The Dutch love their tulips, and the Dutch traditions in Orange City include the celebrated bloom as an important component in the community. Springtime welcomes the vibrant flowers as the blooms show off their color in late-April to mid-May heralding the advent of spring.
The Dutch Heritage Boosters (DHB), a non-profit group in Orange City, promoting the community’s heritage and Dutch traditions, is excited to announce a new variety of tulip brought exclusively to Orange City. The Oranjestad DHB tulip is a never-before-seen breed introduced exclusively to the United States and Orange City. It is named in honor of Orange City, and reflects the community’s love of tulips and Dutch traditions.
In conjunction with De Vroomen Garden Products of the Netherlands, and under the auspices of the Consulate General of The Kingdom of The Netherlands, the bulb will available to preorder this spring through Tulip Town Bulb Company, Orange City, for fall planting.
The Oranjestad DHB is a Darwin hybrid and later-blooming tulip with generous blossoms opening in soft apricot tones and maturing into a blend of orange and yellow hues. The sturdy stems grow to a height of 22 inches.
The DHB learned about bringing an exclusive tulip to Orange City when Bart Twaalfhoven, the Consul General of The Kingdom of The Netherlands visited Orange City last summer. Upon touring Windmill Park, he suggested the idea of a signature tulip and connected the group to a bulb grower in The Netherlands. Members of the group worked with representatives of De Vroomen Garden Products on the project throughout the winter.
“We are honored to be part of this historic opportunity to bring a never-before-seen tulip to our community and honor our town’s early citizens who invested in the planting of bulbs even when the community was brand new,” said Randy Van Peursem, vice president of the DHB and lead on the tulip project.
The DHB plan to plant the exclusive bulb throughout the community in Fall 2024 to bloom in time for Tulip Festival 2025. “When the blooms burst forth next spring, we intend to continue celebrating Orange City through the DHB’s own tulip,” said Van Peursem.
“We are working with Orange City’s park system to plant in community parks, and on the DHB properties, as well as our tulip garden, so there will be multiple ways for people to enjoy the beauty of this remarkable tulip,” said Keri Drescher, owner of Tulip Town Bulb Company which will distribute the bulb for the DHB.
Those wishing more information about the Oranjestad DHB tulip or the ability to order online should go to dutchheritageboosters.com or tuliptownbulbs.com.
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About the Dutch Heritage Boosters: The Dutch Heritage Boosters is a volunteer group organized in 1986 to promote and maintain the Dutch heritage early settlers of Orange City brought to the town. The group maintains the 1880s era Little White Store and The Century Home built in 1900. They also sponsor Sinterklaas Dag each December, as well as the Dutch Heritage Walk and the Parade of Flags during Tulip Festival. The volunteer group may be best known for the poffertjes they make and serve from The Little White Store each Tulip Festival and on other special occasions. For more information, visit their website at dutchheritageboosters.com.
