Keukenhof Gardens

On our final full day, the goal was tulips, which was our primary reason for the cruise. Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens and consists of 80-acres of tulips, as well as many other flowers, including hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations and irises.

It is about 40 kilometers from Amsterdam  and attracts locals and tourists.  Close to two million visit annually, which is particularly amazing because it is only open to visitors for eight weeks in the spring. The week after we visited, all the tulips were going to be harvested for bulbs.

Our tour directors explained that our early start was to ensure we got there before it was too crowded. I didn’t mind the other people, except that I didn’t want them in my pictures!

There are more than nine miles of footpaths to wander about, so we explored, exclaiming at certain expanses of flowers, and occasionally taking refuge inside to warm up. None of the pictures really do it justice, unfortunately.

Keukenhof was once the kitchen garden of a 15th century castle. The current park was established in 1949 by a consortium of bulb growers and flower exporters to showcase their products and support the export industry. I am guessing the windmill is there just for tourists but I obliged by posing with our two friends from West Roxbury.

Every year 7 million bulbs are donated by members of the consortium and are planted from October to December. The flowerbeds are carefully planned so that there will be blooms throughout the Keukenhof's eight weeks.  Earlier in the week when one of the guides had said casually that the tulip season was over, I had been worried but there was an abundance of tulips.  There were endless flower beds and there were also themed gardens.  I think the one below was meant to be an English garden.

I could use one of their 40 gardeners! I tried talking to one but he must have been the only person in the Netherlands who did not speak English. He could tell I was admiring his work, however, and beamed at me. I came very close to buying tulip bulbs to bring home but the guy at the shop warned me they would be confiscated and told me to shop in duty free at the airport instead.

The dark tulips fascinate me!

We were back on the ship for a late lunch. I was thinking about visiting the Resistance Museum in the afternoon but my mother wanted to stay warm on the ship. I opted for a shorter expedition and explored the commercial area near the ship. I walked about a mile to a Waterstone’s where I browsed, before purchasing the first book in a mystery series set in Amsterdam I had noticed at Daunt Books (which didn’t have book one). I checked out a few stores on the way back and was impressed by how many different languages I heard as I strolled.

I was back at the Amadeus in time for tea and enjoyed some chocolate mousse while I tried to catch up on my blog. We should have attended the captain’s cocktail party but my mother wasn’t in the mood, so we simply headed to dinner at 7, although the dining room wasn’t open yet.

Afternoon Tea - I could get used to this!

When we finally were able to sit down, we wondered who would dine with us on our last night – and were pleased that it was Teresa and Dan, the couple from Boulder we liked so much. We talked about sewing and opera, which is not what one would have expected but was very fun. There was a great moment when the lights went off and all the servers carried in the Baked Alaska and paraded about!

There’s a melancholy on the last night of a group trip that reminds me of a college reunion: all the introductions and friendliness at the beginning, then everyone leaves in a hurry at the end with barely a goodbye! 

Baked Alaska

However, it was a very fun week and I appreciated the organization and instructions at the end. The staff ordered us a taxi to the Amsterdam airport and said breakfast would be available at 6 am.