Alexander Posthuma

A.P Bloem

Flower designer

©A.P Bloem

Flowers of fantasy

Alexander's signature is Dutch field style
He draws inspirations from 17th century painters
All his creations are personalised and tell the client’s story

His first creations were the floral necklaces he used to make for his grandmother. Since then, Alexander Posthuma has come a long way. He studied in an agricultural school from the age of 13, he went to Australia and Saudi Arabia to gain international knowledge then trained as a florist in Amsterdam. “Both in street-side kiosks, where I learned to work quickly and efficiently, and in the shops of some of the city’s leading florists, who taught me how to transform a person’s wishes into shape and colour.” In 2012, he launched his brand A.P Bloem, opening a shop in town and a greenhouse in Aalsmeer. Nowadays, he’s a well-known master of the so-called Dutch field style, the Amsterdam unique style of floral arrangement inspired by the painters of the 17th century.

Interview

©A.P Bloem

©A.P Bloem

What’s the connection between your arrangements and the Dutch masters?: The use of colour, suspense and mood. Floral still lifes from the Golden Age contained flowers that could not exist together at the same time: now we have access to exclusive varieties from across the globe to turn botanical impossibilities into modern inspirations.
What’s the role of the client in your creative process?: It’s central. No matter if we create a simple bouquet or a large installation for a wedding, our goal is always to provide our customers with an unforgettable experience. We listen to their stories and the feelings they want to deliver and turn them into unique arrangements.
Can you tell us a memorable moment in your professional life?: In Saudi, I worked on events for the Royals. There I learned how to transform entire spaces into fantasy worlds and push design to its limits. These experiences helped me grow as a person and gave me an understanding of the depths where floristry can take you.
Do you work as a team?: Absolutely! Our team is an international collective of creative thinkers. Each person brings their own experience of working in world class florists, designers and the arts. Melissa, my business partner, has spent 20 years working with creatives in photography, design and advertising. Other staff range in nationalities from Dutch, French, Australian, English and South African.

Alexander Posthuma is an expert artisan he began his career in 2002