Amsterdam's Tulip Day
Tue, Jan 22 2013 02:54
| National Tulip Day, blog, thing to do Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Dam Square, tulips
| Permalink
When in Amsterdam...Tulip Season has started. The Dutch tulip season officially kicked off as Amsterdam's Dam Square played host to the second annual National Tulip Day. To mark the event, a special tulip garden was set up on the square and everyone was invited to come and pick a bunch of tulips - for free!
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| Tulip Day Amsterdam's Dam Square |
It was a blustery, cold day in Amsterdam, but big crowds braved the elements to join in the fun. Around 200000 tulips were set up in front of the Royal Palace and everyone was welcome to take home up to 20 tulips, including the bulbs.
The Dutch fascination with tulips peaked in the 1630's in an episode known as Tulip Mania. Whilst Amsterdam was at the height of its Golden Century, tulips became the centre of an economic bubble that made and lost fortunes overnight. When the bubble burst in February, 1637, the unfortunate were left with hoards of tulips worth a fraction of the price they had paid for them.
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| Tulip Man on Amsterdam's Dam Square |
The tulip is no longer seen as a way to get rich quick, they still hold a special place in the Dutch psyche. It is estimated that 1.7 billion Dutch tulips are enjoyed every year throughout the world. At the end of the Second World War, the Dutch Royal family sent 100000 tulips to the Canadian government as a thank you for offering them sanctuary during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Ottawa now has the second largest tulip festival in the world.
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| Music Organ on Dam Square, Amsterdam |
The tulip season runs each year in the Netherlands from January until the end of April. During this time of year tulips become ubiquitous throughout Amsterdam in shop windows and gardens. Why fight the crowds in the Keukenhof to see them when they are right here to be seen!
When in Amsterdam... enjoy the spring!.
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Holland's Keukenhof Gardens Open: Happy Spring!
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| Flowers on Thursday: Tulips |
When in Amsterdam...visit the Keukenhof Gardens. It is Spring everyone! Yesterday marked the official beginning of the new season. Today the gates have been flung open of the Keukenhof Gardens.
The Keukenhof Garden is a 32 hectare park filled with tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other spring bulbs. 7 million bulbs are hand planted at the park every year. The Park is open from March 22 until May 20 every year.
Located at Lisse, which is in between Amsterdam and The Hague. This area is famous for its bulbs. During spring the tulip fields flower creating field after field of colour. Yellow tulips have already sprung up and now the others are slowly popping up with the warmer and longer days.
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| When in Amsterdam...visit to the Keukenhof 2011 |
The Keukenhof Gardens is something that you must do at least once in your life if in the Netherlands. The photos never do justice to the wonderful display of colour. The best way to get there is on public transport. Go to the Keukenhof website and buy a combo-ticket. This ticket includes park entrance and also return bus from Amsterdam airport to the Gardens. From Amsterdam Airport you can catch a train straight to Amsterdam Centraal Station. Don't take expensive bus and day trip tours to the Keukenhof Gardens from Amsterdam. There is no need and you will probably end up in a traffic jam.
Our Number One Tip is to go early. The Keukenhof Gardens is the largest tourist attraction in the Netherlands. Over the 60 year history of the gardens more than 44 million people have visited. There are normally many traffic jams around lunch time onwards as buses and cars try to reach the park along the narrow roads of normally quiet, rural Holland. CNN Travel, the American News Station has listed Keukenhof as one of the world's top attractions to see in 2012.
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| Keukenhof Gardens Holland |
Flower Thursday: Tulips and Daffodils from Amsterdam
Thu, Mar 15 2012 04:19
| bulbs, when in Amsterdam, things to do, shopping, Amsterdam, market, tulips
| Permalink
When in Amsterdam....buy flowers. Amsterdam is famous for tulips and bulbs. There is even a song Tulips are from Amsterdam. The Keukenhof Gardens are about to open (22 March) and Floriade a once in 10 year flower event is in on in the south of the Netherlands, Venlo this year.
During Spring we are going to bring you Flower Thursday. This is a day to show one of the great things about living in Amsterdam, affordable flowers.
This week we thought we might start off with the famous tulip and the daffodil. Spring is here and the bulbs are popping up. At least the Netherlands does not have the Ground Hog and Mole problems that England and many eastern states of the US have, as When in Amsterdam learned on the tours this week.
If you are visiting Amsterdam for more than one day. Go to the nearest street market or the Floating Flower Market here in Amsterdam and put them in your hotel room. A wonderful thing to see when you wake up.
The flowers we bought that are picture above cost €3.50. Less than a pint of beer,or a Starbucks coffee, or a packet of cigarettes.
When in Amsterdam...buy flowers and enjoy!
During Spring we are going to bring you Flower Thursday. This is a day to show one of the great things about living in Amsterdam, affordable flowers.
This week we thought we might start off with the famous tulip and the daffodil. Spring is here and the bulbs are popping up. At least the Netherlands does not have the Ground Hog and Mole problems that England and many eastern states of the US have, as When in Amsterdam learned on the tours this week.
If you are visiting Amsterdam for more than one day. Go to the nearest street market or the Floating Flower Market here in Amsterdam and put them in your hotel room. A wonderful thing to see when you wake up.
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| Tulips and Daffodils(we think) |
When in Amsterdam...buy flowers and enjoy!