The Netherlands is a labyrinth of strikingly lovely canals and charming alleys. It is well known for windmills, beer, cheese, wooden clogs, bicycle-loving locals, and for being the birthplace of Van Gogh. But their tulip gardens steal the limelight as proven stars of the show time and again.
Mathew had the opportunity to visit the Tulips gardens last month and the pictures seen below, shared by him are sure to be a treat to your eyes!
But not many people know that the tulips in fact are not native to the Netherlands. This quintessential springtime flower and its rich history can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire. Merchants first imported the flowers to Amsterdam in the 16th century, and the country has never been the same since.
The Netherlands is a labyrinth of strikingly lovely canals and charming alleys. It is well known for windmills, beer, cheese, wooden clogs, bicycle-loving locals, and for being the birthplace of Van Gogh. But their tulip gardens steal the limelight as proven stars of the show time and again.
Mathew had the opportunity to visit the Tulips gardens last month and the pictures seen below, shared by him are sure to be a treat to your eyes! But not many people know that the tulips in fact are not native to the Netherlands. This quintessential springtime flower and its rich history can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire. Merchants first imported the flowers to Amsterdam in the 16thcentury. The name “tulip” originates from the Turkish word “Tulipan,” which means turban. There are many variations of tulips, including the Turk’s cap and the rare Darwin varieties, but all tulips have very distinctive petals. In the 1600s in the Netherlands, tulip bulbs became a status symbol and were traded at high prices.
Every April, multicolored tulips blanket the whole of Amsterdam, spilling from gardens and into the streets across the city. Imagine just standing on one end of a field and looking at lovely, colorful flowers as far as your eyes can reach…heaven on earth! The Dutch love to showcase their Tulips so much that the annual Amsterdam Tulip Festival held throughout the entire month of April aims to eventually have one tulip for every Amsterdammer. That is a whopping 800,000 tulips in the city alone! The Keukenhof Gardens, known as ‘The Garden of Europe‘ is one of the most famous flower gardens in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Located in Lisse, Netherlands, it is home to over seven million tulips of over 400 varieties.
Numerous flower markets, tulip auctions, mesmerizing tulip gardens, tulip picking, cycling amongst rows and rows of tulips, and a festive celebration of National Tulip Day help the Netherlands hold a coveted spot on travel bucket lists.
By now we’re sure you’re envious of Mathew. While the pictures are stunning, it surely doesn’t do justice to witnessing it live. If you’re ever planning to visit the Netherlands, make sure it is during springtime. You do not want to miss the wonder of this glorious flower and to gain a deeper appreciation for nature.
