Travel: Amsterdam’s canals are Keukenhof Gardens’ theme for 2014

Come tip-toe through the tulips, admire the amaryllis and cruise past the crocuses at the Keukenhof Gardens at Lisse in The Netherlands, the world’s largest flower gardens.
Keukenhof GardensKeukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof Gardens

From March 20 to May 18, Keukenhof will burst into a kaleidoscope of colours as the gently rolling grounds are carpeted with blooming flowers.

With themed pavilions, floral mosaics, a treasure hunt for kids and much more, there’s plenty on offer for visitors of all ages. And be sure to check the events schedule for the Traditional Costume Show, the fabulous annual Flower Parade and plenty of special events during the Easter weekend.

A feast for the senses

The Keukenhof Gardens provide visitors with a feast for the senses! As 7 million flower bulbs bloom over 32 hectares, the park is awash with the sight and scent of blossoming flowers. See the flower shows, experience this year’s theme pavilion and delight in the statues dotted around the park.

Take the kids on a treasure hunt or explore the playground, petting zoo or hedge maze. Leave some time to explore the surrounding area with its fields of flowers by hiring a bike or taking a boat cruise.

Theme: Amsterdam’s canals

This year’s theme focuses on Holland, and starting in October 2013 bulbs have been planted to create a flower mosaic of Amsterdam’s canals. The 60,000 tulip and muscari bulbs will symbolise ‘tulip mania’ during the golden age, and will be 22 by 13 metres. In the Spring, the bulbs will bloom to reveal the splendour of their colours.

Events at the Keukenhof

The musical entertainment and beautifully decorated floats at the Flower Parade are one of the highlights of the Keukenhof events calendar, but there’s plenty more in store. Here are a few of the 2014 highlights to whet your appetite:

March 20-25: Tulip Show; April 20-21: The Easter Bunny at Keukenhof; May 34: Flower Parade ‘Energy’.

Keukenhof Combi-Ticket

The easiest way to reach Keukenhof from Amsterdam is with the Connexxion All-In Combi-Ticket, including bus transport from the city centre or Schiphol airport plus entrance to the park.

The All-In Combi-Tickets can be purchased at the Tourist Information Offices at Stationsplein and Leidseplein. The Combi-Ticket is the most convenient way to experience the Keukenhof, especially because you can avoid the long queue for tickets once you arrive at the park.

Brabant museum reopens with a Van Gogh collection

The North Brabant Museum (Het Noordbrabants Museum) will open its final and largest gallery 850 square metres in size to visitors on January 18, 2014 after a major refurbishment. This will complete the renovation of the Noordbrabants Museum.

To mark the event, nine paintings by Vincent van Vogh (1853-1890), the greatest artist to have come from Brabant have been brought together, including an early Paris self-portrait from the Van Gogh Museum’s collection. This is the most comprehensive presentation of original works that has been dedicated to Van Gogh in Brabant up to now.

The Van Gogh presentation forms part of the “Story of Brabant” that illustrates for the first time the artistic and cultural history of Brabant over the past six centuries by means of historical objects works of art and audio visual presentations.

As a result of extensive renovations at the Northbrabants Museum, none of Van Gogh’s works have been on display in Brabant for the past 2 ½ years. In the new arrangement the display focuses on works from Van Gogh’s Brabant period: peasant dwellings, examples of peasant life and paintings of local people.

The Noordbrabants Museum illustrates the richness of Brabant art, history and culture. The museum is renowned for its historic collections of Roman archaeology, Flemish paintings from 1500 – 1800 and art from 1800.

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