The Traveller's Magazine
Think “spring.” What’s the first thing that comes to mind? Of course it’s the Dutch capital filled with tulips, right? The first sign of spring are the tulips starting to push themselves up through the newly softened soil. What better place to celebrate spring than in Amsterdam?
Keukenhof is the number one destination in Europe for spring travel. Not far from Amsterdam, this historical garden moves to the top of everyone’s travel list once the ground begins defrosting and we start seeing the daily highs climb into the positives. Spring has almost begun, the light at the end of the long wintry tunnel has finally arrived! Keukenhof is the best place to celebrate the arrival of spring with more than 70 acres of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Don’t worry, there is still time to scout for cheap flights to Amsterdam, the park doesn’t open until March 24th.
While the park itself has only been around for sixty years, the area has a history dating back to the fifteenth century when it was used as a hunting ground. the property was passed from rich baron to rich baron until finally in 1949 the property hosted its first open air flower exhibition. Since then the annual spring event has attracted more than forty-four million visitors. Today it’s the largest bulb flower park in the world with 4.5 million tulips in over one hundred different varieties.
Practical information:
Opening times:
from March 24th, 2011 to May 20th, 2011
Time: 8:00-19:30
Flower Parade: April 16th, 2011
Admission:
Adults: €14.50
Children (4-11): €7.00
Park Guide: €4.00
Parking: €6.00 per vehicle
How to get there:
It’s located just outside of Amsterdam near Haarlem and is easily accessible by train, car and bus, even bike if you’re really ambitious. There is even a shuttle bus from Schiphol Airport if you happen to have a lengthy layover in the Dutch capital.
Have you ever experienced this floral explosion in person before?
