Untold Hours: Holland

Untold Hours, we’re back once again.

This weekly blog has always been about the moments people don’t see. The time behind the scenes, the travel, the thinking, the conversations, and everything that goes into building something bigger than just what appears on social media.

And this week, I’m talking about heading over to Holland.

Later on this week, I’ll be travelling over, with The Hague as our base, as we film for another episode of our documentary. This is all part of a much bigger journey that links directly to the work we’ve been doing over in Japan.

Now, on the surface, that might sound a little random. Holland to Japan doesn’t immediately scream “connected.” But when you start to dig a little deeper, the story becomes something quite special.

Myself and my brother, who is a global art champion, have been working together on a project that is growing in a way we probably never fully expected. Together, we’re building something that brings together schools in Nagasaki, using art, nature, and creativity as a way to connect children with the world around them.

It’s a project rooted in storytelling, in imagination, and in giving young people a chance to express themselves through the natural world.

So where does Holland come into all of this?

Well, the project in Nagasaki is based around an area close to a theme park called Huis Ten Bosch. Now, this isn’t just any theme park. It’s a full-scale recreation of a Dutch town, inspired by the real Huis ten Bosch Palace and the surrounding areas of Holland.

In fact, much of the park was built using materials from the Netherlands itself. Bricks were shipped over from Holland to Japan, helping to create this incredibly detailed and authentic environment. Landmarks such as the Huis ten Bosch Palace and the Dom Tower have been recreated there, bringing a piece of Europe into Japan in a way that is genuinely mind-blowing when you see it up close.

So for us, heading to Holland isn’t just a nice trip. It’s part of the story.

As this project continues to grow, we wanted to come back to the source of that inspiration. To walk the streets, see the architecture, experience the culture, and capture that feeling on camera as part of the documentary.

We’ve got some really exciting visits planned while we’re out there. Locations that will help us tell this story properly, not just through words, but visually, emotionally, and creatively.

And we’ve timed it pretty well too.

We’re heading over just as the tulips are beginning to come out, which, if you’ve ever seen Holland at this time of year, you’ll know it’s something pretty special. Colour, life, and energy everywhere you look. And for what we’re trying to capture, that couldn’t be more perfect.

But beyond the filming, beyond the locations, beyond the logistics, there’s something else that sits right at the heart of this.

Brothers With.

This project just keeps growing.

What started as an idea has turned into something that is taking us across the world. Japan, Holland, and who knows where next. And the best part of all of it is that I get to do it alongside my brother.

That time together, building something, learning together, figuring things out, having the conversations you don’t get to have in day-to-day life. That’s the bit that means the most.

Because yes, the project is exciting. Yes, the travel is amazing. But at its core, it’s about connection. Between us, and between the children and communities we’re working with.

The ultimate goal is a big one.

To create the very first gardening-themed attraction.

Something that brings together everything we believe in. Nature, creativity, education, storytelling. A place where children and families can step into a world that inspires them to grow, to explore, and to see gardening in a completely different way.

We’re not there yet. But every trip, every conversation, every bit of filming, it all builds towards that.

And when I speak to children about careers in horticulture, this is exactly what I try to show them.

It’s not just about gardening in the traditional sense. It’s not just about being in a garden centre or working on a flower bed. Those things are brilliant, of course they are. But this industry, this world, can take you anywhere.

It can take you to Japan.
It can take you to Holland.
It can connect you with people, cultures, and ideas you never imagined.

And that’s what this week represents.

Another step in a journey that is still unfolding.

Another layer to a story that is becoming bigger than we ever expected.

And another reminder of the untold hours that go into making it all happen.

I’ll be sharing as much as I can while we’re out there, taking you behind the scenes of what we’re filming, where we’re going, and how it all connects back to the bigger picture.

For now, though, it’s time to pack the bags, charge the cameras, and get ready for another chapter.

Holland, here we come.