Ambassador Hanneke Frankema is a true influencer in the floral world. She is invited all over the globe to host workshops, compete in contests, and demonstrate her unique techniques. Preparing for the World Cup Floral Art in The Hague, she shared her creative journey, deep love for nature, and the inspiration behind her work.
From an early age, around five or six, Hanneke could be found in the garden with her parents: planting seeds, growing flowers. Her love for nature was already deeply rooted. Later, she got the chance to attend a preparatory course.
She HAD to pursue this passion.
After completing her vocational training as a florist, Hanneke started working in a flower shop. Soon, she discovered the world of freelancing and competitions. Through hard work and talent, she grew into an international floral artist.
Hanneke’s inspiration is rooted in nature, drawn from everything around her. She adores Art Nouveau, with its rounded lines and organic shapes. When working with growers, the product itself often becomes her inspiration starting point, orchids being one of her favorites. Her creation seamlessly combine her love for nature with non-living materials such as (aluminum) wire, which she uses to build reusable constructions.
This philosophy perfectly aligns with her motto: reuse to reduce.
For Hanneke, flowers are far more than decorations: they carry emotion. “Flowers are emotion”, she explains. ''They’re there for births, birthdays, weddings, and even funerals. Flowers are part of the most beautiful and challenging moments of life.”
This perfectly matches Hanneke’s goal: to create as much beauty as possible. She designs floral works that touch people, straight from her imagination.
The floral industry comes with its challenges, particularly in international competitions. These contests impose restrictions, such as time limits and specific themes.
Hanneke explains: “If I had all the time in the world and could do whatever I wanted, the possibilities would be endless. But competitions come with specific themes, dimensions, and time constraints. It limits your creativity, but that’s also part of the challenge.”
Another obstacle is logistics, especially for competitions and workshops abroad. How do you ensure that all flowers arrive fresh and undamaged at their destination? Hanneke could probably write a book about it, and we’d love to read it!
Despite these challenges, Hanneke wouldn’t trade her work for anything. She receives incredible support from companies, giving her access to the finest materials. In return, she credits these companies in her photos, like a true influencer would.
A few years ago, the idea of being an influencer would have made Hanneke laugh. But now, she sees her impact everywhere: in the floral industry, among colleagues, in schools, and even as a competition judge.
Would you like to follow in Hanneke’s footsteps and compete? Hanneke shares her advice: “You can’t win every time, and that’s okay. If you don’t win the first time, don’t give up. Everything you learn during a competition goes into your ‘toolbox,’ and one day, you’ll draw from that knowledge. Your moment will come. You often learn the most from competitions you don’t win.”
