A breathtaking sea of 65,000 tulips of over 30 varieties brought a burst of spring magic to Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay during its Tulipmania Festival in May. This beloved annual floral showcase celebrates Dutch culture, transforming the cooled conservatory into a colourful wonderland of thousands of blooms and artistic displays – creating a gleeful delight for Instagrammers.
A larger-than-life version of Tulipiere, a distinctive multi-spouted vase unique to the Netherlands welcomes visitors at the entrance of Flower Dome. Historically used to display individual tulips rather than massed arrangements, the tulipiere reflects the extraordinary esteem for the flower during the height of the tulip trade.
The Netherlands also presented a new tulip variety, Tulipa ‘Kaki’ to the people of Singapore. The name was chosen to symbolise friendship between the two nations as “kaki” means close friend in a Singapore context. The flower is white with a delicate pink hue along the petals’ fringe, chosen for its colours to symbolise harmony, clarity, and friendship.
The tulips were also complemented by a variety of spring blooms, including fritillaria, hyacinths, and narcissus.
Dutch art and culture in bloom
Van Gogh’s iconic The Starry Night was brought to life with flowers. Beyond The Starry Night, Van Gogh’s ‘Vase with Irises’ as well as ‘Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase’ were also recreated with fritillaries and irises – a fitting tribute to an artist who drew profound inspiration from nature. I was a bit disappointed that Van Gogh’s Sunflowers were not recreated but perhaps next year.
The geometric vision of Mondrian’s masterpiece, Composition with Red, Blue and Yellow, bloomed in a vivid tapestry of tulips and hyacinths, against a mirror as its backdrop – creating an amazing Wow factor.
Visitors were also treated to a recreation of Amsterdam’s renowned museum Rijksmuseum which housed reproductions of celebrated works including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Other Dutch elements featured included a windmill and wooden clogs.
