Today (the 27th) is the Netherlands' National Day, “King's Day” and to respond to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Netherlands Trade and Investment Office (NTIO) has cancelled this year's celebration. Instead, with tulips, Netherlands' national flower, specially flown in from the Netherlands, the Deputy Head of the NTIO, Ms. Lisette Hurkmans-Berkers, expresses Netherland's gratitude to the frontline medical staff in Taichung. Deputy Mayor Bruce Linghu, on behalf of Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen also presents Taichung's famous produce, the Dancing-Doll Orchid and Moth Orchid, to the Netherlands for the efforts of both sides to contain the pandemic.
Today, the NATIO sends the gift of 800 orange tulips and eight boxes of Stroopwafels to medical workers in eight response and advanced isolation medical institutions in Taichung City. Lin Shao-wen, Vice Superintendent of the Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Wang Rui-Chang, Director of Guang Tien General Hospital and several representatives of medical practitioners are at the site to receive the gifts in warm atmosphere.
According to Deputy Mayor Linghu, facing the COVID-19 pandemic, Taichung City Government under the leadership of Mayor Lu, various inter-departmental “early preventive” measures have been implemented and we would like to thank the medical workers who safeguard the public health. He also said, the Netherlands is an important economic and trading partner of Taichung. Mayor Lu last September visited Utrecht and Almere and signed MOUs. The NATIO also set up the Netherlands Pavilion in the 2018 Taichung Flora Expo. Taichung plans to take part in the 2022 Garden Expo to be held in the Netherlands.
Deputy Head of the NTIO, Ms. Lisette Hurkmans-Berkers, said that she would like to thank the Taiwanese government's help during these difficult times by donating face masks to the frontline medical workers in the Netherlands. Taichung and the Netherlands have a special “flower friendship.” Flower bulbs from the Netherlands were seen at the 2018 Taichung Flora that was just concluded last year or the annual Lily Smile Taiwan Festival held in Houli. Thus, the Dutch national flower, tulips, is presented as a token of appreciation.
Deputy Head of the NTIO, Ms. Lisette Hurkmans-Berkers, pointed out that now Taiwan is getting hotter and not suitable for the growth of tulips. Therefore, tulips were flown in from the Netherlands. With Stroopwafels, the NTIO would like to present them as a gift to medical workers that are now taking care of those patients under critical conditions in the hospitals. They especially selected Oranje tulips, the Dutch royal color and the color for King's Day, symbolizing passion, courage and hope to cheer for both Taiwan and the Netherlands.
Dr. Lin, Lin Shao-wen, Vice Superintendent of Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, said orange tulips symbolize passion, courage and hope. Medical workers have been working very hard to contain the pandemic and they need to continue working with courage and persistence and they need the public support and encouragement. Dr. Lin is very happy to receive the gift from the NTIO and she will immediately tell all her clinic staff, “We now are more courageous and will work with more persistence after receiving the gift!”
Furthermore, “Delft Blue” is especially presented by the NTIO to the Taichung City Government. Delft Blue was inspired by Chinese blue-and-white porcelain porcelain and probably, that craft was introduced to the Netherlands by Taiwan. This gift symbolizes the firm and perpetual flower friendship between Taichung and the Netherland.
Today's tulip gift ceremony is attended by Secretary General of Secretariat, Yen Nai-lun, Deputy Director General of Health Bureau, Chang Rui-Lin, Deputy Director General of Civil Affairs Bureau, Lu Cheng-Yuan, and Special Commissioner of Agriculture Bureau, Chen Po-Hung.