Write@Home
Winter 2015

Travel (Outside of Canada)

Traditional Dutch windmills with red tulips in Zaanse Schans, Amsterdam area, Holland

In March, 2016 I visited a very beautiful garden in the Netherlands called Keukenhof which means kitchen garden. It was the most beautiful garden I had ever seen. Keukenhof also known as the garden of Europe, is one of the world's largest flower gardens.

It is situated in the small town of Lisse, Netherlands. Keukenhof garden, approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted annually in the garden. Keukenhof is open for a few short weeks each year and typically the garden is open from mid-March to mid-May.

Before I went there, I read an article about Keukenhof to gain some information about it, and I read a very interesting story. Dutch tulips have a very Canadian connection! During world war 2 Germany occupied the Netherlands. The Dutch royal family took refuge in Canada and one of the Dutch princesses was born in Ottawa so each year, the royal family sends 10,000 bulbs to Ottawa for the tulip festival. One day I hope to see the tulips in Ottawa also but I will never forget Keukenhof