
Jan Aartsen
Freelance Flower Design

As an eleven-year old, Jan began to work for a flower business in Zutphen making up customers' orders after school. Within a fortnight, he had been bitten by the flower bug; the beautiful art of flower arranging make a powerful impression on him.
At the age of 19 he launched his own business, the ‘Bloembinderij Jan Aartsen’ in Zutphen (1971-1996). During this period he was twice the Netherlands' Flower Arranging Champion (1977 and 1979).
His shop was a florist with a special atmosphere and its philosophy was one of selling natural, seasonal flowers and plants.
Nature always was and still is the source of his inspiration. His work showcases a combination of greenery, stone, wood and other organic materials with flowers.
Unusually for the time, he sold flowers individually, rather than by the bunch.
Bloembinderij Jan Aartsen was a concept of its time and excelled in all types of floral decoration. During this period, Jan Aartsen and his team made more than 4,000 bridal arrangements.
He closed the business in 1996, and since then has worked under the name Organic Move as a freelance flower arranger. He now works for plant and flower exporters, growers, the Flower Council of Holland and other sectoral organisations, generally abroad, and gives demonstrations, shows, workshops, and seminars. He also advises on exhibitions, exceptional decorations and flower shops. In 2007 he opened his own studio for organic items at his home in Vorden.
"I give demonstrations, shows, workshops, and seminars. Also giving advise on exhibitions, exceptional decorations and flower shops".
Experience
A few special highlights of his career since 1971:
Owner of Bloembinderij Jan Aartsen, 1971-1996, Zutphen
Dutch Flower Arranging Champion, 1977 and 1979
7th in Interflora World Cup Flower Arranging 1977, Nice, France
Participant in the NCRV "Golden Tulip" International Flower Gala TV broadcast
6th in Interflora World Cup Flower Arranging 1980 Melbourne – Australia
Winner of ‘Adventsgesmuck’ 1988, Wesel, Germany
Head arranger at the horticultural fair ‘Floriant’, 1983-1995, Bemmel
Co-owner of the Hoefblad Institute for courses in flower arranging (1992-1996 Zutphen).
Since 1997: freelance flower arranger under the name Organic Move
Finalist in the bridal bouquet competition "Emarald roos" 1998, Aalsmeer, the Netherlands
Winner of the 1988 Fleurcup, Alden Biesen, Belgium
President of the Interflora World Cup Technical Commission, Floriade 2002, the Netherlands
Head arranger for the Dutch entry to Flowers 2002 Moscow - Russia
Jury member for the Dutch flower arranging championship, Floriade 2002, the Netherlands
Jury member for the 2003 Russian flower arranging championship, Moscow, Russia
Head arranger for the Dutch pavilion at HortiFlora 2004, Warsaw, Poland
3rd prize float in the 2008 flower parade, Lisse – the Netherlands
Designer Info
Street | Vordenseweg 82 |
Zipcode | 7255LE |
City | Hengelo (gld) |
Country | Netherlands |
Website | www.janaartsen.nl |
Phonenumbers | |
Mobile | +31 625486869 |
Titles
Florist
Expertise
- Demonstrations
- Workshops and classes
- Seminars
- Shop fitting advice, design and implementation
- Photo reports
- Design and construction of floral objects
- Design and construction of stands
- Advice and support for competition entrants
- Advice and support for candidates for the floristry expert award "Proeve van Meesterschap"
- Development of the "Simple Flower" shop concept
- Product presentation.
Spoken Languages
Awards
Education
After elementary school, he attended the agriculture and horticulture high school in Twello, the vocational floristry school in Utrecht and higher training in Vught.