[Asia Economy Reporter Su-yeon Woo] Marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Netherlands this year, the Dutch ambassador from the "Land of Tulips" visited Everland on the 5th.
On this day, Everland and the delegation from the Dutch Embassy toured the 'Tulip Garden' set up at Everland and created a fresh flower path called 'Infiorata' themed around Everland, the Netherlands, and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, together with visitors at the main gate Global Fair Plaza.
Han Seung-hwan, President of Samsung C&T Resort Division, and Joanna Donnerbart, the Dutch Ambassador to Korea, acted as one-day tulip ambassadors, presenting tulip pots to Everland visitors and promoting Dutch culture together.
In a video message to Everland visitors, Ambassador Donnerbart, who participated in the event, said, "I am grateful to Everland for introducing Dutch culture in a familiar way to the Korean people," and added, "We will work closely with Everland to further strengthen the bonds between our two peoples."
The relationship between Everland and the Netherlands dates back 29 years. Everland first introduced a tulip-themed flower festival in 1992 during its Natural Farm era, pioneering the concept domestically and popularizing it as Korea’s representative spring flower festival, attracting about 40 million visitors to date.
Everland chose tulips, which bloom relatively long and have vivid colors, to overcome the climatic disadvantage of lower temperatures causing spring flowers to bloom only around mid-April, and to address the lack of flower attractions for residents in the Seoul metropolitan area, as most famous flower spots are concentrated in the southern regions.
In 2008, Everland created a 4,500㎡ (about 1,500 pyeong) 'Holland Village' within the park, replicating the traditional Dutch architectural style of Alkmaar Street, operating it as a Dutch cultural experience space. Additionally, during the peak tulip bloom season, Everland has established the 'Netherlands Special Garden' and continuously engaged in various cultural exchange activities such as collaborating with the Dutch Embassy on naming contests for new tulip varieties.
This year, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Everland is conducting various events with the Dutch Embassy during the tulip season. To commemorate its 45th anniversary, Everland unveiled a new large LED screen measuring 24m wide and 11m high, showcasing about 10 famous Dutch paintings in motion video, created in collaboration with the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, bringing the artworks to life.
At every hour on the hour, a roughly 10-minute video of a tulip garden in the Netherlands is screened. The actual flower bed right in front is designed to make it appear as if the tulips in the video are bursting through the screen and continuing into reality, creating a fantastic 'LED Infinity Garden' where virtual and real worlds merge. Furthermore, a special photo zone has been set up at the windmill stage, allowing visitors to take photos as if they were traveling in the Netherlands, with an ongoing SNS certification shot event.
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