His Serene Highness Prince Bhisatej Rajani, Chairman of the Royal Project Foundation, ladies and gentlemen
My name is Irene Koedijk. I am here to represent my husband Klaas Koedijk and his company Firm P. Koedijk & Sons
First off all I would like to thank Chairman of the Royal Project Foundation His Serene Highness Prince Bhisatej Rajani and Director of Highland Research and Development Institute Dr. Siripong Hungspreug for giving me this opportunity to talk about Tulip King Bhumibol.
Firm P. Koedijk & Sons is small company in Holland which grew tulips for export. Some twenty years ago we focused on finding new tulips and selection their best properties.
In the early years, of that we still saw as our passionate hobby, we were proud to announce the finding of our first new tulips.
By the K.A.V.B. (Royal General Bulbgrowers' Assosiation) we were granted permission to give them names like Himalaya, Bastogne, Content and Pays-Bas.
It was when we found an orange tulip that we contacted His Royal Highness Prince Claus, husband of our beloved Queen Beatrix.
In 1996 we were highly honoured by His visit and during an official ceremony he gave His name to this national coloured tulip.
About ten years ago we were happily surprised with the finding of a beautiful yellow tulip. Like the tulip "Prins Claus" its origins can be traced to tulip "Judith Leyster" and being a natural variation, it also shares its strong characteristics.
Our eldest son Doe Koedijk married a beautiful teacher Wanwisa Chuasuwan from Phetchabun. They are very proud to live in Thailand and they both respectfully love its King.
It was this love and their love for flowers that brought them to the 80th Birthday Celebration of His Majesty King Bhumibol at the Royal Flora Expo in Chiang Mai and it was here that their thoughts took
shape. Thoughts about a tulip named after Thailands beloved King, about growing this tulip in Thailand and giving all Thai people the opportunity to see it here at the Royal Park Rajapruek.
For these reasons our company Firm P. Koedijk & Sons respectfully requested His Majesty King Bhumibol for permission to give His Name to the beautiful lemon-yellow tulip.
In 2009 we received an invitation to visit the Royal Thai Embassy in the Hague, in Holland. During that visit we were proudly surprised by the Ambassador Mrs. Hiranprueck informing us that His Majesty granted His permission to name the tulip after Him.
We celebrate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 85th Birthday Anniversary, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 80th Birthday Anniversary and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's 60th Birthday. We are very honoured that Tulip King Bhumibol may flower here during this exposition at Royal Park Rajapruek and we would like to thank everyone who helped make this happen.
We wish His Majesty the King the best of health and hope that His tulip will continue to remind us of his greatness.
Thank you