Flowers of Holland and everything you wanted to know about them: tulip fields and parks in Holland, flower markets and parks in Amsterdam, flower festivals.
- Tours for May to the Netherlands
- Last Minute Tours Worldwide
It is surprising that, being a country rather northern than southern, Holland is associated with flowers in the minds of many people. Despite the fact that the country's shores are washed by the cold North Sea, and the climate is such that even summer is not always generous in the sun and warmth, the flowers of Holland delight the inhabitants of the country and its guests with stunning colors, shapes and aromas. The facts that laid the foundation for these circumstances are hidden deep in the centuries. The story goes that in 1599 the botanist Carolus Clusius, an Austrian by birth, came to work at Leiden University. For some secret reason, he took with him a collection of tulips that the Austrian ambassador had brought from Turkey.
The sandy soils characteristic of Holland were perfect for tulips, the flowers themselves fell in love with the Dutch, and tulip fever began in the country. New varieties were bred, there was a brisk trade, including rare bulbs at auctions. The record is 6,000 florins for the Semper Augustus bulb.
In those days, the average annual income of a resident of the country was about 150 florins, and one gold florin weighed about 3.5 grams. By simple calculations, it can be established that the tulip cost the buyer 21 kg of gold.
Floriculture turned out to be a very profitable business, gradually tulips, hyacinths, irises, roses, orchids and other flowers became one of the most important sources of income for many Dutch people, and for the country's economy. Today, the Netherlands ranks first in the world for the export of these flowers. Aalsmeer, near Amsterdam, hosts the world's largest flower auction. More than 19 million flowers and about 2 million plants are sold and bought here every day during the five hours of the auction. This takes place in the world's largest commercial building. Its area is about a million square meters, and the equipment allows you to demonstrate the goods being sold on huge screens and provide communication between sellers and buyers in any country in the world. The bargaining here begins with the highest price, which decreases until the first order for the purchase of this batch is received.
You do not have to be an entrepreneur to get acquainted with the work of the auction, anyone can visit the auction from 7 to 11 am on weekdays, at Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, Legmeerdijk 313, Postbus 1000, 1430 BA Aalsmeer, NL. The easiest way to get here is by bus number 172, which leaves every half an hour from Amsterdam Central Station in the direction of Kudelstaart to the VBA Hoofdingang stop, it takes about 1 hour.
Keukenhof park
Tulip fields in Holland
The flower business is a beautiful business. Not only everyone who touched him knows about this, but also those whose trip to the Netherlands took place in April-May. This is the time when tulips are blooming in the country. They bloom not only in flower beds and beds, which can surprise few people, but also on 11,000 hectares of land involved in this type of business. The fields are a fantastic sight: multicolored stripes of different varieties of flowers cover the entire visible space. In total, more than three billion bulbs are grown in the country per year, most of them are exported. It is best to look at this magical kaleidoscope from a bird's eye view: the event is expensive, but worth it. In any case, this spectacle is absolutely unique, there is no such thing anywhere else in the world. Well, in order to repeat this amazing picture in your country house, it is enough to buy tulip bulbs of various varieties and plant them in the beds. Of course, the scale will be more modest than the Dutch, but, on the other hand, you can admire the vivid show from your own window.
Flower markets in Amsterdam
The Bloemenmarkt Flower Market is a very specific, amazing attraction in Amsterdam. There is little space in the city, so traders have long been selling flowers directly from boats sailing along the canals. But since the 19th century, the market has been housed on barges moored to the banks of the Singel Canal between Muntplein and Koningsplein.
The Bloemenmarkt Flower Market is a very specific, amazing attraction in Amsterdam.
There are quite a lot of barges, so it will take a lot of time to inspect the entire market. Whether it is worth getting acquainted with the entire range of goods is an ambiguous question. They sell here all kinds of flowers and plants, both indoor and garden, their bulbs, seedlings, sprouts, seeds. The splendor of fresh cut flowers in all shapes and shades of the rainbow makes you wonder over and over again how resourceful nature is. All kinds of vases and pots for flowers, decorations for the garden landscape are the hottest goods. Tourists enthusiastically examine the labels on boxes, bags and sachets. Judging by the expressions on their faces, everyone is happy, and the sellers are happy no less than the buyers: the goods are being bought cheerfully.
Of course, special attention is paid to the counters, on which the mountains tower the packaging with the inscription: “Cannabis. Starterskit ". When translated into Russian, it turns out something like “Cannabis. Starting package ". It costs a little more than a magnet, but cheaper than a decorative plate: 6-9 EUR, and it causes more cheerful emotions (at the stage of examination). The most difficult thing is to refrain from buying this souvenir; when crossing the border, it will almost inevitably lead to serious troubles, and then there will be no time for fun. It is better to turn your attention to trivial magnets or plates, of which there are a great many on the market: they fold on the shelves into carpets no less colorful and colorful than floral ones. You can also buy indoor plants here: flowers of incredible beauty, palms with fancy leaves, something prickly, but very cute. Here you can also get advice on growing a particular plant, the language barrier is not a hindrance to this: sellers use all available means, up to facial expressions, to explain to an enthusiastic florist the peculiarities of growing a purchased specimen of flora.
Bloemenmarkt isn't the only place in town to buy flowers. There are also quite extensive flower stalls in other markets in Amsterdam, specializing in food, art goods, clothing and footwear. There are fragrant tents on almost every street, where you can buy a magnificent bouquet of tulips, hyacinths, irises for 5-7 EUR.
Prices on the page are for October 2018.
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Tulips from Amsterdam
The Flower Market also offers the most authentic souvenir from Amsterdam: tulip bulbs. The price also contributes to this: from 2.50-3 EUR for a dozen of bulbs. On the package you can see a photo of future flowers. The problem for buyers is only in the choice: blue? orange? purple? black? terry? dwarf? Few wonder if flowers will grow from these bulbs. Someone knows the secrets that allow them to grow flowers in their homeland as beautiful as in the Netherlands, someone will randomly stick the bulbs into the ground, hoping to admire the tulip carpet from the window of their country house. But it is worth, nevertheless, to pay attention to the fact that the label performs not only decorative functions.
It usually says what time of year these bulbs should be planted.
In most cases, this will be either late spring or fall. "Autumn" bulbs, bought in advance, must be kept in a paper bag, and planted in the ground just before winter. The Internet is replete with stories about the tricks that Dutch tulip lovers had to resort to in order to get a decent result, you can take any you like as the basis of your activity.
Amsterdam parks
But Amsterdam is not famous for tulips alone, and the whole of Holland. Parks are another “green pearl” of the country. Despite the fact that it is very crowded in Amsterdam, in some places there is little space even for pedestrians, each district of the city has its own park.
Vondelpark is the largest and perhaps the most beautiful in the city. The architect J. D. Zocher developed his project in 1877, based on the design of a classic English park. Here open spaces, tracts of trees, ponds of various shapes and sizes, intricately winding paths, and various flower beds alternate rhythmically. The park is named after the famous Dutch playwright and poet Joost van den Vondel - to whom a monument is erected here. The park is located in the southwestern part of the city and stretches from the Museum Square to the fashionable residential areas, where life is pleasant and serene. The time passes in this park just as pleasantly and serenely. There is a large playground with children's attractions designed for active children's games, four terraces where you can drink coffee and have a snack, skateboarding, and many gazebos. The city authorities approached the problem of prohibitions in a non-trivial way, as a result, it is forbidden to walk dogs without leashes in Vondelpark, but both heterosexual and homosexual couples are allowed to have sex: Amsterdam, you know ... the capital of freedom ... Despite this state of affairs, the park, from the first years of its existence, has become a favorite resting place not only for residents of nearby respectable quarters, but also for all townspeople.
Less famous and not so extensive parks are also popular: Sarfatipark, Western Park, located in the western part of the city, East - which is located, respectively, in the eastern part of Amsterdam. Small parks such as Erasmus and Batrix are also popular. The climate in the city is not generous in the sun, so many townspeople try to spend any sunny day in their favorite park. As a result, parks are sometimes very popular and "densely populated" places.
The full name of another Amsterdam park is Natura Artis Magistra, which means “Nature is the mentor of art”.
The full name of another Amsterdam park is Natura Artis Magistra, which means “Nature is the mentor of art”. This is the Amsterdam Zoo, which was founded in 1833. The zoo is located within walking distance from the Waterlooplein metro station, and trams 9 and 14 stop near it. Many rare animals are kept in this zoo and displayed to its visitors. Wildlife lovers know that it was in this zoo that the last quagga on the planet was kept, and they still grieve that this animal died in 1883. Amsterdam Zoo is also famous for the fact that on its territory there are a planetarium, zoological and geological museums. You can visit the zoo at Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, from 9 am to 6 pm, a full entrance ticket costs 23 EUR.
Holland parks
Of interest to travelers, especially young ones, is the Madurodam park - Holland in miniature. Here are a lot of accurately and finely executed models of the country's landmarks, 1:25 scale. The design of the park has not changed since the day it was opened in 1952, but new layouts were added, moreover, they were made using the latest technologies. So, in the layout of the Amsterdam airport, induction technology is used, which allows you to show the takeoff of the aircraft. You can devote a lot of time to a walk in this wonderful park, and you can recharge your departing forces in one of the two local restaurants. Both are arranged in such a way that their panoramic windows offer a view of the exhibits of the wonderful park. In the souvenir shop, tourists will be offered a lot of pretty little things as a keepsake of visiting Madurodam, which will be very difficult to resist buying.
Madurodam receives guests every day all year round: from March 24 to September 4 from 09:00 to 20:00, on other days: from 09:00 to 17:00. A full ticket costs 16.50 EUR. You can get here from The Hague Central Station by tram number 9, bus number 22, or by car. Parking in Madurodam is paid, 7.50 EUR.
One cannot fail to mention one of the most beautiful and vibrant parks in Europe, the Keukenhof park. The best verbal description of the park is very short: "This is a must see." Indeed, how can you describe in words how magnificent the spectacle of multi-colored and varied tulips, hyacinths, irises, carnations, planted in even rows, and on flower beds of intricate shapes? How can you describe in words the waves of subtle aromas that overtake park visitors when the wind blows?
The park was designed by the same architect who created the Vondelpark in Amsterdam, J. D. Zocher, so there are some similarities between the two parks. More than 7 million plant bulbs are planted in Keukenhof every year and more than 800,000 tourists visit, each of whom takes with them an unforgettable experience.
One cannot fail to mention one of the most beautiful and vibrant parks in Europe, the Keukenhof park. The best verbal description of the park is very short: "This is a must see."
Due to its specifics, the park is open every year from March 24 to May 20. The easiest way to get to the park is by bus, which departs from Amsterdam, from Dam Square at 9:30 am. The ticket costs 28.50 EUR (12.50 EUR - for children), the journey takes about one and a half hours. If you buy tickets at the ticket offices of the park yourself, they will cost 16 EUR for adults, 8 EUR for children from 4 to 11 years old, and parking will cost 6 EUR. Since 2012, a new excursion has been offered: a survey of the Keukenhof park and its surroundings from the air. Tourist flights are operated by DC-3 aircraft at an altitude of 450 meters, last 30 minutes, and cost from 130 EUR. The excursion starts on Wednesdays and Saturdays in April from the Schiphol Airport's Jet Center in Schiphol East.
Holland Festival
The most beautiful annual event is directly related to the Keukenhof Park: the Flower Parade. This grand show takes place in April, when tulips and other flowers are at their peak. A multitude of platforms, inventively decorated with flowers, follow a pre-announced route through the cities of Holland, allowing residents and guests of the country to admire the magnificent sight. From year to year, the route changes slightly, but all 64 years the procession starts in the city of Noordwijk, and always passes along the alleys of the world famous Keukenhof park. The procession moves strictly in time, so you can choose in advance in which city you can join the crowd of enthusiastic spectators. Those who want to consider everything in detail should carefully study the route and opt for the city where the whole procession pauses in motion to rest and have lunch.
When the euro exchange rate for tomorrow may turn out to be whatever, people are ready to invest money even into the air. The most beautiful financial pyramid - of tulips - once collapsed in the Netherlands. The common people went bankrupt, the economy resisted, but the state made the right conclusions.
As soon as buds bloom on the trees in Amsterdam, carts with tulips appear on the streets.
At the world's largest flower auction-exchange FloraHolland about 20 million flowers are sold daily. Tulips alone last season bought 1.8 billion pieces. The exchange has been selling flowers for 100 years. It is strategically located next to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Trades are held five days a week, from 7 to 10-11 am. Exchange FloraHolland supply 5,000 cooperative companies. Goods are brought to the auction the night before or early in the morning, carefully examined and placed in refrigerators.
Customers are seated in the hall, where carts with plants pass along a conveyor belt in front of them. At this time, the electronic board shows the current price of the lot. Initially, it is maximum, it decreases until the first customer clicks the button in front of him.
Flowers sold at auction appear in stores in Europe and the USA in the evening or in the morning of the next day.
Photo: GETTY IMAGES / FOTOBANK.COM
Stolen happiness
Tulips are the most important export commodity for the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the national symbol of the country is far from being of Dutch origin. The flower is believed to have been brought to Europe from Constantinople in the 1550s by the Austrian ambassador to Turkey, Ogier de Busbeck. A large shipment of bulbs was sent to the Vienna Garden of Medicinal Plants, run by the Flemish botanist Charles de l'Ecluse, better known as Karl Clusius. He was actively engaged in the selection of a flower, named after the eastern headdress "turban" (from the Turkish tulbend). When Clusius was invited to work as curator of the botanical garden at Leiden University in Holland, he took several bulbs with him. Charles planted them in 1593, and tulips bloomed for the first time in the Netherlands in 1594.
However, the cultivation of overseas flowers in Holland was not easy. In the first winter, more than 100 bulbs were eaten by mice, and it took years to develop new ones. The scientist did not sell tulips grown with such difficulty, except that he shared the results of selection with fellow craftsmen working at the royal courts of Europe. It is not surprising that thieves visited the biologist's garden in 1596 and 1598. And after the death of Clusius (in 1609), exotic flowers began to appear on the market, becoming the "virus" of the disease that struck Holland for several years.
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SELECTION Rembrandt tulips ( Rembrandt Group) - one of 15 classes into which all currently existing varieties are divided. It combines flowers of variegated color with bizarre strokes and spots on the petals. In the 17th century, this color arose in connection with the defeat of the bulbs with the variegated virus. Sick flowers were the most beautiful and expensive. It was they who were depicted in the paintings by the artists. Due to the fact that these tulips became a popular motif in Dutch painting, they were later combined into a class named after the most famous local artist, Rembrandt. However, the virus that gave rise to an unusual varietal trait eventually led to the degeneration of the "damaged" ( broken) tulips, and the original varieties have not survived to this day. Modern Rembrandt tulips are bred without the virus - from varieties showing signs of this class. They usually fall into other classes at the same time. "Tulips in a Vase" by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, 17th century. Photo: DIOMEDIA |
Flower plague
Today tulip bulbs in the Netherlands are sold at every turn. According to Paula, a saleswoman in one of the many flower shops in Amsterdam, six of her ten customers buy tulips: “These are inexpensive flowers. For three to five euros, you can buy a bouquet of 10 pieces. The price for them practically does not change from season to season. For example, if we make money on roses only on special “romantic” occasions like Valentine's Day, then tulips are bought all the time - and for no reason. "
Bulbs of all varieties on the Bloemenmarkt. Photo: GETTY IMAGES / FOTOBANK.COM
In the 17th century, such a thing was even impossible to imagine. Then the prices for tulips grew every day. The fashion for the novelty has spread among the best royal gardens in Europe. The tulip has become a symbol of status and wealth, aristocrats and those who aspired to their circles wanted to have it.
In the 1630s, the Netherlands was in a state of economic prosperity and became the main commercial and financial center of Northern Europe. Thanks to the success of the Dutch West India Company, which colonized a number of lands, including part of Portuguese Brazil, many amassed decent capital that needed to be invested in something. Fashionable and expensive tulips came in handy.
At first, exotic plants were traded in April - May, that is, during their flowering, but with the growth in demand, speculators appeared who began to sell the bulbs, and then simply receipts of the right to purchase them in the future. That is, sellers sold tulips that they did not have yet or that did not exist at all in nature.
Ordinary people also rushed headlong into the tulip pool. It was something like a "feast" during the plague that raged in 1633-1637. In the face of a deadly disease, the financial risks did not seem significant, and many were willing to invest in popular flowers with whatever they had. The tulip craze went down in history under the name "tulip mania" ( tulpenmanie). Flower fever peaked in December 1636 - by this time, tulip prices had risen 20 times compared to October of the same year. There is a legend that during that amazing period in the history of the Netherlands, an English sailor was put behind bars just because he ate an onion. The poor fellow stole the trophy from someone's garden, confusing it with an ordinary bow. In terms of cost, the "dish" turned out to be equivalent to the annual ration of the entire crew of the ship.
Europa League match in Amsterdam between Chelsea and Benfica
preceded by a procession with giant tulips (15 May 2013).
Photo: CORBIS / FOTO S.A.
The most expensive flower is a rare red and white tulip Semper Augustus, its value reached 3000 florins. In those days, it was fabulous money! There were pranksters who made lists of goods that could be bought on them: 8 well-fed piglets, 4 oxen, 12 fattened sheep, 24 tons of wheat, 48 tons of rye, 2 barrels of wine, 4 barrels of beer, 2 tons of butter, 500 kilograms of cheese, a bed with a mattress and bed linen, a suit, a silver mug, and another - a ship that could take it all away.
In January 1637, when new entrants to the market could not afford even the cheapest onion, the bubble burst. On April 27, 1637, the government banned futures contracts. As a result of the sharp drop in the market, thousands of ordinary people went broke. However, the state did not intervene in disputes between sellers and buyers, since the tulip market developed in isolation from the country's economy. And she suffered very little.
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READING ROOM “The Haarlem Horticultural Society has been at the right height by donating 100,000 florins for a tulip bulb. The city did not want to lag behind him and allocated the same amount for the organization of the celebration in honor of the award. And now the Sunday appointed for this ceremony became the day of popular rejoicing. An extraordinary enthusiasm gripped the townspeople. Even those who had the mocking character of the French, accustomed to making fun of everyone and everything, could not help but admire these glorious Dutch, who were ready with the same ease to spend money on building a ship to fight enemies, that is, to maintain national honor, and on reward for discovering a new one. a flower that was destined to shine one day and entertain women, scientists and the curious during that day. " |
Healthy harvest
With a certain amount of wisdom, negative experiences work better than positive ones. The Dutch drew useful conclusions from a bitter lesson and did not give up the flower. Having become more affordable, tulips began to be cultivated on an industrial scale. By 1844, about 5,000 varieties were bred.
Today in the Netherlands, 22,500 hectares of land are allotted for tulip cultivation, on which about three billion flowers grow: two of them are exported, and one remains in the country. If all these tulips are planted at a distance of 10 centimeters from each other, they will round the equator seven times.
Surprisingly, the climate of the Netherlands suited the flower, born in Asia, perfectly. The sandy soils off the coast of the North Sea were gradually adapted for flower cultivation, resulting in the emergence of the famous region Duin-en Bollenstreek(Dutch "region of dunes and bulbs") - one of the most visited places in the Netherlands.
Aryan Smith owns 18 hectares of land, on which he grows up to 10 million tulips annually. He is the owner of a family business Arjan Smit, among others supplying flowers to the auction FloraHolland.
“We use the latest technology to grow tulips,” says Smith. - Out of season, the bulbs are kept in a special freezer. Two weeks before landing in the greenhouses, they are placed in containers filled with rainwater, which we collect from the roofs of the greenhouses. During the rooting period, the bulbs especially need moisture, so we use a special filter system in which water is constantly circulated and purified, but at the same time retains the organic sediment. This allows you to get especially high quality tulips. In greenhouses, flowers ripen in three weeks. "
Special machines cut ripe tulips and pack those that have passed computer quality control into bouquets. Firm Arjan Smit sells not only bouquets, but also bulbs, in particular those bred personally by the owner.
Tulips blooming in the fields are cut by special machines. Photo: EAST NEWS
“Every year we bring a new variety to the market. This year I introduced the tulip tiliro... Its name combines the names of my children - Tim, Lisa and Rosa. The subject of special pride is the variety royal virgin... This is a perfectly white tulip. It took fifteen years to create it, says Aryan. - Why so long? It takes several years to cross different varieties and grow seedlings. After that, we choose the best ones and test, test for many years in a row. The new variety must differ from the existing ones - either in color, or shape, or persistence. The more features, the higher the value. "
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LEGEND The black tulip does not exist in nature, despite numerous attempts to breed it. The flower became famous thanks to the novel "Black Tulip" by Alexandre Dumas. It refers to the events of 1672, when the municipality of Haarlem announced a prize of 100,000 florins to the author of such a flower. The writer was allegedly inspired by the legend of a shoemaker from The Hague, who declared that he had a black tulip - the dream of every gardener. Hearing about this, the Haarlem florist syndicate decided to get hold of the rare flower. After a short bargaining, the shoemaker agreed to 1,500 florins and brought the tulip to the buyers. The florists threw the flower on the floor and trampled it, exclaiming: “Idiot! We also have a black tulip, and you will no longer have a chance to grow it. " And finally, they added that if the owner asked, he could be paid 10,000 florins. The same evening the shoemaker hanged himself. Tulips varieties Black Hero and Ice Wonder. Photo: EAST NEWS |
Children of flowers
In the system of Dutch values, the tulip occupies a special place. For a Dutchman, it is considered an honor when a new variety is named after him for special services to the fatherland. Among the country's most respected citizens, who have earned their "star" flower, football player Danny Blind, former Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and astronaut Andre Kuipers. And for ordinary residents of the Netherlands, the tulip remains just a favorite flower, accessible and always desired.
“Tulips are as much a symbol of our country as cheese or marijuana,” says 60-year-old Greta Hopma. - Which is more popular: tulips or grass? The police probably know better. But everyone loves tulips here. "
Greta lives in the north of the country in the city of Groningen. In her free time from her grandchildren, she is not averse to tinkering in the garden, where, among other flowers, she grows tulips. And 40 years ago, this woman was a hippie to the bone. As did her husband. Such, as they, were called "children of flowers": they decorated themselves with flowers, presented them to passers-by and inserted them into weapon muzzles. By protesting against social norms, local hippies have achieved great social change, which has given the Netherlands a reputation as the most freedom-loving country in the world.
Photo: East News
Hippies loved everything bright and catchy. Many Dutch people still prefer bright accents in clothes, interiors, and surroundings. Tulips adorn almost every window sill in Amsterdam. “They are so different, so everyone likes them,” says Greta. - I often hear that it is gray in our country and that tulips compensate us for the lack of bright colors. This is not true! In the Netherlands, it is more sunny than cloudy. But tulips are spring flowers, they bring a feeling of joy. They are always sold in a bouquet, no need to puzzle over how to make it. Suitable for all ages and occasions - prom, wedding, funeral. Small, comfortable, thornless, don't need any special care. What's more ... They are simple, welcoming and friendly, just like us Dutch. "
Things to do in Amsterdam
SEE Keukenhof is a royal flower park founded in 1840. Located in Lisse, between Amsterdam and The Hague. Open to the public from March 20 to May 18. |
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Eat hotspot ( hutspot) - traditional mashed potatoes, carrots and onions (served with meat of your choice) in a restaurant De blauwe hollander. |
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DRINK UP local beer in Cafe Karpershoek- one of the oldest breweries in the city, founded in 1606. |
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LIVE in a floating hotel Amstel Botel overlooking the bay Hey. |
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MOVE by metro, bus, tram and ferry. BUY as a gift tulip bulbs for Bloemenmarkt, the oldest flower market in the city, for myself - a product with a diamond in the factory Coster diamonds operating since 1840. Photo: EAST NEWS, GETTY IMAGES / FOTOBANK.COM, TONYV3112 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, DIOMEDIA (X3), © OPENSTREETMAP PARTICIPANTS |
A friend brought me tulip bulbs from Amsterdam. I really asked her to go to the flower market in the city and buy me real Dutch tulips. The time is certainly not the most suitable time for a purchase, but there was no other opportunity.
The bulbs were brought in. They are very large, at least in our stores they look poorer. But the worst thing was that these bulbs began to rot. Apparently there is a lot of moisture, not dried. But it's a pity if such beauty disappears.
And I made the decision to conduct another experiment, to plant spoiled bulbs in pots.
These are the tulips that came to my village.
I understand that the bulbs must be disinfected. I have a stock of potassium permanganate, it has been stored for a long time. It is necessary to hold the bulbs in the solution.
I prepared such a solution
Put the bulbs in it
And then she put them in such containers.
So the experiment began. I will definitely post pictures of how the fate of these onions will turn out. I really want to save them, and then to normal land, to a flower bed, so that this beauty pleases.
Who kept the onions at home, write where to put them in order to be preserved - in warm, cold, dry or humid rooms. I would be very grateful for your advice.
The most famous location for a photo shoot in tulip fields is, of course, Keukenhof, the Royal Dutch Tulip Park. Almost every girl, woman, grandmother dreams of getting here. By the way, there are more men among the Chinese visitors.
The park was founded in 1840. It is located 30 km from Amsterdam, in the town of Lisse. And it works a little less than 2 months a year - from late March to mid-May. In 2018, the park will be open from March 22 to May 13.
Already at the entrance to the city of Lisse, huge tulip fields begin. But in this part of the country they are cut off early, in May the picture looks like this in the fields:
But fields can still be found along the highway in the north of the Netherlands, around the cities of Drachten, Groningen.
Today in the Netherlands, more than 22 thousand hectares of land are allocated for the cultivation of tulips, on which about three billion flowers grow. Two thirds of them are exported, and only one third remains in the country. Tulips are the Netherlands' most important export commodity. By the way, the first tulips were brought from Constantinople in the 1550s. It's amazing how the flowers born in Asia got along and took root in the northern country.
In the Lisse area, you can see how huge harvesters cut ripe tulips and pack those that have passed computer quality control into bouquets. And those that do not correspond to the quality remain by the side of the road
There is a market next to the park, where the range of fresh bouquets and bulbs is many times greater than that at the famous Bloemenmarkt flower market in the center of Amsterdam. Here is a bunch of 50 tulips in Lisse costs 3-5 euros, in Amsterdam 10 euros:
And we do not waste time and go to the park.
The entrance ticket costs 16-17 euros, parking is 6 euros. There are bus or train transfers to the park from Amsterdam Airport, Central Station and Haarlem. Tickets in this case are combined and equal from 24.5 to 35 euros (depending on the starting point, the cost for a round trip). More details about transfers are scheduled.
We arrived by car on May 5th. We were afraid to see only wilted flower beds, but we were lucky with the cold weather a week before our trip.
Admiring the pictures:
This place should have been colored fields of tulips, but only pale daffodils were found. The tulips have already been cut. There are 3 panoramic areas in the park, from where a beautiful view of the fields should open in April, but not May:
Various varieties. By the way, the main pride of the Dutchman is that a new variety of tulips will be named after you.
Postcards for all women's holidays are ready for many years to come:
The main flowerbed, meets us at the entrance to the park:
The landscape of the park. Please also note the small number of visitors. We went in at about 15 o'clock. The park closes at 19:30. We ran almost until closing time, missed something, but there are still a lot of impressions:
And this we successfully got to the flowering of fruit trees. The tulip fields were missed, but the trees combined with the flower beds are just wow:
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The visitor harmoniously blended into the background
Recently, helicopter tours have also been organized in the park.
In addition to flower beds and fields, the park has 3 indoor greenhouses where flower festivals are organized. In 2017, we could not take our eyes off the colorful bouquets in one of the pavilions: 
The scenery is very cool:
You must go to the pavilions!
Orchid Pavilion: 
So, you must visit the Royal Tulip Park at least once! It works from late March to mid-May. Specifically, every year you need to clarify the dates of work on the park's website.
Tickets to Amsterdam from the most popular cities:
In general, interesting offers at a price for this period (March-May) appear around January. Airline KLM regularly launches sales on air tickets after the winter holidays.
Accommodation in Amsterdam itself is above the European average, but you can look for very interesting hotels further from Amsterdam itself. Thus, to see a country that is very different from the capital.
We traveled all over the Netherlands from Belgium (Antwerp) to Germany (Bremen). Incredible and very interesting. Therefore, in addition to Amsterdam, you can include the following cities in your trip:
1. The Hague. We are in awe of the Madurodam miniature park and promenade. The Louwman Museum and the Peace Palace are interesting here.
2. Rotterdam fascinates with modern architecture. And the Kinderdijk mill complex.
3. The Belgian-Dutch town of Barle-Hertog, walking along which you cross the border between Belgium and the Netherlands 24 times !!!
4. An open-air park with mills and local industries in Zaandam
By the way, this whole route with a visit to Keukenhof (tulip park) took us only 3 days. But it's not worth repeating)))
Route Saint Petersburg - Paris for 3 weeks, via 8 countries
Enjoy your trips and a lot of impressions to YOU!
A trip to tulip fields is a chance to be surrounded by a sea of flowers, which does not happen so often. In April - early May there is such an opportunity in Holland. Come and be sure to use it!
When do tulip fields in Holland bloom?
The beginning of the tulip bloom season is highly dependent on how cold winter and spring are. Naturally, this is unpredictable, so it is impossible to guarantee exactly when tulips will bloom in 2020.
However, for a guide, according to the experience of previous years: the greatest chances of catching tulip fields in bloom are from about the 20th of April to the second week of May.
You can follow how and where tulips, daffodils, hyacinths are blooming at the moment on the FlowerRadar website.
Where to find tulip fields in Holland?
The fields are located in the area of the towns of Lisse, Hillegom, Noordwijkerhout, Zilk. More precise coordinates of the fields blooming at the time of your visit can be clarified, again, on the FlowerRadar website.
If you are traveling without a car, here are the two easiest ways to get to the flower fields:
Bike trail maps that go through the tulip fields are also available.
Is it ok to go to tulip fields?
Let's be honest, farmers are not always delighted with the fact that toplines of those who want to take beautiful photos come to their property. There are signs in some of the fields asking you not to walk on them. sensitive varieties of flowers grow there, and infection can be carried out on the soles of shoes. In other cases, the fields are often surrounded by a moat.
However, among the flower fields, you can also find those to which there is open access. There, according to unspoken rules, you can go. Naturally, it is worth respecting the work of farmers and treating flowers with care. You cannot pick tulips in the fields!
Helicopter tours over tulip fields
Do you want something completely different? Order helicopter tour over tulip fields... Tour cost - 129 euros per person.
Please note: helicopter tours are available just a few days for the entire season: April 4, April 11, April 12, April 18, April 25 and April 26, 2020. Limited number of seats. You can clarify the program and book a tour.
Where else can you see tulips in bloom in Holland?
In the Royal Park of Flowers, of course. In 2020, the Keukenhof will be open from 21 March to 10 May. Opening hours - from 8.00 to 19.30. Ticket offices are open until 18:00.
You can buy tickets online, which will significantly save you time at the entrance to the park.
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Where to stay during your trip to Keukenhof? Check out the hotels in Lisse, Noordwijk, Leiden and Haarlem. Keukenhof is easily accessible from all of these cities.