Now is the time to pay a visit to the Netherlands, the country of windmills, cheese, clogs and tulips of course, as springtime is the season when all flowers the country is famous for are in full bloom.
Originally, the country did not produce many flowers, but in 1592 the botanist Carolus Clusius brought home some tulip bulbs he got from the Austrian ambassador to Turkey, who had received them from the Turkish sultan. The exotic tulip bulbs thrived in the Dutch soil and climate, and although initially they were only used for scientific research and medication, the rich elite also bought the bulbs to show their wealth and trade in them. Consequently, the prices went up extraordinarily. At their peak, tulip bulbs were sold for the price of a canal house in Amsterdam, leading to the first economic bubble, the so-called “tulip mania.”
Fortunately, as the cultivation of tulips and other bulbs increased and improved, their prices went down gradually, making them affordable for the middle-class. This, in its turn, allowed for the expansion of the bulb trade both nationally as well as internationally.
As a result, bulb fields of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils nowadays fill the lands and color the landscape red, yellow, pink, purple, and orange, among others. Hundreds of thousands of tourists, attracted by the sights and smells of this spectacle, come to the Netherlands during this time of the year, and also the Dutch themselves enjoy riding or cycling along the bulb fields, which are mainly found in the provinces of North and South Holland as well as Flevoland. Apart from the flower fields, also definitely worth a visit are one or several of the flower events the country organizes throughout the year. One of them is the “Keukenhof” or “Kitchen Garden,” also known as the Garden of Europe.
With its 32 hectares containing 7 million flower bulbs planted by hand in more than 1,600 different varieties, the Keukenhof is the largest bulb flower park in the world. More than 600 varieties of tulips and 300 varieties of lilies are on display, in addition to a fine collection of daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, and orchids, to name just a few. Ever seen a tulip with a white bottom and a bright pink top? Or what about one with frayed edges?
Last year, the park attracted almost a million visitors, despite the fact that it is only opened for three months a year, from March to May. The Keukenhof is located 25 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam, and several tour and travel organizations arrange daytrips from the capital to the bulb area that include a visit to the Keukenhof.
Every year, the park chooses a different theme country. This year, the Keukenhof has chosen for “Poland — Heart of Europe.” The central European country, according to the organizers, “is not only an important export market for flowering bulbs, but also a growing source of tourists.” The highlight of this theme is the flower bulb mosaic of the great Romantic composer Frédéric Chopin, who was of French-Polish parentage and born in Poland.
Besides taking a stroll around the park — there are in total 15 kilometers of walking paths — and taking plenty of brightly colored pictures, the park offers several permanent and temporary flower shows, such as “Romantic Roses,” “Dazzling Daffodils,” “Blooming Beauties,” and “Amazing Amaryllis.” Some of these participate in competitions for the best quality. There are also various gardens to suit everyone’s taste. A historical garden, a kids’ garden and even an urban garden are among them. Apart from all this, the Keukenhof is also the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands, giving many artists the possibility to display their work. Once you are tired of walking, you can choose to explore the picturesque and colorful surroundings of the Keukenhof by boat. Or, if you have energy left and like to cover a bigger area, what about renting a bike from the entrance of the park? There are several cycling routes varying from 5 to 40 kilometers through the bulb fields. Some of them even take you to the coast.
You better book a last-minute flight though, as the park will be open only until May 20. There are direct flights with KLM from Dammam to Amsterdam. If you fly from Jeddah or Riyadh, several airlines will take you to Amsterdam with a transit in a European or Middle Eastern city. In 2013, the Keukenhof will be opened from March 21 to May 20.
Embrace the spring in the Garden of Europe
Embrace the spring in the Garden of Europe
