On the Solemnity of Easter, Sunday, April 5, St. Peter’s Square has been adorned with thousands of flowers and plants grown in the Netherlands

The decorations have been realized thanks to the generous contribution of Dutch florists and decorators, led by chief decorator Piet van der Burg, in collaboration with the staff of the Gardens and Environment Service.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary since the Netherlands first offered the generous floral gift to the Pope on the occasion of Easter. The initiative has been promoted from the outset by volunteers in the floral industry, supported by the Dutch Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the “Bloemenpracht Rome” Foundation. For the arrangements, the following have been used: 65,000 bulbs of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, as well as mini daffodils; 220 white and orange violas; 7,800 flowers, including roses, delphiniums, anthuriums, chrysanthemums, gerberas, and matthiolas; 600 branches of plumosa; 80 azaleas; and 600 long branches of willow catkins, long eucalyptus branches, and various types of greenery.