Amsterdam Day Three - Visiting Keukenhof

Today we set out to Keukenhof for the day. We bought a combo ticket that included a train to the airport, then a bus to Keukenhof, and entry into Keukenhof.

So what is Keukenhof? Wikipedia says it is one of the world's largest flower gardens. It is an amazing outdoor setting, comprised of 32 hectares of paths, lakes, canals and gardens. It is only open for 2 months of the year.

I didn't know what to expect, I was just tagging along with Helen and Gwen. Upon arrival I was greeted with a scene of at least 50 tour buses, with hoards of tourists, a large car park full of cars, and a steady stream of buses like ours dropping people off. This is clearly a serious operation, designed to cater to masses of people. There were also lines of people trying to use the toilets. At this point, I was worried. What were we letting ourselves in for?

The moment we got inside, I was amazed and impressed. The gardens are spectacular, and every section has something different to offer. It's a photographers paradise and once everyone spreads out, there seems to be plenty of space for everyone. There are many places to relax and buy drinks and eats, and enjoy the sunshine.

We had a beautiful sunny day, although there was a gentle breeze that was quite chilly. I had chosen to wear shorts, and was slightly under dressed, but not too bad.

So I'll let some of these photos speak for themselves. Just a small selection of the hundred or so I took.

We also went on a canal ride. Surrounding Keukenhof is miles and miles of flower plantations, with canals running around and through them. The canal ride was informative and entertaining. In particular, we learned that in winter time the canals freeze over, and people ice skate in a set circuit, there are signs for skaters telling them which direction to take at each "intersection". By now, we are a little late in the season and many of the flowers are dying, a necessary part of the process for bulbs to multiply. However there were still some rows of tulips beautiful and bright. Also lots of birds raising young families around the canals!

We didn't leave until after 4pm, so we filled up a whole day here. After that, we returned home via bus, train and tram, then visited the local restaurant on the corner near we're staying for dinner.

Tomorrow, we rent a car for one day and take a look around the countryside.