Planning trip to Belgium in Mid-May. Furtherist North will be Antwerp. Are there any tulip fields near the Netherlands' Border that would be an easy daytrip? The closest I have found is at Liedes. Also, is bloom still in season in Mid-May? Thanks.

I was in Liedes area middle of last May, most of tulip fields were bare without flowers.

Almost anywhere in the Netherlands would be an easy daytrip from Belgium. We lived in southern Belgium and did a day trip to northern Netherlands. It was a long day, but quite doable. <BR> <BR>Mid May should be OK still, as long as they don't have a very early spring. Some of the tulips will be gone, but other flowers will take their place. I highly recommend you visit Keukenhof Gardens. It is well worth the trip. I know of no place else that has such a glorious explosion of color and scent. Not to be missed if you are in that part of the world in April/May.

Funny, I went to Keukenhof in May the year before and it was still very pretty. See--depends on when spring starts.

Do visit De Keukenhof in Lisse. (www.keukenhof.nl) As long as they are opne, (Late March - late May) they make sure there are lots of flowers in the gardens. Best time for tulips is mid April until early May. So it would be best to do the day trip as early in your trip as possible. driving from Antwerp to Lisse should take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Well, since you will be in Antwerp in mid May you should know that the area north of Antwerp is known for its huge concentrations of rhodo's and azaleas. You can see them in every garden and in a unique park called Arboretum in Kalmthout (where I live). This park has a large collection of plants and bushes, as well indigenous as exotic. <BR>Here's a link to some pictures I took in June last. lasthttp://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.125633/article/919/42/

Good information. Appreciate your responses. Thanks to all.

Nothing compares with the flower fields around Lisse, Holland, where, two miles from town, the Keukenhof is located. This is an easy day trip from Antwerp by road or rail, about two hours each way. Was there last April. Take train to Leiden, a stop on the Antwerp-Amsterdam main line, and transfer to a local train going to Haarlem and get off at the Hillegom train station. This station is outside of Hillegom smack in the middle of miles of undulating tulip and other flower fields. All the station is is a raised platform that hovers over the fields; bring a picnic and sit on the platform benches. A short stroll from the station has you tiptoeing through the pulchritudinous fields. A two-mile walk takes you through this visually mesmerizing and kaleidoscopic scene to the Keukenhof, often called the world's best floral exhibition. On the verdant park-like grounds of an old villa, this show (April to mid-May) showcases the top Dutch horticultural companies showing off zillions of blooming plants dotting a sylvan setting. Phenominally popular with the Dutch, try to avoid weekends when it's too crowded to enjoy the various hothouse displays. Special buses run from the Leiden train station right to the gardens every constantly and there is ample parking nearby. The Keukenhof traditionally has been open only in the spring but this year will also be open several weeks in the fall to showcase autumnal blooms. And in 2002 Floriade, Holland's world-famous once-a-decade Flower Show takes place. Concact the Netherlands Tourist Board for info on this spectacular as well as the Keuekenhof. Tot Ziens!

don't miss the Keukenhof and flower fields around Lisse; nothing nearly as impressive near Antwerp.

I visited the Kuekenhof Gardens at the end of April last year - I think we hit it at the very peak time. Everything was in bloom and it was spectacular. Of course, the timing of bloom depends very much on the weather. I'd expect that in mid-May there would still be plenty to see (some tulips bloom later than others. In late April early tulips, daffodills, and other early bulbs were up). On the way to Keukenhof we drove past fields full of tulips - wide bands of red, then yellow, then pink - just like fields of corn. It was amazing. If you are in the area at the right time I'd say don't miss the Keukenhof for anything. <BR> <BR>Here is a link to a photo I took at the Keukenhof - although I don't think pictures can do justice to the park. <BR> <BR>http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...865&p=43325968

Thanks again everybody for your help.

I'm a gardening aficiando and the Keukenhof was fantastic - go for it!