Cheese markets, fields of tulips, windmills and wooden shoes are what the Netherlands is known for, but right now, you probably can’t go there to enjoy them in person.
But you can visit one of Holland’s star attractions, Keukenhof Gardens, with its more than 7 million spring-flowering bulbs. All you need to visit the park is a phone or computer.
Keukenhof, with its thousands of tulip varieties and array of other flowers, is being brought to you through virtual tours led by Bart Siemerink, managing director of Keukenhof, the park’s gardener of 34 years Andre Beijk, and others.
“If you can’t come to Keukenhof, we’ll bring Keukenhof to you,” Siemerink says in a YouTube video posted March 21.
More than 60,000 bulbs were planted at Keukenhof last fall, and many of them are in full bloom, Siemerink says in Dutch as he stands amid fields of tulips, daffodils and crocuses. Crouching down to cradle a vibrant red Showwinner tulip in his hand, Siemerink explains that only tulips are red at Keukenhof, and the Showwinner is the first red tulip to bloom in the park each year.
Black tulips will come into bloom in the upcoming weeks, he says. I don’t speak Dutch — the video has English subtitles.
In another video, Siemerink explains that tulips originated somewhere between Turkey and China and were brought to Holland more than 400 years ago.
Beijk talks about the gardens he has worked in for more than three decades from what he calls “my favorite and oldest spot, the lake garden.” This part of the park features, as you might imagine, a lake, along with mature trees, grass that is resown every year, and, of course, tulips and other flowers, Beijk says.
“If you work here, the water brings so much peace, and that makes this part of Keukenhof my favorite,” he says.
Several more videos will be posted as the season continues.
Keukenhof will not open to the public this year due to the global coronavirus pandemic, but the gardens’ future will not suffer because of this, park officials said in an official statement.
johnson.immanuel@stripes.com Twitter: Manny_Stripes
ADDRESSES: Video with Bart Siemerink: youtu.be/a0VXJL1AT4g; Siemerink explains tulips: youtu.be/AGbAagV005s; Lake garden with Andre Beijk: youtu.be/CP0uUAjt4GU; Video without narration: youtube.com/watch?v=dqMA5s-N1Uw; More videos are available at the Visit Keukenhof YouTube page.
INFORMATION: Online: keukenhof.nl; telephone: +31 252 465 555