Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum is organizing a Cactus Festival on 26 and 27 March in the beautiful botanical garden on the edge of Rotterdam city centre. The theme of the entire weekend is 'succulents', the collective name for cacti and related plants such as carnivorous plants.
Various cactus workshops, tours and lectures will be held in and around the desert greenhouse and there will be an exhibition of Trompenburg's unique 'Living Stones' collection. There will also be a mini market where growers will sell their succulents and other fun items, and you can eat at a Mexican food truck, entirely in keeping with the theme.
P.S: do you have your own cactus or other succulent that is not doing well? Dr. Cactus will be available all weekend!
Festival for cactus lovers
Who is not a fan these days? Cacti and succulents can be found in every household. Besides the fact that they look perfect in bohemian, retro or industrial interiors, they can also be kept alive by (almost) anyone without a green thumb. During the Cactus Festival, these succulents will take centre stage, where visitors can learn more about taking care of their precious plants. Various workshops, guided tours, lectures and an exhibition will be held. In addition, visitors can stroll around the mini market where growers sell their special cacti, succulents and even carnivorous plants. They can also buy flower pots and other fun (gift) items at the market.
Trompenburg Rotterdam to host Cactus FestivalMinimarket Line-up
There are various stands at the mini market, including the Dutch Succulenta Association, which has been the association for lovers of cacti and other succulents since 1919. SYBotanicA will also have its own stand, where you will find special earth and components such as moss, perlite, bark and gravel, terrariums as well as plants. Sjaan Storsbergen and Wouter Noordeloos will also be present to offer their special collection of succulents, cacti and carnivorous plants. To make the South-American feeling complete, the Mexican 'Esa's Nacho's' food truck will serve delicious nachos, burritos and corn soup.
Workshops & Tours
During the Cactus Festival there are various activities to take part in. There will be a lecture on keeping and caring for (hardy) succulents in your garden, and there is an exhibition of Trompenburg's unique 'Living Stones' collection. During the workshop 'Cactus pulling' participants learn, under the guidance of expert 'cactus men', how to take cuttings themselves. From Trompenburg they receive a cactus, which they can take home afterwards. During the workshop, Trompenburg's cactus men will share their tips and tricks on the right way to water and which ornamental pots are suitable or not, etc.
In addition, there will be guided tours, during which the 'cactus men' will take participants through Trompenburg's greenhouse. They will guide visitors along the various continents that form the mother countries of the many succulents. You will travel to South America and South Africa, among others, and discover special varieties such as the 'Princess of the night' and the living stones. Perhaps they will tell the story of the cactus that survived the war or show you the over 100-year-old agave.
Trompenburg Rotterdam to host Cactus FestivalAbout Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum
Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum is a beautiful botanical garden with a large collection of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and tubers. The garden covers 8 hectares and is located in the Kralingen district of Rotterdam, on the edge of the city centre. The garden is open to visitors in every season. The first construction took place about 200 years ago. Trompenburg is of great value in terms of biodiversity and natural history. Since a few years it is also a registered museum, a Rotterdam Monument and thus the green museum of Rotterdam.
