Keukenhof

Trip to Amsterdam during spring, would not be complete without the visit to Keukenhof!

Keukenhof, (keuken = kitchen,  hof = garden) is located near Lisse, South Holland is an area of about 80acres ~ 40soccer fields (I guess). The biggest garden in Europe and second largest in the world after Dubai Miracle Garden.

We did not use the I AMSTERDAM card for this visit because it expired (we bought the 48hrs validity pass). For this visit however, we bought an online ticket including transfer to and from Schipol Airport before our trip to Amsterdam.

off to Schipol, sleepy....

We took the train from Zaandam straight to Schipol Airport. Exit the terminal at Exit no 4 and the bus will be there waiting to ferry you to Keukenhof. There's one bus every few minutes so don't rush and try to squeeze yourself in. It will be a half an hour or maybe less trip, but better get yourself a seat.

at Schipol, making our way to the bus stop
at gate of Arrivals 4 

at the bus stop

Bus No 858, aheh..

Somehow the sun eludes us, still. It was drizzling. Here we are, visiting a garden that only opens 8weeks a year (late March till early May) and it rained. But thankfully, since we were in holiday mood a little bit of rain won't spoil it. 

At the information centre, I took the free map, an A-mini Mag (Amsterdam Magazine) and Keukenhof general info brochure at the shelf. Showed the online ticket we printed at the staff and informed me that we could just go straight to the entrance. At the entrance, they scanned the barcode and let us in.

A-mini mag

The content

The bus map

Park brochure

Park map and info

Reading info about the Netherlands in the A-Mag: "The Netherlands produces a staggering 70% of the world's commercial flower output." A lot. I bet if the flowers could talk...for every 10, 7 would speak Dutch (spreken nederlands). 

We've established that tulip is NOT a native plant from Netherlands but Central Asia.. but they made it their own and mastered it. At Aalsmeer known as the "Flower Capital, you could see the biggest flower auction in the world. The trading building is 400 soccer field's worth and traded 21 million cut flowers and 2 million potted plants EVERYDAY!" 

Gloomy, windy, cold and raining...GREAT!
(in a nice way actually, honest)

I can tell you this. Do not...I really mean it, DO NOT come here without a healthy space of memory on your GoPro, mobile, digital SLR, tablet or any digital image recording devices. You will be sorry, I tell you. The moment I entered the place....snap snap snap snap... and you would say Ya Allah! Oh my god! OMG! or whatever you fancy because the flowers were B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!

A very colourful #hyacinth in a big pot taken with my GoPro

Another angle, posted in Instagram @atfiesmy

Just a few feet away from the flower pot of hyacinth... we came across this one and many more along the way... 

Nice bright colour

She said purple tulips..looks pink

This one in purple

Zuhaira and Fikri, same place but 2014 and later in April

Ok, some of the flowers were not blooming yet. But those were already in full bloom, it was nice! This year marked 150th anniversary of the famous painter, Vincent van Gogh. The gardeners designed a picture of van Gogh using tulips bulbs. Imagine if it's in full bloom!

van Gogh in tulips

all smiles!

The windmill at Keukenhof

part of the windmill? the grindstone, maybe?

Scene around the mill at Keukenhof

 We entered the building called Willem-Alexander, the name of the King of Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its like a greenhouse with souvenir shops (one specialises glass art of tulips, of course) and the other right outside one of the entrance (the usual souvenirs..fridge magnet etc). Flowers everywhere and all colours too. The red tulip comes in various hue...Felt like a sissy for going GA-GA admiring the flowers. But the colours...Bright happy colours!

Willem-Alexander greenhouse

It would be nicer if all bloom at the same time!

Trust me, all the pinks are different hue
and different name too

Its tulips... and in red (scarlet)

Just nice. Btw, the lady with maroon jacket brings along her teddy bear and took pictures of the bear beside the tulips

Another angle of the greenhouse

This one called hyacinth, right?

I love this one, put it in Instagram @atfiesmy

Red hue section...maybe it's pink

this two-tone tulips were wonderful!

A military band performing around the park

Note the Chocomel mugs.

As usual, we had snacks. We had fries and mayonnaise, with either coffee or Chocomel. The Chocomel from FrieslandCampina was sinfully nice. Wish they would bring it to Nigeria. Also, am happy to report that the children were in their best of behaviour. Took one last picture at Keukenhof before departing to Schipol.

A large street organ blaring the latest song. Using the GoPro recording Coldplay's "Viva la Vida".
Well, someone did post it on Youtube.

bye Keukenhof

On the bus to Schipol Airport

Both asleep...awwwww

It was great fun! Heard Keukenhof from lots of people. My mum even have a few fridge magnet from Keukenhof. It was a great experience to be there. Took many pictures..these are just a few of them. For more pictures have to wait till I post on the Instagram.