Spring spreads smiles. Cold winds make way for bright sunlight breaking through cloudy skies. The months of March to May may be anything around the world, but these months are waiting for the buds of Tulips to bloom in Holland to celebrate the Tulip festival of Keukenhof.
Geography: Keukenhof is a small village in Lisse, southern Holland.
Language: Dutch ,English.
Currency: Euro
Getting There: Nearest airport is Schiphol. It takes 1 hour by car from Amsterdam. Most convenient is to hop on Keukenhof Express bus from Schiphol airport.
What’s famous here: Tulip gardens and Fields in Lisse.
My Story: The benevolence of spring, melting the frost from the wings of shivering birds, is truly modest in claiming its right of spreading joy to the world. Beauty hidden behind snow, unveils in true colors of purity casting a poetic intent of existence. Europe has many attractions to swagger, but none can be as colorful as Keukenhof.
An overnight journey brought us to Amsterdam from Erlangen, Germany. Amsterdam consumed couple of days from our itinerary and intentionally as the saying goes ‘save the best for the last’ we were appeased to wait in anticipation. Early morning, sunlight climbing up the sky at a steady pace assuring us of a perfect sunny day in making. Clock struck 8 and we were at the Schiphol airport. It’s easy to locate a big tulip toy near taxi stand, even if you cannot, there are plenty of people promoting the tulip festival who can direct you to the spot. Just beside the toy you can find ticket counters for Keukenhof express buses. The price is 25 Euros (in 2016). Massive parade of buses departing every 5 mins are lined up for you to board.
As you slowly move away from the city buzz, an admirably purposeful calmness of countryside soaks under your skin. Glimpses of tulip bulbs far away attracts your attention. In about an hour we arrived to the entrance of the Keukenhof gardens.
It is one of the world’s largest garden welcoming millions of visitors every year. Take enough time to explore different parts of the garden bursting inexhaustible variety if colors.
Perhaps the best part of the visit is not the gardens but the fields in Lisse around the gardens. The most suitable way to explore is on a bicycle. Bike rentals are available just outside the entrance of the gardens for just 10 Euros a day. You have 3 routes to choose from the map they provide, 7kms, 20kms and 30 kms. We obviously chose the longest one.
We started peddling like kids racing in search of fields embracing winds of spring. In a couple of miles we witnessed gazillion flowers surrounding us. As far as our eyes can reach, wide mouthed flowers smiling gracefully attired in innocence, wild and free, stitched to earth in true exhibit of art. We took many stops to walk in the fields trying to fight the weight of our eyelids to view.
Rivers of flowers on either sides of our path, beautified time and again by canals at places.
The course of route has patches of forest like areas, a touch of north sea, plenty of restaurants and infinite flowers.
We covered the entire 30kms slowly and deliciously, delaying as much as possible to hit the finish line. Eventually we found ourselves back in our buses recollecting every peddle exerted, every meter covered and every step taken in the field.
Every place you visit embeds a certain emotion that is unique and intimate between you and the place. Keukenhof and Lisse can be one of those emotions you enjoy the most.
Tips:
Keep Reading, keep Travelling..
-UR
uday.s7@gmail.com
Geography: Keukenhof is a small village in Lisse, southern Holland.
Language: Dutch ,English.
Currency: Euro
Getting There: Nearest airport is Schiphol. It takes 1 hour by car from Amsterdam. Most convenient is to hop on Keukenhof Express bus from Schiphol airport.
What’s famous here: Tulip gardens and Fields in Lisse.
My Story: The benevolence of spring, melting the frost from the wings of shivering birds, is truly modest in claiming its right of spreading joy to the world. Beauty hidden behind snow, unveils in true colors of purity casting a poetic intent of existence. Europe has many attractions to swagger, but none can be as colorful as Keukenhof.
An overnight journey brought us to Amsterdam from Erlangen, Germany. Amsterdam consumed couple of days from our itinerary and intentionally as the saying goes ‘save the best for the last’ we were appeased to wait in anticipation. Early morning, sunlight climbing up the sky at a steady pace assuring us of a perfect sunny day in making. Clock struck 8 and we were at the Schiphol airport. It’s easy to locate a big tulip toy near taxi stand, even if you cannot, there are plenty of people promoting the tulip festival who can direct you to the spot. Just beside the toy you can find ticket counters for Keukenhof express buses. The price is 25 Euros (in 2016). Massive parade of buses departing every 5 mins are lined up for you to board.
As you slowly move away from the city buzz, an admirably purposeful calmness of countryside soaks under your skin. Glimpses of tulip bulbs far away attracts your attention. In about an hour we arrived to the entrance of the Keukenhof gardens.
 |
| Let’s enter world’s largest Gardens..!! |
It is one of the world’s largest garden welcoming millions of visitors every year. Take enough time to explore different parts of the garden bursting inexhaustible variety if colors.
 |
| As beautiful as any Garden can be.. |
 |
| You name the color and you can find it..!! |
 |
| Red.. |
 |
| White.. |
 |
| Violet.. |
 |
| Orange and more.. |
 |
| Limitless Tulips..!! |
We started peddling like kids racing in search of fields embracing winds of spring. In a couple of miles we witnessed gazillion flowers surrounding us. As far as our eyes can reach, wide mouthed flowers smiling gracefully attired in innocence, wild and free, stitched to earth in true exhibit of art. We took many stops to walk in the fields trying to fight the weight of our eyelids to view.
 |
| Sea of Flowers.. |
 |
| Canals, road, fields and sky..!! |
 |
| Touch of North Sea.. |
 |
| Tulip bulbs.. |
We covered the entire 30kms slowly and deliciously, delaying as much as possible to hit the finish line. Eventually we found ourselves back in our buses recollecting every peddle exerted, every meter covered and every step taken in the field.
 |
| Stroll in the fields..!! |
Tips:
- Best time to visit Keukenhof is mid of April when the flowers bloom to the right age.
- Keukenhof Express buses starts from Schiphol airport, it costs 25 Euros.
- In some fields tulips are sold for 1 or 2 Euros, care to buy them??
Keep Reading, keep Travelling..
-UR
uday.s7@gmail.com
