keukenhof gardens worth it?
Feb 17th, 2016, 06:43 AM
#1
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keukenhof gardens worth it?
Hello
My husband and I will be in Amsterdam for 4 days the first week in May, 2016. I can't say I am really that much into flowers but it seems like I shouldn't go all the way to Amsterdam and not see the tulips. Is it really a must see or by the first week in May will most of the tulips be gone?
Thanks
My husband and I will be in Amsterdam for 4 days the first week in May, 2016. I can't say I am really that much into flowers but it seems like I shouldn't go all the way to Amsterdam and not see the tulips. Is it really a must see or by the first week in May will most of the tulips be gone?
Thanks
Feb 17th, 2016, 06:47 AM
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We went to Amsterdam the first weekend in May 2013 and I took the photos below in the fields around Keukenhof:
https://flickr.com/photos/[email protected]
It will give you an idea what to expect...
https://flickr.com/photos/[email protected]
It will give you an idea what to expect...
Feb 17th, 2016, 06:59 AM
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If you're not into flowers, then don't go. If you would rather be doing something else instead, then do that. It's not mandatory to go and see tulips in the Netherlands.
You know that May 5 is a national holiday - and that many people take a citytrip as they make it into a long weekend? It may be busy in Amsterdam.
You know that May 5 is a national holiday - and that many people take a citytrip as they make it into a long weekend? It may be busy in Amsterdam.
Feb 17th, 2016, 07:10 AM
#4
you don't need to go into Keukenhof itself to see the flowers - as jamikins' lovely photos demonstrate, you can just drive round the fields in the area and enjoy the sight, which will surely impress anyone, even someone without a special interest in flowers.
BTW, given the holiday on May 5th, I'd book my accommodation now, if you haven't already.
BTW, given the holiday on May 5th, I'd book my accommodation now, if you haven't already.
Feb 17th, 2016, 07:16 AM
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It's a park with a lot of flowers as a showcase for the tulip industry around. I live some 15 kilometres away and have never been there.
Depending on the weather, you can have a look of the tulip fields on the train from Haarlem to Leiden. Make it a potential additional bonus on a daytrip to these two nice cities, or on your way to The Hague to enjoy the Mauritshuis museum (Vermeer!).
Depending on the weather, you can have a look of the tulip fields on the train from Haarlem to Leiden. Make it a potential additional bonus on a daytrip to these two nice cities, or on your way to The Hague to enjoy the Mauritshuis museum (Vermeer!).
Feb 17th, 2016, 07:33 AM
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If you aren't into flowers don't go.
If you are flying into Schiphol there is a very good chance you will fly over the bulb fields on approach, so you can see them then.
If you decide once you are here that you want to go then it is easy enough to do.
My experience of Ascension day is that people with kids will already be away, since they have a week or two around that time, starting at the end of April, and the rest seem to descend on my town for it's market that day. Actually most people spend it at home or shopping at places like Ikea. Everything will be open. Of course this year it also coincides with Liberation day, so there will be some extra festivities for that I expect. It will make a change for everyone to have 5 May as a day off, not just the civil servants.
4 May is remembrance day so Amsterdam will be extra secure that day for the ceremony on the Dam with the King and Queen in the evening.
If you are flying into Schiphol there is a very good chance you will fly over the bulb fields on approach, so you can see them then.
If you decide once you are here that you want to go then it is easy enough to do.
My experience of Ascension day is that people with kids will already be away, since they have a week or two around that time, starting at the end of April, and the rest seem to descend on my town for it's market that day. Actually most people spend it at home or shopping at places like Ikea. Everything will be open. Of course this year it also coincides with Liberation day, so there will be some extra festivities for that I expect. It will make a change for everyone to have 5 May as a day off, not just the civil servants.
4 May is remembrance day so Amsterdam will be extra secure that day for the ceremony on the Dam with the King and Queen in the evening.
Feb 17th, 2016, 07:37 AM
#7
It is absolutely gorgeous and even for non-flower lovers is pretty special. Sensory overload between the massed flowers and the scents. But if you aren't into gardens at all -- then sure, skip it.
Last Spring was such that all the spring flowers (early, mid, late) were in full bloom at the same time which apparently is unusual. It isn't just tulips and there are green houses too.
http://previews.123rf.com/images/phb...nth-tulips.jpg
http://www.fancygardenideas.co/garde...amsterdam-.jpg
http://executivetaxiamsterdam.nl/wp-...of-Gardens.jpg
Last Spring was such that all the spring flowers (early, mid, late) were in full bloom at the same time which apparently is unusual. It isn't just tulips and there are green houses too.
http://previews.123rf.com/images/phb...nth-tulips.jpg
http://www.fancygardenideas.co/garde...amsterdam-.jpg
http://executivetaxiamsterdam.nl/wp-...of-Gardens.jpg
Feb 17th, 2016, 08:00 AM
#8
of course there will be those like Tom with zero interest, but we've been twice - once with our kids and once with my mum and I'd say that we all enjoyed it both times.
The second time the theme in the greenhouses was orchids and having had no interest in them previously, I loved them and have been growing them ever since.
so you never know what your reaction might be till you get there.
The second time the theme in the greenhouses was orchids and having had no interest in them previously, I loved them and have been growing them ever since.
so you never know what your reaction might be till you get there.
Feb 18th, 2016, 02:16 PM
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<i> keukenhof gardens worth it?
Posted by: lhs624 on Feb 17, 16 at 10:43am</i>
You decide: http://www.enjoy-europe.com/travelog/Keukenhof2008.htm
Posted by: lhs624 on Feb 17, 16 at 10:43am</i>
You decide: http://www.enjoy-europe.com/travelog/Keukenhof2008.htm
Feb 18th, 2016, 02:34 PM
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<t's a park with a lot of flowers as a showcase for the tulip industry around.>
tom from nearby Leiden - wrong - tulips are a smart part of Keukenhof - which showcases the Dutch flower industry not just tulips - there are several hothouses of tropical flowers, etc.I was surprised at how few tulips there were in the gardens themselves - some large beds but not everywhere.
To see fields of undulating tulips just take a walk outside the Keukenhof Gardens (a fairly small area that can be really mobbed on weekends IME) and you will see miles of tulips and other blooms of the season - tulips can bloom early or late of course.
Depending on the weather, you can have a look of the tulip fields on the train from Haarlem to Leiden.>
Ah yes and get off at the Heerlen (sp?) train station on the Haarlem to Leiden line and then tiptoe the few miles to the Keukenhof via vast fields of several flowering flowers - then take the shuttle bus to Leiden's train station to return to Amsterdam - but give Leiden a good look over too - a neat old canal-laced town with a great pedestrian shopping street with hurdy-gurdy men and all.
tom from nearby Leiden - wrong - tulips are a smart part of Keukenhof - which showcases the Dutch flower industry not just tulips - there are several hothouses of tropical flowers, etc.I was surprised at how few tulips there were in the gardens themselves - some large beds but not everywhere.
To see fields of undulating tulips just take a walk outside the Keukenhof Gardens (a fairly small area that can be really mobbed on weekends IME) and you will see miles of tulips and other blooms of the season - tulips can bloom early or late of course.
Depending on the weather, you can have a look of the tulip fields on the train from Haarlem to Leiden.>
Ah yes and get off at the Heerlen (sp?) train station on the Haarlem to Leiden line and then tiptoe the few miles to the Keukenhof via vast fields of several flowering flowers - then take the shuttle bus to Leiden's train station to return to Amsterdam - but give Leiden a good look over too - a neat old canal-laced town with a great pedestrian shopping street with hurdy-gurdy men and all.
Feb 19th, 2016, 09:29 AM
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Though taking the train to Leiden then shuttle bus to the Gardens is the quickest route do try to take the train via Haarlem then to Heerlen and walk the few miles thru the field or take the train all the way to Leiden and pick up the shuttle bus - the train goes right thru the heart of the flower belt.
There is a platform outside the Keukenhof that used to be used for special trains from Amsterdambut have not seen those in several years.
There is a platform outside the Keukenhof that used to be used for special trains from Amsterdambut have not seen those in several years.
Feb 19th, 2016, 12:41 PM
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It breaks my heart to say so : YES !
Absolutely. It is great. We've there 2 times and each year we say we must go back.
But ... we live a good 2,5 hours away (on this great country south of NL)... difficult to organize ;-)
Absolutely. It is great. We've there 2 times and each year we say we must go back.
But ... we live a good 2,5 hours away (on this great country south of NL)... difficult to organize ;-)
Feb 22nd, 2016, 09:04 PM
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We went to Amsterdam in late April 2011, and this is what I wrote about Kukenhof:
"We went to Kukenhof at this time two years ago, departing from Amsterdam. The bus takes you to Schipol, where you wait for another bus to Kukenhof. I have to admit, it was a real pain (long wait, and standing on the bus both directions, as they were quite full). While the flowers were lovely, I much preferred our next day's train trip to the Enkhuisen Zuiderzee Museum (it takes about 45 minutes, I think). http://www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl/en/673/visit/fotogalerie/
This is an open air folk museum, made up of a collection of buildings from all around the Zuiderzee. There was a relaxed village atmosphere, with sheep grazing and some people showing how things were made in ages past - making rope, smoking fish, etc. I was intrigued with the cupboard beds in one of the houses, such a tiny bed for two with a cradle built in at the foot of the bed.
Sorry if I digress from your original question, just wanted to let you know about an alternative if you're interested. Whatever you do, it will be great - the flowers all over are beautiful.”
So while Kukenhof is lovely, there are alternatives that for us, anyway, were a lot easier to get to and very interesting.
"We went to Kukenhof at this time two years ago, departing from Amsterdam. The bus takes you to Schipol, where you wait for another bus to Kukenhof. I have to admit, it was a real pain (long wait, and standing on the bus both directions, as they were quite full). While the flowers were lovely, I much preferred our next day's train trip to the Enkhuisen Zuiderzee Museum (it takes about 45 minutes, I think). http://www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl/en/673/visit/fotogalerie/
This is an open air folk museum, made up of a collection of buildings from all around the Zuiderzee. There was a relaxed village atmosphere, with sheep grazing and some people showing how things were made in ages past - making rope, smoking fish, etc. I was intrigued with the cupboard beds in one of the houses, such a tiny bed for two with a cradle built in at the foot of the bed.
Sorry if I digress from your original question, just wanted to let you know about an alternative if you're interested. Whatever you do, it will be great - the flowers all over are beautiful.”
So while Kukenhof is lovely, there are alternatives that for us, anyway, were a lot easier to get to and very interesting.
