Weekly Flower update 2018 – week 12
Good morning, Just a couple of days until spring is here! I am so excited to start the tulip season! Thank you for all your lovely emails. It is so much fun to read along all your travel plans and kind words. We have a lot of information for this week in our weekly flower update, so let’s get started ….
Current status of the flowers
We can slightly see some color to the fields. Some small fields with daffodils and crocus are in bloom! I am not jumping for joy we are talking about a small number of fields. At this point spring is slightly later than spring 2017 but a couple of warm days can change everything. Unfortunately last weekend it was freezing cold again, we are really looking forward to some warmer weather. See the information about: When are the tulips in bloom in 2018?
What to wear: Bring a warm (waterproof!) coat, scarf and an umbrella because the expected weather is very spring like with rain, wind and some sunshine. Daytime temperatures will be between the 2 and 11 degrees C or between 35 – 50 degrees F. And if you are traveling from a warmer climate a warm hat and closed shoes are recommended.
This Thursday the Keukenhof will open its doors for everyone. For upcoming weekend I expect to see crocus and daffodils in bloom outside and tulips in bloom indoors. It is the very beginning of springtime so I expect that it is too early to see some tulips outside. I am looking forward to the indoor flower shows a lot. The Oranje Nassau Pavilion will have tulips and Lisianthus and the Beatrix Pavilion will have Orchids and Anthurium.
And make sure you have your Skip the line ticket of Keukenhof in advance when traveling by car or your Keukenhof ticket with Public Transportation. If you like to have a bike tour to Keukenhof have a look here. See information about: How to travel to Keukenhof.
Sneak preview Keukenhof 2018
This afternoon I am invited for the official opening event at Keukenhof. Just like previous years we will have a short walk through Keukenhof to see all the new inspiration gardens and some new layouts. I am looking forward to see how the theme of this year: Romance, will be incorporated in all the gardens. Keep an eye to my Twitter and Facebook this afternoon and tomorrow to see some sneak preview photos of Keukenhof.
Meet up: On Saturday morning the 24th of March, I will be photographing tulips in the Willem Alexander Pavillion so when you are at Keukenhof, please come over to say hi. You can recognize me by my blue Tulips in Holland jacket. Love to chat to you all.
Upcoming events
Besides visiting Keukenhof there is so much to do in the direct surroundings of Amsterdam and Keukenhof. Have a look:
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New exhibition Van Gogh & Japan, with a special Van Gogh paining last seen on display in 1930
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Spring Fair at my favorite Bulb farm during opening weekend of Keukenhof
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Open Tower Day in Amsterdam, see Amsterdam from a different perspective on the 24th of March.
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Pick your own bunch of tulips at one of the tulip picking farms during tulip season
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Fairytale festival at Keukenhof every Wednesday during opening Keukenhof
Good to know
Daylight Saving Time
In the Netherlands we switch to daylight saving time (Summertime in Dutch) on Sunday the 25th of March 2018at 2 AM. We will move the clock 1 hour ahead (spring forward). When you have events with a specific starting time on Sunday morning make sure you switch to daylight saving time early in the morning (you don’t want to arrive too late for your tour).
Interesting Apps
Weeronline – a Dutch weather app and very easy to use if you don’t speak Dutch. Best feature for me is the precipitation radar to see if it is about to rain on your location and if so how long it will be raining. Very accurate!
9292 – Public transportation app for the Netherlands. It has an English language option. (Switch to English at the wheel top left, find taal (language in Dutch) and switch to English. Save top right and start the app again. You will now have real time public transportation information for train, bus, etc in the English language. Shows quickest route from one place to another and shows accurate bus and train travel information.
Both apps can be found in the App Store for Iphone and Play store for Android phones.
Tulip Bulb Scams
Unfortunately every country has some people who want to take advantage of unknowing tourist, like unofficial taxis (don’t use them!). During springtime tourists have to be aware for the Tulip Bulb Scams. Please read along if you are planning to buy tulip bulbs this spring.
FAQ
Wishing you a colorful week!
Kind regards from Tulips in Holland,
Nienke
Source: Tulips in Holland
Photo credits: Tulips in Holland
Hi Nienke,
thanks for your work zou do here.
We will be in Noordwijk for 2 weeks bevor and after corso.
Other Question: What happend to the DE on TA? What a pity you don’t do that job anymore}
Groetjes vanuit Zwitserland
Priska
Hi Priska, It has been incredibly busy so I really don’t have the time to write on TA as well. I am still writing about the flowers but more from my own social media and website. Wishing you a beautiful time in Noordwijk. (My family comes from Noordwijk, it feels like my hometown :-)) Groetjes terug! Nienke
When will the next update be available? I see weeks 11 and 12, but am waiting for the next update, especially on the status of the tulip bulbs/fields. Thanks!
I’ve put it up on the website. Next newsletter will be sent tomorrow morning signup to find it in your mailbox every Tuesday morning (it is free :-)) Link: https://tulipsinholland.com/sign-up-for-weekly-flower-update/
thanks for the informative articles. We are coming in the first weekend of May – is that too late or will we be ok to see the tulip fields this time since winter has stayed so long and its been so cold up to now?
Hi Priya, We can look ahead for about 2 weeks time. Not sure what the flower fields will do during the first weekend of May at this moment. Please check back at the end of April or read along our weekly updates by email.