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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 , 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 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 Photos: Alamy/getty/Shutterstock

Cathy Bartrop offering great facilities and a lively atmosphere, or you can find beach clubs strike out on your own strike to enjoy the wild dunes, blissed-out beaches or blustery coastal paths. Airlines with direct flights to to flights direct with Airlines To experience a more traditional traditional a more experience To Mid-April is the optimum time time optimum the is Mid-April to get to easy is Keukenhof If you’re lucky enough to enough If you’re lucky In popular coastal resorts such Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. The The Airport. Schiphol Amsterdam’s the minutes, 10 every leave buses minutes 20 around takes journey entrance. the at stops bus the and park the of map free your up Pick and you are away. ● consider Netherlands, the of side districts the of some in staying from Apart Amsterdam. of outside of advantage an else, anything are hotels that is this doing generally cheaper. Here Here we go! of a guest as travelled Cathy Keukenhof and Amsterdam Visit information more For park. and keukenhof.nl/en see iamsterdam.com national the include Amsterdam British as well as KLM carrier Airways, easyJet and Ryanair. Cathy’stips ● their all in fields tulip the see to season the in early too Visit glory. have not may flowers the and have will they and late too opened, been cut and sent to market. ● from directly bus by or car by restaurant. Irreverent perhaps, but very Dutch! the sun is visit Holland when the winter, shining, summer or coast is within easy reach too. The country has one of the most unspoilt coastlines in northern lovely Europe, with sandy beaches. as and Bloemendaal Other churches have been Enjoy Holland’s beautiful, beautiful, Holland’s Enjoy unspoilt coastline fantastic shopping and great fantastic shopping Grote restaurants. The famous central Markt is the historic square at the heart of the city, imposing dominated by the 14th-century cathedral. put to some interesting uses — don’t miss the chance for a a beer tasting at De Jopenkerk, transformed now church former grand café and into a brewery, from from Volendam and Volendam All are . within easy reach Zaandam, Edam, of the capital but Amsterdam the towns of represent a more Holland’ includes Holland’ traditional, slower bus. So-called ‘Old So-called bus. pace of life. This is pace of life. This is where you find the windmills, farmhouses, and clog- and

connected by train and and by train connected is also a great Everywhere is well in Holland alternative base — it’s much smaller than Amsterdam, but with historical still packed interest, art collections, cheesemakers so typically so cheesemakers associated with Holland. the hotel and just two stops and just two stops the hotel away and 12 minutes Station. Central Amsterdam on sale Traditional clogs clogs Traditional ; Haarlem’s Grote Markt Grote ; Haarlem’s

Take a Break extra!

Inside, the rooms are Inside, the rooms are But if you’ve been But if you’ve Clockwise from below: sample some sample below: from Clockwise delicious Dutch cheese; De Jopenkerk brewery Double-room rates start from around 125 euros. The station is only a two-minute walk from spacious, modern and comfortable and, unlike Amsterdam’s canalside buildings, here there are lifts! resemble a stack of the resemble a stack of houses traditionally found in the town. at the Inntel at Zaandam. Its striking façade has been built to before, consider venturing out into the surrounding districts. I stayed enough to fly back and forthenough to over the edge! to Amsterdam panoramic city views from the city views from the panoramic there’s even a — Toren A’DAM for those brave roof swing

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