left the event feeling rather disappointed this time. There were nowhere as many floral displays as before. I didn't mind the walking around the vast venue but nothing was really capturing along the routes. The international gardens were a let down - hardly a flower in sight and felt very annoyed by the men in one of gardens hassling us to buy their jewellery. The event felt more commercialised too with promotions such as the hut promoting Azerbaijan tourism and an interior design company.

18/07/2012 We went out of our way on our journey back ffrom Italy to visit Floriade. We had heard glowing reports of the last one and expected to be blown away by the famous floral displays.
Instead we found that flowers were few and far between and that the exhibition cosisted of a number of large and small buildings featuring ecology, international exhibits, educational and green issues. There was also a long and uninteresting forest walk, some water features and a number of musicians, dancers and actors to entertain the crowd.
Getting in and out was a nightmare involving parking, walkingfor 10 minutes, a 10 minute bus journey and then more walking all in 30 degree heat. It was not worth the trouble!

01/07/2012 Very disapointed with the show. Been looking forward to it as part of our holiday . We thought there would have been more of a sh ow of flowers and plants than there was. Some of the attractions were meaningless no one to tell you what they were about you just walked into the tent etc. and straight out! When we got back onto the coach we were asked if we found "the man in the woods" By all accounts he lives there and we didnt see him. He sounded like he was the best bit of the show and we missed him. I wont hurry back unless they improve it.

19/05/2012 Op 18 mei de Floriade bezocht.
Wat een deceptie! De (wereld) tentoonstelling doet zijn naam geen eer aan.
Ik verwachtte het nodige te zien op het gebied van flora, groei, bloei, tuin- en landschaparchitectuur. Wat was het mager. De stands /paviljoens van een groot aantal deelnemende landen waren ingericht als souvenirstalletje.
In de restaurants was pas bij de balie een mogelijkheid om een keus te maken. En dan die woekerprijzen. € 8,50 voor een broodje hamburger.
Met plaatsvervangende schaamte keek ik naar de nummerplaten van de touringcars die zo'n lange reis germaakt hadden. Hopelijk was de Floriade niet de enige reisbestemming.