Visiting Keukenhof in Holland
The Dutch are known for their tulips and windmills. Both are easy to spot in the province of Holland! 💐
What is it that the Dutch are most known for? Tulips and windmills. At least that’s the iconic symbols that we mostly see of the Netherlands. And there’s a good reason for that - both are easy to spot in the province of Holland and there is definitely an abundance of them.
On our first trip to the Netherlands in 2017, I visited Keukenhof Gardens and decided I wanted to go again this time, too. Mainly because the first time we went, the big tulip fields in the surrounding areas that they’re famous for were already out of bloom, so we didn’t get to see those. This time we did! And it was so beautiful. Pictures don’t do it justice either. It’s just row upon row of beautiful flowers and it’s so amazing.
The Keukenhof Experience
The main event for the trip was Keukenhof Gardens and it did not disappoint. I could spend hours walking around this beautiful garden and still never see all its beauty. They have so many different varieties of flowers - not all tulips but all kinds - and they’re just stunning. They do a fantastic job of creating beautiful patterns with the flower gardens that really draw your eye.
As you might guess, this place is VERY busy with a ton of people visiting every day. You can buy your tickets online for the day you’d like to go so that you’re sure to get in. Parking can look overwhelming when you first see the lot, but they do a fantastic job of directing you, and it’s laid out very well, so it’s easy to get in and out.
Inside the gardens, you'll find a variety of buildings with displays to explore, food courts for a bite, playgrounds for kids, and even a windmill you can climb into and up to the upper level for sweeping views. They also offer a short boat tour to see the area beyond the garden. We didn’t do that, so I don’t know precisely what it includes, but it looked like fun! They also have plenty of little gift shops for souvenirs or gifts. And if you’re a gardener, you can even buy seeds and plants to take home with you.
This is definitely a place you have to time it just right to see all the flowers in bloom and get the whole experience. Make sure to check out their website or follow their Facebook page to stay up to date on dates and information for your visit. If you are like me and enjoy gardens and flowers, this is a must if you’re anywhere near there. It’s a sight you can’t believe until you see it in person.
Visiting Scheveningen Beach
We also made this an overnight trip up north so we could take our time at the gardens and visit Scheveningen Beach, which holds special meaning because that’s where my mom-in-law played as a child.
We stayed in Noordwijk and enjoyed walking around, climbing up to the beach, checking out the lighthouse, and looking for a few shells. We dined at Strandclub Witsand and enjoyed delicious food and drinks! It seemed pretty nice outside, so we opted to sit in their outdoor area to enjoy the ocean view and hear the waves roll in. It turned out okay, but we were pretty dang cold sitting out there! Still, it was a fantastic view and a fun experience.
After dinner, we walked down the beach back toward our place and decided to stop in one more place for some drinks.
This is the only memorable experience from our time in the Netherlands. We hope others get to see the beauty of this country on their own adventures!
