How are you generally known as?
Jacqueline.

Have you got other first names?
No, my parents thought one was more then sufficient.

Surname?
Boerma.

Your date of birth?
09-09-1964.

What is your e-mail address?

jacqueline@boerma.nl

In the classroom in the Boerma Instituut  in Tokyo

2005 Table Wreathes Course in Tokyo

Do you work free-lance or full-time at Boerma Instituut ?
Full-time.

What is your function and what do you do ?
This is a difficult question. I was a teacher first, then office manger. Lately, I have also become the teaching staff co-ordinator.  A rather vague work description. It is everything and anything. For example, I am responsible for compiling study notes and information,
setting them on paper in both English and Dutch.

At the Boerma Instituut, there have been a recent addition, our little shop where a whole selection of books on floristry ranging from condolence, Christmas to wedding  floral works, such as 'Arrangements' by Wim Hazelaar and 'Two Faces of Floral Design' from Gregor Lersch & Klaus Wagner,  both incredible books: as well as floristry materials such as wires, tapes, caoutchouc and Oasis can be bought.

I am the buyer and I get a real kick out of finding another great book, a pair of new design shears or the latest materials to add to the stock.

I also collect and make the photos and assemble the OHPs (overhead sheets) used in the theory and reference books of the school.

It is also my job to arrange and regulate the boarding arrangements of our overseas students. Once in a while I still teach, mainly to the Advanced and Master Courses.

Last but not least: I do the contacts with Boerma Instituut Japan.

Visiting Peter en Marjan Stokman in Aalsmeer

and La Fine Fleur in Amsterdam

2005 in the Royal Dutch Embassy in Tokyo
handing out diplomas

How long have you been involved in floristry?

 Since 1981. I started as the friday girl, helping behind the bar, the kitchen and helping in the classroom.

At that time I obtained my Florist & Business Diplomas. It was purely by accident that I landed up in the front of the class as a teacher. My father was delayed on a business trip in America, and it was too late to find a eplacement teacher. So I there I was, teaching in place of my father...

 But it all started way before that: when I was a toddler of 3, I was allowed to so-called 'make' arrangements in the florist shop of my father and grandfather in Heerlen. Just to  keep me occupied, I suppose.
These were then put on display and sold. Years later,
I found out it was my aunt who would take them home.

Now, my youngest son Axel is making arrangements from scraps he finds lying around at Boerma Instituut. He enjoys doing it just as I did.

Later, when my father was teaching at the State Agricultural College in Aalsmeer, I would accompany him to state examinations and competitions which he was judging, as well as to the construction of floral floats and exhibitions. I saw and learned a lot on the spot at these occasions.

When I was about fourteen, my father started conducting professional floristry courses in the evenings in a small wooden building in Uithoorn.
It was a one room affair, with a class-room and bar together.
I was sometimes allowed to help in the bar.

Unconsciously, I picked up a lot of know-how by just being in the room,
on reflection.

José, Nicolle en Jacqueline feeding the pigeons (a while back)

Axel creates
arrangements too

How did you land up  working full-time at the Boerma Instituut?

 I always wanted to work with tourists and holiday-makers. So I following a study in the tourist industry. But I found the course
too theoretical and boring.

The call of the Art of Floristry was just too inviting.
Working with flowers and people is an ideal combination for me. Especially when one has the chance to meet and know so many different nationalities.
So many different cultures, habits and traditions.
It is all so interesting and stimulating.

Have you had any other jobs before working at Boerma Instituut ?

I went directly from school to working at Boerma Instituut. Although, I have had in-between, worked in a few florist shops locally and overseas.

You are working in a Floristry Institution. How is your knowledge and skills

in the area ?

My practical training is one which I can say started very early in my life. I grew up with Floristry. I also have had a lot of lessons from and followed demonstrations of a lot of Dutch, European and  World Masters.  My father has been my biggest source of inspiration when it comes to my  Dutch Garden arrangements.

What is your personal favourite arrangement ?

 Garden styles, corsages, linear and free-style bridal bouquets, are always challenging. The chance is big, that when one of these subjects are being taught, I would be conducting the class. I enjoy undertaking projects such as exhibition and demonstration work, as well as floral floats.

What is you marital status?

I am living together with my friend Ton van Laarse.

Have you two got children ?

Yes, four between us.

Names and ages ?
Mick, born 29-08-1988

Mike, born 14-05-1990

Christine, born 12-05-1994

Axel, born 02-04-1995

Children’s hobbies ?

Mick is into computers (and his girlfriend Nathalie), Mike did Kendo in Amstelveen ( for more information on Kendo, (go to www.renshinjuku.nl )  but he is now a proper adolecent so he has a lot to think about, he too is into computers and likes to draw.

Christine loves scrapbooks and Axel is very active in tennis and loves craft. 

Have you got hobbies outside Boerma Instituut ?

Gardening, flower arranging, cooking, going for walks and photography.

Where is your favourite holiday destination ?

Greece, France and  Japan.

Japan is not exactly a holiday destination, it is a very interesting country
to see and experience.

In 1991-92, I spent 6 months in Japan teaching and giving demonstrations. Unfortunately I never ventured out of Tokyo. So I would still like to see the rest of the country. There are still a lot of countries I have  not visited and would love to go to.

What is your favourite food ?

Greek, Japanese and Korean.

It is always challenging to taste something different as long as it is
not still alive.

Once, Nicolle and  I were served living prawns which were squirming on our plates. That is something I definitely do not have a stomach for.

2004, I love making photo's in Japan

2005 Holiday in Germany