What an amazing sports summer we’ve had! During the Orchid Inspiration Days, we kicked off the sporting weeks with a golden podium full of winners. Back then, we hoped to enjoy some exciting sports with the European Championship, Tour de France, and the Olympics. Now we know that it has been more than we could have wished for—what a fantastic few weeks filled with incredible performances and the accompanying emotions.
We were deeply engaged and enjoyed all the beautiful sports moments, like during the BBQ surrounding the match between the Netherlands and Poland, and the football pool for colleagues and customers. The icing on the cake was last Monday when the Tour de France Femmes passed through our beautiful Westland. In collaboration with the Flower Council and 40 growers, we created a beautiful mosaic of about 100,000 flowers and plants as a calling card for the viewers. The iconic image of the Glazen Stad (Glass City) was broadcast worldwide, with the glass greenhouses the women cycled past and the mosaic honoring the heroines and their sporting achievements being wonderfully showcased.
With the loud honking of beautifully decorated 2CVs from Eendentourswestland in the publicity caravan, the Femmes were announced. We were allowed to decorate the Green ‘Duck’ with yellow Phalaenopsis inside the car, green plants on the roof, and our recognizable G in the color of the Tour. Together with our colleagues and family, we had a great view of the sprint. ‘Our’ Groeneweg was a point-scoring location. It was so special to feel the energy of the cyclists, with Marianne Vos taking the most points at the finish line.
By hosting the Tour, Westland once again proved that it’s not just the ‘Glass City,’ but also the ‘Vibrant City,’ a center of creativity, innovation, and connection. The region where so many enthusiastic, enterprising people come together to flourish and grow. It’s enough to bring tears to the eyes of not only the fantastically performing Demi Vollering but also to ours!
The women finished their race on Monday in The Hague, where on Tuesday morning we drove the 2CV to hand out the plants from the ‘Duck.’ After the Olympic Athletes’ ceremony and handing a plant to Femke Bol, the plants were distributed in Scheveningen to elderly people who could really use them. This week, we hope to cheer on the cyclists even more and look back on these wonderful days with a golden glow!