Keukenhof in bloom
Apr 23rd, 2010, 11:41 AM
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Keukenhof in bloom
For anyone visiting the Netherlands this weekend, the Keukenhof is spectacular. The tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils are in full bloom, along with the apple trees. The rhododendrons buds are just starting to burst forth and there are still some tulip varieties to open. Really, really worth a visit.
.
Apr 23rd, 2010, 02:03 PM
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I will be at the Keukenhof tomorrow. I plan to spend about 3 hours starting in the afternoon. Is there a certain routing that makes sense after getting off bus 58? Also, I need to eat lunch first. Do I expect a long line to get lunch? Which one would you go?
Apr 23rd, 2010, 02:49 PM
#4
greg - lucky you.
we went about 5 years ago during school hols and though there were a lot of people there, it really wasn't too crowded.
we were there in the morning so opted for an early lunch before everyone else thought about it. perhaps as you're going to be there in the afternoon, you could have a late lunch instead?
have a great day,
regards, ann
we went about 5 years ago during school hols and though there were a lot of people there, it really wasn't too crowded.
we were there in the morning so opted for an early lunch before everyone else thought about it. perhaps as you're going to be there in the afternoon, you could have a late lunch instead?
have a great day,
regards, ann
Apr 24th, 2010, 11:45 PM
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Sorry Greg, I didn't get back to you earlier. There is no set routes but many small and wide paths. Let the garden draw you in and wander at will.
This weekend is the the busiest one for the Keukenhof, owing to the flower parade that travels from Noordwijk to Haarlem. We were away from Lisse for the day and attempted to get home last night about 18:00 and it was brutal on the roads. Kilometres of traffic on every tiny back road. A journey that should have taken 20 minutes took more than 75. Hopefully today will be less frantic. The bus is efficient and the traffic directors give the buses priority in getting onto the roads.
As Ann said an early lunch is advised if you are in the garden, before the restaurant staff gets run off their feet. Lisse is quiet on Sunday so not much selection of restaurants for lunch. It is not uncommon to see people bringing their own sandwiches into the Keukenhof and there are food carts set up around the garden selling warm ham sandwiches and drinks that you can eat a la fresco on the bench of your choice if you prefer not to sit in a restaurant.
The quietest lunch/tea spot is near the windmill. From the windmill, cross the white draw bridge and continue straight. There is a small pavilion to your left right on the corner of the garden.
I hope you enjoy your visit.
A
This weekend is the the busiest one for the Keukenhof, owing to the flower parade that travels from Noordwijk to Haarlem. We were away from Lisse for the day and attempted to get home last night about 18:00 and it was brutal on the roads. Kilometres of traffic on every tiny back road. A journey that should have taken 20 minutes took more than 75. Hopefully today will be less frantic. The bus is efficient and the traffic directors give the buses priority in getting onto the roads.
As Ann said an early lunch is advised if you are in the garden, before the restaurant staff gets run off their feet. Lisse is quiet on Sunday so not much selection of restaurants for lunch. It is not uncommon to see people bringing their own sandwiches into the Keukenhof and there are food carts set up around the garden selling warm ham sandwiches and drinks that you can eat a la fresco on the bench of your choice if you prefer not to sit in a restaurant.
The quietest lunch/tea spot is near the windmill. From the windmill, cross the white draw bridge and continue straight. There is a small pavilion to your left right on the corner of the garden.
I hope you enjoy your visit.
A
Apr 25th, 2010, 05:20 PM
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No kidding about the crowd.
At the VVV office across from luggage retrieval, I bought a Kuekenhoff entry/bus combo ticket for 21EU. It is actually far more versatile than mentioned in all the references I read. The ticket says “Valid on the day of purchase on Connexxion busses 50/51/57 Haarlem-Kekenhoff, 54 Leiden-Keukenhof, 58/61 Schiphol-Keukenhof, 89 Den Haage-Lisse.” So I took bus #58 from Schiphol to Keukenhof. Then afterwards, walked to the bus stop in front of the Nachtegaal hotel and took #50 using the same combo ticket. For the Haarlem-Schiphol part, I just paid the bus #300 driver 6.60EU. So the Schiphol-Keukenhoff-Haarlem-Schipol loop cost 21EU+6.60EU = 27.60EU total.
While the flowers were splendid, the crowd in the garden was unbelievable. The parking lot was full of tour buses. Originally, going to Haarlem was an option. But after looking at the ENORMOUS queue to get on bus #58 directly to Schiphol, I decided to walk to the #50 bus stop as a faster travel option. I was glad I got an advice on how to get out of Keukenhof using the bus #50.
Ok, I have a question to the residents: why are majority of the buses #999, "out of service" around 6pm? Four #999 buses passed the bus top until a #50 came along.
At the VVV office across from luggage retrieval, I bought a Kuekenhoff entry/bus combo ticket for 21EU. It is actually far more versatile than mentioned in all the references I read. The ticket says “Valid on the day of purchase on Connexxion busses 50/51/57 Haarlem-Kekenhoff, 54 Leiden-Keukenhof, 58/61 Schiphol-Keukenhof, 89 Den Haage-Lisse.” So I took bus #58 from Schiphol to Keukenhof. Then afterwards, walked to the bus stop in front of the Nachtegaal hotel and took #50 using the same combo ticket. For the Haarlem-Schiphol part, I just paid the bus #300 driver 6.60EU. So the Schiphol-Keukenhoff-Haarlem-Schipol loop cost 21EU+6.60EU = 27.60EU total.
While the flowers were splendid, the crowd in the garden was unbelievable. The parking lot was full of tour buses. Originally, going to Haarlem was an option. But after looking at the ENORMOUS queue to get on bus #58 directly to Schiphol, I decided to walk to the #50 bus stop as a faster travel option. I was glad I got an advice on how to get out of Keukenhof using the bus #50.
Ok, I have a question to the residents: why are majority of the buses #999, "out of service" around 6pm? Four #999 buses passed the bus top until a #50 came along.
Apr 26th, 2010, 01:41 AM
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Hi Greg,
The #999 is used to denote when a bus is out of service. There is a Connexxion garage off the round-about that is by Nachtegaal where the buses are serviced and/or parked. I am guessing that extra buses had been put into service and were now returning to the garage after the driver's shift.
It's funny, I am accustomed to seeing them with 999 and don't generally think about the why anymore. Good observation.
The #999 is used to denote when a bus is out of service. There is a Connexxion garage off the round-about that is by Nachtegaal where the buses are serviced and/or parked. I am guessing that extra buses had been put into service and were now returning to the garage after the driver's shift.
It's funny, I am accustomed to seeing them with 999 and don't generally think about the why anymore. Good observation.
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