On 24 April, in a quiet ceremony, a remarkable Dutch tree found a new home in the Vatican Gardens: a Liriodendron tulipifera, better known as the tulip tree, was planted as a living symbol of sustainibility, friendship, cooperation and forty years of Dutch flowers at the Vatican during Easter.
The idea of planting a tree in the Vatican originated with the LAN-bureau in Rome and Charles Lansdorp, a well-known and respected Dutch floriculture consultant in the Netherlands and Italy, and was warmly received by the Vatican gardeners. The tree, donated by Dutch nursery company Ebben from Cuijk, now stands near the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the north-west section of Vatican hill, where it was planted by Sister Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate of Vatican City State and the Dutch Ambassador to the Holy See Johanna Gerarda Maria Ruigrok.
A Meaningful Ceremony
The ceremony marked forty years of a unique Dutch tradition: bringing flowers and plants to Rome each Easter to decorate St. Peter’s Basilica and Square. Among the presents, the Agriculture and Nature Counsellor at the Dutch Embassy in Rome Hayo Haanstra, the representatives of the Vatican gardens, of the Frisian Church, of the companies Royal Anthos and Ebben, and the carrier who each Easter, from the first edition and every year for the past four decades, has transported the Dutch flowers to decorate St. Peter’s Square. The ceremony was about much more than planting a tree: what began in 1985 during the beatification of Dutch Carmelite priest Titus Brandsma has grown into a large annual operation involving growers, florists, transport companies and volunteers from across the Netherlands.
Every spring, thousands of Dutch flowers make their way to the Vatican. Tulips, hyacinths, roses and countless other flowers transform St. Peter’s Square into a colorful display watched by millions around the world during the Easter celebrations and the Pope’s Urbi et Orbi blessing. Over the years, the floral decorations have become a showcase not only of Dutch craftsmanship, but also of the strength and innovation of the Dutch floriculture sector.
A Dutch Tribute
The tulip tree was chosen carefully. Although the species originally comes from North America, its tulip-shaped flowers make it a fitting tribute to the Netherlands and its internationally known bulb and ornamental plant sector. According to those involved, the tree symbolises continuity: something living that will continue to grow long after this year’s Easter flowers have faded.
For the Dutch horticultural sector, the moment highlighted the special role flowers and plants can play in international relations. A tree may seem like a small gesture, but in the Vatican Gardens it now stands as a lasting reminder of four decades of Dutch involvement, craftmanship and cooperation.