Corso Zundert - Dutch

I am Corso Zundert, and my story is one of flowers, artistry, and community spirit. People know me as the largest flower parade in the world. Every year, on the very first Sunday of September, I come to life in the streets of Zundert, a town in the Netherlands. My most remarkable feature is my collection of gigantic floats, incredible moving sculptures that are famous for one specific reason: they are covered from top to bottom, in every single detail, with millions of dahlia flowers. The sight of these floral giants moving through the town is a spectacle that draws people from all over to witness the vibrant colors and creative designs that my community brings into being each year.

My history began with a much simpler purpose. The first time people gathered to observe me was in 1936, when the residents of Zundert decided to create a special celebration for the birthday of their monarch, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. Those early parades were modest and humble compared to what I have become. Instead of enormous, complex structures, the first processions featured locals showing their community pride with decorated bicycles. Farmers joined in, bringing small carts they had adorned with flowers and ribbons. It was a heartfelt, local affair, a way for the entire community to join together, share a creative endeavor, and pay tribute to their queen. This foundation of community collaboration has remained my core principle ever since.

At the very heart of my existence are the twenty distinct neighborhoods of Zundert, known as 'buurtschappen.' These groups are the lifeblood of my parade. Each year, they engage in a friendly but intense rivalry, with each buurtschap aiming to design and construct the most stunning and imaginative float. This competition drives the innovation and artistic excellence that I am known for. The work is done entirely by volunteers, with skills and passion passed down through families. Children grow up watching their parents and grandparents build me, learning the techniques of welding, sculpting, and flower-setting. Generation after generation, these families dedicate their time and talent, ensuring that the unique traditions required to create me are not only preserved but also strengthened with each passing year.

Over the decades, I have undergone a dramatic transformation. Those simple, decorated carts from my early years have evolved into something truly monumental. My floats are now colossal, moving sculptures that challenge the imagination. To create these complex forms, the builders start with skeletons of welded steel and wood. They then painstakingly shape every curve and contour using papier-mâché, creating everything from giant animals and mythical creatures to abstract artistic concepts. Some of these finished structures are as tall as multi-story buildings and as long as large trucks. The level of design, engineering, and artistic detail has become so sophisticated that my floats are no longer seen as simple parade decorations. They are widely recognized as major works of temporary art, celebrated for their beauty and ingenuity.

Bringing me to life is a process that requires a full year of dedicated effort from thousands of volunteers. The cycle begins in the autumn, not long after one parade ends, as designers from each buurtschap start sketching new concepts and building models. Throughout the cold winter and into the spring, the construction teams gather in large, specially built tents. Inside, they spend countless hours welding the massive metal frames and sculpting the intricate forms that will become the base of the floats. While the builders are busy with steel and papier-mâché, another essential task is underway. The hamlets are also responsible for cultivating their own vast fields of dahlias, carefully growing and tending to the millions of flowers that will be needed to bring their artistic visions to life in vibrant color.

The final three days leading up to the parade are a period of intense, around-the-clock activity known as 'Corso fever.' During this time, the entire community mobilizes as thousands of volunteers work day and night. Their single focus is to attach every single dahlia to the floats by hand, carefully placing each flower to create the perfect color and texture. Finally, on that first Sunday of September, my finished floats make their grand debut. They roll majestically through the streets of Zundert, accompanied by the energetic sounds of marching bands, before tens of thousands of cheering spectators. My unique status as a tradition built on community heritage received global recognition in 2021, when UNESCO officially added me to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, honoring the shared skill and dedication that define my story.