Our story
A flower touches you, moves you, has something magical about it. In any case, a flower, a plant, a tree has that effect on us. At home. At work. In a public space. In all our arrangements, from one flower in one vase to the decoration of the entire reception area of a Grand Hotel or museum, the tables of a state banquet, or in your home.
For the past 55 years, we want it to touch someone, to move him or her. We are modern-day wood runners. Every flower, vase or other product has therefore acquired its place in the shop or arrangement because of the story behind it, because of the quality, the purity, because of the beauty.
“The power of bringing it back to the essence of nature, even to that one flower”
- Jan Dippell Ritzinger
Proven craftmanship
It sounds obsolete, but we want to make this statement anyway: there is a solid thought and meaning behind everything we do. We know our classics, we have respect for proven craftsmanship. We translate and incorporate 4000 years of floral craftsmanship into today’s creations. In a way that fits our era. What we make today is part of a tradition. Connects it with the past, with our fascination for today and for the future. And we take great pride and care in transmitting this to the next generation of talented florists in our team.
Culture
Noble ladies in the 19th used to employ someone who would travel remote places to come back with the most unique, precious and unknown varieties of plants of flowers. The assignment was to come back with a very special native plant or flower. It was then cherished and exhibited in the noble ladies’ orangery. Her friends were invited for a festive high tea to admire the new acquisition and to listen breathlessly to the travel story.
At Ivy we also went out into the world to the Amazon region, to Ethiopia. Indonesia. Japan. Got acquainted with the most beautiful flowers, plants and overwhelming nature. Acquainted with specific cultural translations of true enjoyment. Which we absorbed. Learned to understand. Learning to understand. And each time we brought them all home. For all these decades. Like in the old days. To Flowershop Ivy.
Curator
it has to all come together
To create something of value, you have to delve into it. Know the answer to every "why question" you have. Looking at it from all sides. Getting under the skin of time. Of the customer. Of a product. Of a brand. Come to grips with the deeper sense of it. How do you fill a space in such a way that it continues to show its architectural richness? How do you make sure the attention is drawn to where it should?
Making the exact right statement with flowers. In a way that pleases the eye. At a glance. Taking things further. That's our job. In your home. In a public space. For late Prince Bernhard. And every other customer that steps into Flowershop Ivy.
That's how we practice it. We are curators. We have a great eye for natural products that complement what we have in store. We always go that extra mile. That’s how you achieve the wow effect. That’s how you offer an experience. Then it's quirky. That is our signature.
Heritage
We know our classics
Flowerhop Ivy in Amsterdam, feels like such a natural appearance in that place, in that beautiful shop. And that's for a reason, because this special florist has been housing here since 1898. Nothing old-fashioned about it, but you feel the history, the craftsmanship and the intense experience of flowers.
It started at the end of the nineteenth century with two young Dutchmen who learned the craft of florist in London. At that time the place to be when it came to florists. And when they came back, they started a shop in Amsterdam. That's right, Flowershop Ivy.
In 1972 the current owner Jan Dippell Ritzinger took over the business. And naturally it remained and continued to build a fantastic reputation, best in the class. Every single time. Every single day. In the past and current century.
