To make it more sustainable, the float of the province of Noord-Holland is experimenting with clamping slats made of mycelium. Or to put it less elegantly: the roots of mushrooms and fungi. “We hope it is a success so that the parade is made more sustainable every year,” said deputy Ilse Zaal.
For the second year in a row, the province is also participating with their float ‘North Holland connects Nature’. The car represents the Kennemer dunes, with the animals that live there. “We think it is very important that nature is provided, and the connections that animals can get from one place to another. Inspired by the ecoduct on the Zeeweg in Zandvoort,” Ilse Zaal explains.
“Fungus Foam”
The foam has been replaced by a circular variant: fungal foam. According to board member technology, Werner Reeuwijk, this is preceded by a complex process. “They are plates of mushroom spores in combination with hemp rope. They are grown in containers with high humidity, after about six days it is a plate. Then they are heated very strongly, so that the growth stops and the plates are ready.”
It was therefore also exciting to see whether the ‘mushroom foam’ would be there in time. “It still had to grow, so I got a call that they couldn’t be delivered yet.”
But everything fell into place. The carriage is partially covered with the plates. Does it also work well for the volunteers who put the flowers? Werner: “That is still the question! We will experience that these days.”
Increasing sustainability
The flower parade is also making itself more sustainable in other areas. Ilse Zaal: “During the light tour, our car only uses LED lighting, and a car is also running on battery.”
North Holland North has the largest bulb area in the world. “We are very proud of that. It is also important that the bulb sector becomes more sustainable, that the market for organic bulbs expands and that fewer crop protection agents are used.”
At least fifty volunteers from the Voorhout group work on the float from the tennis hall in Sassenheim for three days. Tonight the work must be largely ready for the first outing: the lights tour in Noordwijk on Friday evening.