Exploring spring’s tulip fields in the netherlands & belgium

The Tulip Time Cruise 2015 Exploring Spring’s Tulip Fields in the Netherlands & Belgium

Spring Color:

Tulip Time 2015 in Netherlands and Belgium

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Sail into Northern Europe’s most colorful season on a luxury European river cruise. The waterways of Holland and Belgium have brought visitors and merchants from around the world to marvel at the vast fields of tulips for hundreds of years.

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Today, river cruisers join enthusiastic flower-lovers streaming into historic cities like Amsterdam, Willemstad, and Kinderdijk in Holland, and nearby Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium.

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They come to experience an overwhelming flood of color that carpets the countryside and brightens northern cities during the few short months of tulip season.

Amsterdam and Keukenhoe

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The Tulip Time tour begins and ends in the 700-year-old city of Amsterdam, passing through the heart of the ancient tulip industry, where gardens and parks host floral shows on a grand scale.

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South of Amsterdam lies the village of Lisse and the famed Keukenhof Gardens. This sprawling park displays up to seven million blooms around the grounds, as well as countless more in indoor pavilions.

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As a kind of floral bonus, you’ll be treated to panoramas of other blooming flowers, like narcissus, hyacinth, and more, often integrated in alternating rows among the prized tulips.

The Netherlands: Tulips and Windmills

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We stop for visits to cities like 400-year-old Willemstad, plus Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Netherlands’ largest number of windmills—all 18th century vintage.

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Throughout the Netherlands are swathes of tulips in naturalistic fields, manicured formal gardens, and greenhouse displays for the garden shows of peak season.

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Prepare yourself for bold, strong colors that scream out spring, with only a few pastels. Think jelly bean colors, with plenty of orange, reflecting the official color of the Royal Family of Orange, the Dutch monarchy.

Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium

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The imposing Castle and Gardens of Groot-Bijgaarden, or Chateau de GrandBigard in French, will celebrate a 12th anniversary of its Floralia Brussels show in 2015. The castle was first built in the early 12th century, and fully renovated in the early 20th century.

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The spring flower show finds the grounds strewn with up to 500 varieties in one million planted bulbs. The 400 types of tulips, strewn together with rare varieties of narcissus and daffodils, guarantee blooms across the early, middle and late micro-seasons.

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A visit to historic Antwerp might include a tour of the home of 17th century Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens. See his extraordinary art collection with many of his works. Watch for examples of prized tulips sprinkled throughout engaging still lifes and portraits.

A Tulip is a Tulip is a Tulip

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Yes, but there are more varieties than just the one classic shape that we learned to draw as kids.

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At Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, find examples of the beautiful red and white Lustige Witwe, and iconic parrot tulips, as seen in many 17th century Dutch paintings.

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At Belgium’s Groot-Bijgaarden, the 400 varieties of tulips include names that read like a botanic litany, with classics, lily flowers, viridiflora, parrots, and multi-flora.

Tulip Time at Home

The splendid gardens and artful displays inspire many to add some color to their own yards.

Thinking of ordering some prized tulip bulbs to ship home? Here are a few helpful hints: •

Many local growers exhibiting in the big garden shows will sell bulbs to take home.

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Find miles of bulbs in every variety of tulip and more at the Flower Market, or Bloemenmarkt in Amsterdam.

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Look for the section marked certified for Canadian and U.S. Customs. Bulbs should come with a certificate of inspection, allowing you to carry them into the U.S. within six weeks. If your trip exceeds that time frame, inquire about having the vendor ship them to you.

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Squirrels a problem? Try placing peanutfilled feeders around to distract them with an easier-to-reach treat.

Stop and Smell the Tulips

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Most of us are familiar with supermarket tulips, with all the fragrance of wax flowers. Good news, though—many tulips have retained their scents, ranging from mild to exotic.

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The pale peach-colored Apricot Beauty gives a sweet, fruity, scent.

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The deep orange Generaal de Wet is another sweet scent that doubles as a tasty addition to fresh salads.

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Couleur Cardinal, in deep dark red with violet blush, carries a lighter scent.

The Complete River Cruise Experience

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Your Tulip Time Cruise 2015 is about more than floral gardens. As you calmly float along peaceful canals and waterways, you are entering the heart of a very old civilization.

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Historic cities, like Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium, preserve centuries of architecture and culture.

Optional excursions open up more fascinating wonders, like Bruges, one of the oldest perfectly preserved medieval cities, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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A side trip to nearby Brussels, capital of the European Union, may include a visit to EU headquarters.

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All along the way, enjoy AmaWaterways white glove service on board your luxury cruise ship, and the fine foods, wines, and beers of each location. Return home with memories of a springtime like no other, and a longing to return for next year’s blooms.

Contact Us:

Tulip Time 2015 in Netherlands and Belgium

AmaWaterways is an awardwinning river cruise operator, providing all-inclusive excursions that open cultural doors along the great waterways of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Their rapidly growing fleet of custom-designed ships leads travelers to lifechanging, restorative experiences that always exceed expectations.

For more information, please visit www.amawaterways.com.