Vast fields, full of colorful flowers, purple, pink, red and yellow, colors everywhere. All because the tulips grow out of the soil, and start blooming again! Yeah, the Netherlands might be the most colorful country in the world when it is spring.
Let me show you Hollands proud!
Last week I decided to take out my bicycle to go on my first Tulip hunt for the year. Although it is still early spring, the Tulips start to bloom everywhere. Since I live in North Holland(province), the most beautiful tulip fields are just a bicycle ride away, with these gorgeous fields just 18 KM away, located in St. Maartenszee, and how can I Resist this beauty?!
The road I visited is a farm road, not connected to any common bike trail, which makes it harder to find for the tourists, Therefore, I haven't seen any tourist on this little farm road, and barely cars, just the farmers vans and some few people who live at this road called ''Belkmerweg'' located in Sint Maartenszee has definitely been my favorite place to watch the plenty tulip fields in peace the last years. I strongly recommend it if you ever visit Holland in April or early May.
Sint Maartenszee is a small village near the Dutch coast. The soil here is slightly sandy, perfect soil to grow the tulips, and much nicer after harvesting (I used to work at a tulip farm). They also grow them on clay soil, which is very common in my hometown and most villages in our province which are not that near to the coastline (around 10km away). They do grow them here, but they grow them on nets which makes the harvest easier.
There are many different shapes and colors of tulips. Some plants grow tall with big flowers, which are the most beautiful and colorful in the field. However, I like the small tulips better when grown in the garden, since you need quite a lot of flowers together when they are tall. But everyone likes something different, and with the plenty of variety the Dutch developed, there is something for everyone.
These tulips seem to be early bloomers, they are probably soon to be cut, but I really love the colors. This field I visited is a field of Maveridge international, where I used to work some summers. They continue to make new varieties, with new colors, shapes and more sustainable tulips, which are less sensitive for viruses, bloom earlier or later or are just more beautiful.
As you can call this road a ''tulip road'', There are many pieces of land with tulips, grown by all different farmers, with their own varieties of tulips. I went to 3 different fields to appreciate the beauty, probably owned by 3 different farmers. The next lands I visited were other colors again, some were already fully blooming, some tulips still had to start blooming. Have a look for yourself.
I kinda like the electricity wind turbines in the background of the landscape. These wind turbines are very common at this side of the country, since there is a lot of space, and the coastline is the windiest place in the Netherlands.
Some close ups of some beautiful flowers
The last field I visited was the most beautiful field ever, tall growing tulips with extremely large flowers, coloring the landscape orange and pink as far as the eye could reach. I wish I could fly my drone here soon!
Most tourists are going to Lisse to visit the tulips, or to the famous flower bulb garden called "keukenhof". I have never been there, so I can't compare it to this place, but I heard that the farmers start early with ''tulpen koppen'' which means cutting the head of the flowers so the bulb will grow better. They start early since there are usually plenty of tourists who are destroying the fields by picking flowers or walking in the fields. Here in the North, the farmers don't need to cut the gorgeous flowers off earlier than necessary, since there are limited tourists, and the tourists which are here are usually older german people, who are very respectful to the farmers flowers. If you are
Did you ever see so many flowers?
That was my little tulip story, I hope you enjoyed its colors & beauty. Don't forget to follow my page if you like to follow my travel stories!
Meet Sascha, a 23-year-old Dutch girl, who loves traveling, photography and adventure. Right now, she is building her own tiny home on wheels. Which she might use as her home while studying next year, But first, she might go to New Zealand for a working holiday year! Does that sound exciting? Don't forget to follow for more exciting travel stories and to see her van be converted to a beautiful tiny home on wheels!
I wish you a colorful day!
Regards,
Sascha