Holland – the land of tulips… not quite true though. I can say Holland because this picture is taken in the province Holland and most tulips fields, including the world famous Keukenhof gardens, are actually in the province of Holland.
What many people don’t know when they come to visit the Netherlands to see the tulips is, that tulips have been imported from Turkey to the Netherlands in the late 16th century. Now they are the national flower of the Netherlands.
I lived in the Netherlands for a couple of years and never managed to visit Keukenhof or to see numerous tulip fields in full blossom next to each other. I lived in an area where many tulips fields were and I made quite a few attempts to see them, grabbed my bike and cycled to the tulip fields hoping to take wonderful pictures.
It sounds easier than it is, believe me. First of all there are hundreds if not thousands of people that come to the Netherlands to see the tulip fields. Then you need to know where the most picturesque fields and sceneries are and be there when they are in full blossom. It even seems to differ between the different tulips and there are other fields with bulbous plants like hyacinths and daffodils. I had a fields of tulips in full blossom next to a field of tulips almost withered, followed by tulips whose buds yet had to burst.
I don’t want to put you off seeing the tulips or visiting the Netherlands. Quite the opposite. I really enjoyed my time there. All I’m trying to show in this post is, how difficult it is to take the perfect picture. Maybe I should have visited the Keukenhof or seen one of the flower parades.
