Tulip fields
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tulip fields
My wife and I will be in Amsterdam next Spring. We have no problem traveling by bus/rail but may not be up to extensive biking. Given that, what would be the best way to tour the tulip fields in late April / early May? It seems to me that the options are:
- rent a car,
- hire a driver, or
- find an organized tour.
Your thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you - and have a great weekend.
- rent a car,
- hire a driver, or
- find an organized tour.
Your thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you - and have a great weekend.
#2
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Until you get more detailed info, here for starters the most "obvious" destination ;-)
http://www.keukenhof.nl/nm/english.html
pro: easy access by public transportation and private vehicle
con: crowded on weekends/holidays, mostly by tour buses from Germany ;-)
http://www.keukenhof.nl/nm/english.html
pro: easy access by public transportation and private vehicle
con: crowded on weekends/holidays, mostly by tour buses from Germany ;-)
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you. We are planning at least one trip to Keukenhof. Certainly one option would be to limit it to this, but I got the impression that touring the surrounding fields was also worth while.
#5
Hi jmf--we will be doing the same beginning May 9. We are basing in Haarlem at Stempel's Hotel. I have been practicing my bicycle skills for this trip and hope DW will start soon. Who knows, we may (literally) run into you.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you are prepared to hire a car then the best place to see fields is up towards Alkmaar, or even around Emmeloord further east,in the Noord-Oost Polder, which is where most tulips are now actually grown. They have a tourist route signposted at tulip time.
Organised tours are available from Amsterdam, to the traditional bulb fields, but of course they don't give you the chance to just stand and stare.
How are you at bike riding? You can hire a bike at Keukenhof and follow a planned route through the bulb fields from there, as long or as short as you want. I think they range from 9km (about 5 miles)upwards. More info is available on the Keukonhof site under FAQ.
Also worth looking at is www.hollandrijnland.nl. Tis is the site for the tourist information for the area around Keukenhof.
Organised tours are available from Amsterdam, to the traditional bulb fields, but of course they don't give you the chance to just stand and stare.
How are you at bike riding? You can hire a bike at Keukenhof and follow a planned route through the bulb fields from there, as long or as short as you want. I think they range from 9km (about 5 miles)upwards. More info is available on the Keukonhof site under FAQ.
Also worth looking at is www.hollandrijnland.nl. Tis is the site for the tourist information for the area around Keukenhof.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I tiptoed thru the tulip and other flower fields:
took train Amsterdam-Haarlem-Hillegom
Hillegom station is surrounded by flower fields
then i walked about two miles thru the fields (actually on small roads as i think it's Verboten to actually enter the fields)
a lovely lovely walk thru pulchritudinous seas of undulated blooms right to the
to Keukenhof
then took bus to Leiden train station to return to amsterdam.
Bus 100 (i believe 100) also runs from Haarlem train station thru the fields to Keukenhof and on to Leiden
took train Amsterdam-Haarlem-Hillegom
Hillegom station is surrounded by flower fields
then i walked about two miles thru the fields (actually on small roads as i think it's Verboten to actually enter the fields)
a lovely lovely walk thru pulchritudinous seas of undulated blooms right to the
to Keukenhof
then took bus to Leiden train station to return to amsterdam.
Bus 100 (i believe 100) also runs from Haarlem train station thru the fields to Keukenhof and on to Leiden
#10
I was in Amsterdam for tulip season (mid-April this year). I thought I'd want to get out and see more of the fields either on foot or by bike, but honestly between all that we saw on the train to Leiden, and then the lookout points at Keukenhof that are over the fields themselves, in addition to the total overload (in a good way!) of tulips at the Keukenhof, we were quite satisfied with what we saw that way.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Keukenhof is not "tulip fields," it is a collection of manicured gardens. A pretty place, but not as impressive as the rows of uniformly colored tulips reaching into the distance.
To see the fields, you should rent a car, get the Michelin Green Guide to the Netherlands and note the tulip icons, and hit the road. We have had a lot of luck in the areas west of Leiden, east of Alkmaar, and east of Leeuwarden.
#14
smueller, there are at least 3 (that I can remember) spots on the map at the Keukenhof that are marked as spots to see the fields nearby. One of which was at the windmill. You get to see them from various distances and can do everything but actually walk in them, which as PalQ says, you can do outside the gardens.
#16
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would like to contribute my trip report (starting at page three) of our visit to Holland's Keukenhof Gardens with lots of photos. Enjoy.
http://www.travelswithdiane.homestea...7Holland3.html
http://www.travelswithdiane.homestea...7Holland3.html
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for your replies.
The consensus seems to be that Keukenhof makes touring the tulip fields unnecessary. Does anyone have anything further response to the opening post? Thanks again ...
The consensus seems to be that Keukenhof makes touring the tulip fields unnecessary. Does anyone have anything further response to the opening post? Thanks again ...
#18
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've been to Keukenhof a number of times over the years. Biked or drove from Haarlem (where I lived) and bussed from Leiden.
Since you are not into a long bike ride I think your best plan is to do what PalenQ did. Take the train to Hillegom and return via bus to Leiden and train to Amsterdam, assuming that is where you are camped.
I see that a couple of people are staying in Haarlem or Leiden, certainly good choices for seeing Keukenhof and expeiencing a more rational Holland than Amsterdam offers.
Be flexible in scheduling and choose a bright sunny day for your trip.
#19
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
and IME avoid weekends, especially Sundays at the Keukenhof as the Sunday i was there was super super crowded with Dutch visitors
there will lines to get in the several hothouses, the premier attraction it seemed
a weekday would be much better i thinnk
there will lines to get in the several hothouses, the premier attraction it seemed
a weekday would be much better i thinnk