The municipality of Holambra is characterized by Dutch immigration in Brazil, resulting from the search for new horizons after World War II. Even before its municipalization, the region founded, in 1948, the Holambra Agricultural Cooperative, located at Fazenda Ribeirão, between the municipalities of Jaguariúna, Santo Antônio de Posse, Artur Nogueira, and Cosmópolis. Its 5000 hectares were divided into lots and distributed to the cooperatives, under the commitment to develop any productive activity.
The Dutch cattle, subdued by the climate and tropical diseases, 
did not adapt to the region, giving way to diversified farming and the raising of pigs and chickens in a controlled environment.
The community spirit was present in the struggle for political autonomy when the population voted in favor of the municipality’s emancipation.
With the achievement of its municipal status, Holambra inaugurated, in 1993, its first representatives of the Executive and Legislative powers. Today, the municipal economy is 
practically focused on agricultural activities. With a relatively small territorial dimension compared to other Brazilian municipalities, Holambra has almost all its agricultural production coming from an approximate group of 287 producers. This situation gave rise to an annual event of national importance, EXPOFLORA, which takes place every September, featuring exhibitions and 
commercialization of flowers, ornamental plants, and specific agricultural equipment for this agricultural sector.
The current municipality of Holambra began with the arrival of the first Dutch immigrants in 1948. The Association of Catholic Farmers and Horticulturists of Holland promoted the immigration of farmers and sent a commission to Brazil to idealize a project for the foundation of a collective immigration nucleus. An agreement was then signed between Holland and Brazil, and the Brazilian side committed to granting loans for the acquisition of the land where the 
colony would be established.
Fazenda Ribeirão, which belonged to the Armour Meatpacking Company, was purchased, and the name Holambra was chosen by the immigrants, representing the philosophy of unity between Brazilians and Dutch, Holland-America-Brazil, aiming at the economic, cultural, and social integration of rural people.
Holland, in turn, sent cattle, machinery, and other materials necessary for the venture. A 
hard work began with the construction of mud houses, clearing the forest, and preparing the land for pastures. In the beginning, the first economic sources came from dairy cattle, but soon diseases emerged, and the cattle were decimated. Attention then turned to agriculture, but there were problems, and due to the purchase of imported fertilizer at high prices, the colony’s financial situation became critical. To improve the situation, farmers divided Fazenda Ribeirão into plots with diversified exploitation. With 
this diversification, the colony stabilized, as production was processed and marketed by the Holambra Agricultural Cooperative.
All crops in Holambra had their period of glory, especially flower and ornamental plant crops, which provided the community with significant economic growth in this segment, particularly between the 1960s and 1980s. With this development, Holambra finally became a municipality in 1991.
The cultivation of flowers began in 1951, with the production of gladiolus (Santa Rita palm), but it was between 1958 and 1965 that the culture expanded. In 1972, the floriculture department was created within the cooperative for the sale of a large 
variety of flowers and ornamental plants.
Community life had its improvisations. A shed that housed the carpentry also provided space for dance nights, to the sound of records brought from Holland or live music played by harmonicas and accordions by immigrants. In these dances, on Saturday nights, Dutch and Brazilians danced together even with language difficulties. Sports activities were also valued as a way of integration. On Sundays, everyone gathered at the foot of the waterfall to cool off. Later, due to the danger of 
accidents at the waterfall, a large artificial lake was built, transforming it into Mini Praia, a place for water sports, swimming lessons, leisure, and socializing.
The integration of Dutch and Brazilians occurred early on, at parties and dances, or in sports practice. However, the first marriage took place in 1956 between a Dutch man and a Brazilian woman. In the following years, more Dutch men married Brazilian women, but until 1970, the number was modest. Until then, there had been practically no marriages of Dutch women with Brazilian men. This factor is due to cultural reasons. In the 1980s and 1990s, the percentage of mixed marriages was already significant. Until the 1980s, 
Holambra was a small community with no major social problems. Everything was resolved among themselves, with volunteer committees from all areas, such as church committees, sports, health, cultural, and others.
In 1998, Holambra received the title of Tourist Resort.
Today, Holambra stands out on the national and international scene as the City of Flowers, with a crime rate close to zero, an infant mortality rate of 5.99 deaths per thousand births, which is one of the lowest in the country. Holambra is also ranked 24th in a quality of life survey conducted across all 645 municipalities in the state of São Paulo and holds the 1st place in the Campinas region. The “Historical and Cultural Museum of Holambra,” located in the center of Holambra, exhibits this history of Dutch immigration and colonization through a collection of two thousand photos, replicas of mud and masonry houses properly furnished from the time, as well as objects, machinery, and tractors used by the immigrants.
The gastronomy of Holambra is currently a separate attraction for those visiting the tourist resort. Sweets, savory dishes, and Dutch cuisine can be found in bakeries, cafes, and typical restaurants installed in the city, richly decorated with objects and colors from Holland.
Restaurants, bars, and cafes with cozy and eclectic environments provide moments of tranquility under an umbrella and among leafy trees, offering tourists 
the most elaborate dishes of Brazilian, German, and Indonesian cuisines, with delicacies that may even have complicated names, such as Pannekoek (pancakes), Eisben (pork knuckle), Dutch Potato, Poffertjes (a sweet exclusive to Expoflora), Speculaas, Stroopwafel (cookies), Violtje (violet candy), and Rose Ice Cream, but which provide pleasure to the most discerning palates.
The City of Flowers offers various leisure options throughout the year for all ages and types of audiences. They are many and are permanently at your disposal.
In Holambra, rural tourism allows visitors direct contact with the lush nature that exists inside and outside the 
city, through horseback rides along trails in dense forests and fields, as well as the opportunity to observe and interact with a rich and diverse fauna, which can be found in a large theme park installed in the city, which even contains flowers in production open for visitation.
Tourists can also enjoy one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in the Campinas Metropolitan Region, with various bars and restaurants, or take advantage of their moments of rest to enjoy pleasant walks and strolls around beautiful lakes and stunning squares, which form perfect settings for an unforgettable leisure program. Additionally, the City of Flowers offers a packed calendar of events throughout the year that can be enjoyed by tourists and occasional visitors in 
every month, including traditional dates such as Carnival, Easter, and Christmas.
Organized by the Municipal Government, the Christmas decoration in the City of Flowers takes over the main public spaces of the municipality and impresses all who visit with the artistic and creative richness it displays in different colors, shapes, and themes. Approximately one million lights are among the main attractions that Holambra’s Christmas presents every year.
The National Meeting of Antique Cars in the City of Flowers receives over 20,000 visitors every year during the three days.
EXPOFLORA showcases all the beauty of flowers during the month of September; this grand festival receives more than 280,000 tourists every year.
The traditional Holambra Mud Run is a public and participant success. The event attracts the attention of the public and the national press.
Expoflora
The main objective of Expoflora is to rescue cultural and social aspects of the Holambra Community, in addition to promoting the work developed by the children of the first immigrants in rural activities in the municipality. In its first edition, it attracted over 12,000 people in a single weekend. Over the years, Expoflora has transformed into the largest cultural manifestation of Dutch immigration and the biggest flower and plant festival in Latin America. The entire community is involved, directly or indirectly, in the event that projected the city of Holambra nationally and decisively contributed to the elevation of the municipality to the category of Tourist Resort of the State of São Paulo. The main objective of Expoflora today remains the dissemination of Dutch Culture in various forms, through typical dances, cuisine, Dutch handicrafts, music, among others.
In a climate-controlled environment, about 250,000 stems of flowers and plants are used in the exhibition of floral arrangements to move and enchant all visitors. A rare opportunity 
to admire the art in floral arrangements prepared by a large team.
The rhythms and stories of Dutch folklore are presented with grace and poise by the youth of Holambra. The Petal Rain is a daily spectacle, held at 5 PM, in which 150 kilograms of petals are used, equivalent to 18,000 rose buds, de-petaled one by one. According to tradition, at Expoflora, whoever catches a petal in the air has their wishes granted. Other points to visit include the Garden Center and the Lovers’ Garden.
There are several options to gift and take a piece of Holambra home. In cuisine, bakers and Dutch chefs always create new recipes to attract visitors through taste, in addition to traditional Dutch dishes.