Funeral Flowers

More and more, funerals are seen as a celebration of life—a tribute and a dignified, yet above all, personal farewell. During the Open Day for Funeral Flowers, visitors could learn about the many possibilities regarding funeral arrangements. Leonie Koffeman presented her creations, made with flowers from Heemskerk Flowers.

Leonie has been working in the floral industry for 23 years. At the age of 14, she started as an apprentice in a flower shop, where her passion for the craft began. After gaining years of experience in various flower shops and even working at the flower market in Amsterdam, she decided six years ago to start her own business: Bloem & Bijzaak. What started as a home studio grew into a fully-fledged flower shop in December 2022.

Leonie specializes in various funeral arrangements, often with a wild and natural character. The type of arrangement is determined based on the customer's wishes. Some popular forms include:

- Round, oval, or heart-shaped arrangements
- Large coffin covers: a field-like floral piece with various flowers
- Loose flowers: individually placed on the coffin or arranged in a vase, creating a sea of flowers
- Bouquet-style flowers in bright colors: a modern and more cheerful approach

The style of funeral flowers is evolving. Where they used to be classical and formal, there is now more room for playful and less traditional designs. One unique innovation is the flower band, a fabric band with up to 170 loops in which mourners can place individual flowers. This band is made of unbleached cotton, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly choice.

Another distinctive way to say goodbye is the farewell boat: a flower-adorned boat sent into nature via water. This method uses biodegradable materials like bio-oasis.

Funeral wreaths remain popular but are now sometimes displayed in a half-moon shape. A pearl hanging from a string in the middle of the wreath adds an extra symbolic meaning.

Leonie creates funeral arrangements weekly and often visits the bereaved to design a fitting floral tribute together. She asks about personal memories and preferences, such as:

- Which flowers were always on the table?
- What was the deceased’s favorite color?
- Are there hobbies or other characteristics that could be incorporated?

An example of a unique funeral piece is an arrangement featuring a vinyl record, designed in honor of a music lover.

Leonie recommends not discarding flowers after the funeral but finding a meaningful way to repurpose them. One option is creating comfort bouquets, given to loved ones as a lasting source of support.

Additionally, specialists can preserve flowers in epoxy, allowing them to be kept as a tangible memory.