We will have an extra day pre-tour and would love to see the tulips (April 2015). How and where does one go about seeing these? Is it possible to do a canal cruise, see the tulips, and do the Heineken brewery tour all in one day?
Posted by
OP
St. Louis MO
737 posts
Thank you, Wonderful. I have bookmarked those sites!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
It may not be a dead cert at Keukenhof, but if it isn't it must be the next thing to it.
I would lay you any odds.
Last year some of the flowers were delayed because of the very late spring but there was still plenty to see of the daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips. This year some flowers finished quite early because of the very warm spring. But again, we had to look pretty closely to see the finished bits and what was left was still pretty amazing at the very end of April.
You will be going at peak season for the tulips. Keukenhof spring display is from mid March to Mid May - check the website for exact dates - and the absolute peak is at the Bloemencorso or flower parade from the flower growing fields south of Keukenhof, past the gardens, and into Haarlem where the floats are left for 36 hours to be examined by the thrilled public and children.
To see flowers in Amsterdam itself I would walk from street to street hoping to catch a glance into somebody's garden, or go to the floating flower market to see bulbs and cut flowers but not many growing ones.
Posted by
OP
St. Louis MO
737 posts
Revisiting this post with more questions.....we will arrive in Amsterdam on a Saturday morning so my plans were to visit Keukenhof first thing. My question is, would it be easier to stay that first night (pre-tour) in Amsterdam or Haarlem? I'm thinking of the transportation issue. It sounds like the combi-ticket includes bus directly from airport to the gardens? Is that correct? After the gardens we will either do the Heineken Experience or more likely the Van Gogh museum......
In my scenerio would I be able to see any windmills?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
There is a windmill which you can see up close and personal at de Keukenhof and from that area you can also see farmers' fields with plenty of colour as well as within the Keukenhof.
From the bus you may see a few small windmills but not big ones.
Where are you arriving from that morning, St Louis?
Posted by
OP
St. Louis MO
737 posts
Well, if we leave the US on Friday we will arrive amsterdam Saturday morning......we are not sure where we will stay that night, either in haarlem or amsterdam. So we will be arriving from the hotel if we are able to leave our bags or perhaps we will store our bags at the station/airport depending get on which would be easiest.