Amsterdam OUR HOLIDAYS
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OUR HOLIDAYS: Amsterdam Visit Amsterdam in spring when the tulips are in full bloom, and you’ll understand why the Dutch love them so much the e through tu Tipto 50 Take a Break extra! Left: hire a bike and explore Amsterdam’s popular Vondelpark. Below: the Inntel at Zaandam accessible) to discover the spectacular views of the park is different areas. There are also from the Windmill, where you four large indoor pavilions with can look out over the displays of cut flowers as well as surrounding, privately-owned, exhibits relating to the different tulip fields, which stretch for theme adopted for each year. miles and miles. When they are To ensure blooming at their peak, it’s also worth e for just eights weeks perfection throughout the hiring bikes or taking a ‘whisper tumsterdam mayl have ipevery year from early eight-week season, bulbs are boat’ canal tour of the become the ‘capital March to late April, planted using the ‘lasagne’ surrounding fields. This is an of cool’ in recent years, Keukenhof is a veritable technique — two or sometimes optional extra, not included in but it’s also still a city kaleidoscope of floral wonder. three layers deep, so the park entry cost. steepedA in tradition. The one Over seven million bulbs of that once the early Keukenhof is more than closest to its heart is the tulip. every shade, shape and variety blooms start to fade, doable as a day trip by air but, Tulips didn’t originate in you can imagine are donated a fresh display will having made it to the Holland, but found their way by almost a hundred Dutch emerge. I visited in Netherlands, it would be a there through Dutch explorers bulb growers. Meticulously the final week of the shame not to stay longer. back in the late 16th century. planted by hand in autumn 2016 season and, Amsterdam, of course, has They soon became sought-after by a dedicated team of 30 although some of endless attractions and world- and highly prized. By the 17th gardeners, they bloom to form the displays were famous sights to see. The Anne century tulip mania had a feast for the eyes. past their best Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van gripped the Netherlands. It’s Naturally, tulips are the stars there was still more Gogh Museum and Vondelpark hard to imagine, but back then but there are spring flowers of than enough to see. are just a few things not to miss. just two rare bulbs could buy all kinds — hyacinths, muscari, One of the most You can now also get glorious you a grand canal-side home in daffodils, bluebells and many central Amsterdam. more, all planted in glorious In 1637 the tulip market woodland as well as more crashed, leaving traders structured designs based on facing the prospect of traditional English and financial catastrophe. continental garden styles. Despite this, the Dutch The gardens cover over love of the tulip still 80 acres and it takes about an endures. hour and a half to walk around If you are visiting the perimeter at a brisk pace. Amsterdam in spring, But you won’t do that, you will one place to get your fill linger, you will ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’, of the brightly-coloured take endless photos and, before blooms is at the wonderful you know it, you’ll find Keukenhof park. Open that four or five hours have vanished and Main picture: see the dazzling you still haven’t seen tulip displays at Keukenhof. everything. Left: take a ‘whisper boat’ Follow a network of Left: a statue commemorating Anne Frank. Above: tour of the surrounding fields flat paths (wheelchair a self-portrait on display at the Van Gogh Museum ▼ Take a Break extra! 51 OUR HOLIDAYS: Amsterdam panoramic city views from the the hotel and just two stops A’DAM Toren — there’s even a and 12 minutes away from roof swing for those brave Amsterdam Central Station. enough to fly back and forth Everywhere in Holland is well over the edge! connected by train and But if you’ve been bus. So-called ‘Old to Amsterdam Holland’ includes before, consider the towns of venturing out into Zaandam, Edam, the surrounding Volendam and districts. I stayed Alkmaar. All are at the Inntel at within easy reach Enjoy Holland’s beautiful, Zaandam. Its of the capital but unspoilt coastline striking façade has represent a more been built to traditional, slower resemble a stack of the pace of life. This is fantastic shopping and great restaurant. Irreverent perhaps, houses traditionally Traditional clogs where you find the restaurants. The famous Grote but very Dutch! found in the town. on sale windmills, farmhouses, Markt is the historic central If you’re lucky enough to Inside, the rooms are and clog- and square at the heart of the city, visit Holland when the sun is spacious, modern and cheesemakers so typically dominated by the imposing shining, summer or winter, the comfortable and, unlike associated with Holland. 14th-century cathedral. coast is within easy reach too. Amsterdam’s canalside Haarlem is also a great Other churches have been The country has one of the buildings, here there are lifts! alternative base — it’s much put to some interesting uses most unspoilt coastlines in Double-room rates start from smaller than Amsterdam, but — don’t miss the chance for a northern Europe, with lovely around 125 euros. The station still packed with historical beer tasting at De Jopenkerk, a sandy beaches. is only a two-minute walk from interest, art collections, former church now transformed In popular coastal resorts such into a brewery, grand café and as Zandvoort and Bloemendaal Clockwise from below: sample some you can find beach clubs delicious Dutch cheese; De Jopenkerk offering great facilities and brewery; Haarlem’s Grote Markt a lively atmosphere, or strike out on your own to enjoy the wild dunes, blissed-out beaches or blustery coastal paths. Cathy Bartrop Here we go! Cathy travelled as a guest of Visit Amsterdam and Keukenhof park. For more information see keukenhof.nl/en and iamsterdam.com Airlines with direct flights to Amsterdam include the national carrier KLM as well as British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair. Cathy’s tips ● Mid-April is the optimum time to see the tulip fields in all their glory. Visit too early in the season and the flowers may not have opened, too late and they will have been cut and sent to market. ● Keukenhof is easy to get to by car or by bus directly from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. The buses leave every 10 minutes, the journey takes around 20 minutes Photos: and the bus stops at the entrance. Pick up your free map of the park and you are away. Alamy/getty/Shutterstock ● To experience a more traditional side of the Netherlands, consider staying in some of the districts outside of Amsterdam. Apart from anything else, an advantage of doing this is that hotels are generally cheaper. 52 Take a Break extra!.