In 1992, Zoetermeer organised the international horticultural exhibition Floriade. The young, fast-growing municipality went all out: the Floriade showcased the latest in nature, culture and technology. The exhibition site made way for the Rokkeveen West area a year later. To this day, traces of the Floriade can be found in this part of Zoetermeer. Walking through the neighbourhood, we try to recall its history.
Many people still use the Nelson Mandela Bridge, not only pedestrians. Most cyclists do not have the patience to wait for the lift and take their bicycles on the escalators barely designed for this, leading to precarious situations within minutes.
Via the United Nations square, we walk past the Dunea building and the KPN complex between several ICT offices, where spaces have been left open for squares with wild plants. Here and there we see people walking, on a bench between the flower boxes someone is talking on the phone. In a pond along the Albert Schweitzersingel we discover ‘Arcadian Blind’, a triangular art object with photos and plants on a wooden platform. It was created by American artist Dennis Adams and purchased for Floriade by the municipality of Zoetermeer with the intention of floating here for years to come.
In the residential area of Rokkeveen it is, if possible, even quieter than between the offices. Cars are parked in front of most of the houses, but in no way do we detect any signs of life. Only after turning a few corners do we come across a lady walking her dog. Our greeting goes unanswered.
Plataanhout (Plane wood), Olmenhout (Elm wood), Okanhout (Okan wood), studying the Rokkeveen neighbourhood is like taking a crash course in wood species. The red, yellow, green and blue urban villas, are a welcome colourful break. From nowhere, a girl comes running out of a house. When she reaches the end of the street, she furiously pulls a young man’s hair. Finally some drama in Zoetermeer.
A staircase leads up along the sound barrier, to which the Balijbrug bicycle and pedestrian bridge leads. On top of the embankment is a large clearing where, between 1992 and 1993, Rob Scholte’s Colossus stood, the six-metre-high spinning white head that was set ablaze by vandalising art-haters before the plants at the open top had even had a chance to grow out. The Colossus was meant for eternity, the fact that this place is still empty after three decades is extremely saddening.
Coming down again, we opt for a walk through the dragonfly reserve. Crossing small bridges between blooming water lilies, we arrive at the Balijhoeve, a catering establishment / farm house built for the Floriade, where we again meet a few other people. Goats and children mingle harmoniously.
From here we enter a section more or less the same as in 1992. At the end of the embankment near ‘Kurkhout’ (Cork wood) are four slightly damaged polished granite slabs depicting sandblasted representations like the Floriade design. This is a work by American artist Matt Mullican that, like ‘Arcadian Blind’ and the Colossus, was destined to remain here. So is ‘Six Milesstones’ with poetic texts on the edge of the Flora Lake by Scottish poet, artist and shepherd Ian Hamilton Finlay.
A confrontational tide gauge indicates how far below sea level Zoetermeer is, and that without arts and crafts, everything here would be submerged many metres deep. We look out over the circular Floraplas with its island willows positioned towards ‘Victory-Love-Conquest’ by Paul Perry: three aluminium canoes and a finfish jawbone made of plastic that together form the word LOVE.
We pass the Follies created by Erik Knippers, playful structures referring to roses, one of which functions as a bridge. Knippers’ designs won a competition among young architects in 1989. As a reward, he was allowed to make these Follies for Floriade and, as a bonus, all three have also stood the test of time.
The ‘Reverie Place’, three rows of upright granite columns and a horizontal one at the edge of the Floriade Park also remained standing. Its maker is unknown. Finally, we traversed a rosary with a beautiful rose-inlaid mosaic bench on which we gave our weary legs some rest.
