Media release

The Netherlands offers Latvia a new tulip variety

21 April 2015

On 23 April, a new tulip variety will be presented as a gift from the Netherlands to Latvia in celebration of its first Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ms Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Parliamentary State Secretary for European Affairs will receive the new tulip from Henk van den Dool, Ambassador of the Netherlands.

On Thursday, 23 April the Embassy of the Netherlands in Latvia will organize a "Tulip Day". The day will start with a seminar (10:00 – 12:00) in the National Library of Latvia. During this seminar representatives from the horticulture and gardening community in Latvia and the Netherlands will discuss historical features and modern trends in the development and planting of spring gardens with bulb flowers. Fellow organizer SIA Onava from Bulduri will discuss their experience and expertise as flower specialists from Latvia. The organizers have also invited Mr Jos Beelen, sales manager for Eastern Europe of JUB, to give his expert opinion on the Dutch horticultural sector. JUB is one of the world's largest suppliers of bulbs for mechanical planting in public green areas and since 2010 they have been the proud holders of the Royal Warrant. JUB is a clear example of the Dutch horticulture's out-of-the-box, internationally oriented approach to doing business. By thinking big and out-of-the-box, the Dutch horticulture sector has been able to create numerous innovative solutions.

In the afternoon at 13:00 a tulip ceremony will take place. During this ceremony the new tulip will be officially baptised by Ms Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, the Parliamentary State Secretary for European Affairs of Latvia. Together with Mr Jos Beelen, Mr Andris Vilks – the Director of the National Library of Latvia, and H.E. Mr Henk van den Dool – the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Latvia, she will sign the certificate that officially registers the Latvija tulip as a new tulip.

On October 15 2014, 17 000 tulips were presented as a gift from the Embassy of the Netherlands to the Latvian Presidency and planted in front of the National Library of Latvia. The tulip bed has a special design: the thousands of red and white tulips have been planted in such a way that they represent the Latvian Presidency logo. The red tulip has been specially created for this event and during the ceremony on April 23 will receive its name.

Contact
Linda Jākobsone
Head of Presidency Communications and Public Relations Department