The Flower love of Patrick Smal: 'Proud that I can make people happy with a traditional Dutch product'

For Patrick Smal, owner of Smal Bloembollen in Oudendijk, North Holland, a tulip is more beautiful than a rose. Together with seven other tulip growers, he spreads his tulips (and his love for them) around the world under the name PolderPride. ‘The fact that we can make people happy with such a traditional Dutch product makes me incredibly proud.’

View all the stories from growers about their love of flowers

"For me, tulips are symbolic of home. I have lived next to our business my entire life. As a child, I played in the barn, among the crates of tulip bulbs. I also helped out in the greenhouses and on the land. As a teenager, I tried a technical education, but it wasn't for me. So I ended up working in the farm. In 2024, my cousin and I took over the business from my father and uncles, which they had taken over from my grandfather."

Clay soil with power

"Here in West Friesland, we have clay soil, which is perfect for cut flowers. The soil is rich in minerals, which is reflected in the colours of our flowers. Our tulips really shine. That's quite a difference from the standard bunch of tulips you find in the supermarket. We force heavy-quality tulips, mainly for wholesalers."

"For me, the tulip is definitely not your average flower. You can do anything with it. We grow 25 different varieties. More and more people are giving bouquets of red or pink tulips as gifts on Valentine's Day. If you have good, heavy tulips, you really have a bouquet with a nice volume and a beautiful appearance. That brings love and warmth into the home."

Personal favourite

"Personally, I think tulips are more beautiful than roses. My absolute favourite is the Queensland tulip. It's a beautiful pink peony tulip with fringed flowers. Short, sturdy and richly filled. If you didn't know, you wouldn't immediately think it was a tulip."

Moving with nature

"Do you know what I still find remarkable? That such a beautiful tulip can grow from a bulb. I know exactly how it works, but I'm still amazed every time. What I also enjoy is the intangible fact that a tulip is slightly different every year. Because we grow the bulbs outdoors, we are dependent on the weather. That means you always have to anticipate the weather conditions. That makes it challenging for me as a grower. You have to be flexible and move with nature."

"The beauty of growing tulips is that we have two processes: from tulip to tulip bulb and from bulb to bunch of tulips. Without growing the bulbs, there would be no flowers. This process determines the quality and health of the tulips. We also make tulip flowers. These bulbs come from the outdoor harvest (cultivation) and, after a few months of rest, they have enough energy to produce a new flower. Every few months, we do something different. Sometimes outdoors, sometimes in the greenhouse."

Proud of a traditional Dutch product

"I still think it's wonderful that we are able to produce a traditional Dutch product that has been around for a very long time. We are trying to do this in an increasingly better and more sustainable way. Our flowers still make many people around the world happy. When I think about how genuinely happy people are when they see our tulips, it makes me really proud."