This month, the Dutch city of Almere hosts the Floriade – the flower show held once a decade in the Netherlands. With over two million visitors expected, it is one of the largest and most stimulating horticultural exhibitions in the world.

“Growing Green Cities” is the theme of the event and some 160 acres have been given over to 400 global exhibitors, including leading garden designers and horticulturists, who are dazzled by displays of plants, vegetables, fruits and products. However, the flowers are only part of the show; many exhibitors will also showcase their latest green innovations, from state-of-the-art solar tiles to elaborate, space-saving vertical gardens.

There’s plenty for travelers to do at the event, which is held just east of Amsterdam, including national pavilions from exhibitors such as Italy, Greece and India; a ride on the site by cable car; a visit to a “little house” built from more than 7,000 tonnes of recycled plastic waste; or a walk through the incredible biodiversity of the arboretum, showcasing plants we could use as both a sustainable food source and a way to green our cities. Green-fingered foodies can even sample a range of plant-based dishes.

Sowing the seeds for a greener future, the festival’s legacy will last long after its six months in the form of Hortus, the urban neighborhood of the exhibition where green streets lined with eco-friendly houses have already been built – the foundations of a green residential area of ​​660 housing units. The Floriade takes place from April 14 to October 9.