Europe-Netherlands-Amsterdam-Keukenhof tulips-Zaanse Schans windmills

The third week of March to third week of  May each year are the few weeks to enjoy tulips blooming in their glory in the vast Keukenhof garden in Lisse,Amsterdam,Netherlands.


Anyone who loves tulips will be enthralled with the various colours and seemingly countless varieties.There are tulips with frills at the edge,tulips with multiple layers,tulips in two tones.Broken tulips are not broken in any way.In fact they are among the prized species.The original white base colour of the petals was attacked by the mosaic virus and this results in streams of rich colours bleeding into the white base colour.The final effect is just amazing.This is the first time we hear of a diseased flower becoming a prized beauty.And the rare variety is the deep purple or almost black coloured ones.Entry is Euro14.50 per adult.


Besides that, the windmill village in Zaanse Schans is a must see.All sorts of windmills that are actively spinning to provide energy to pump water and also to crush corns exist.The wind is so strong in this vast countryside land of the windmills that holding an umbrella can make you become Mary Poppins.The best advice is to put on a windbreaker.Entry is free.


The fishing village in Volendam is a quaint little place ideal for eating seafood and also souvenier shopping and picture taking.It borders onto the North sea.Nothing spectacular except the waves are rough and the winds are strong and chilly even on a sunny spring day.It is when you are here on the coastal road with the North sea on one side and the pretty village houses on the other that you realize and witness that much of  Holland is below sea level.The dykes that prevent the sea waters from flooding the village are really so well constructed you would just see a stretch of broad sea wall.


And in the city of Amsterdam,surrounding the Dam Square are luxury shopping complexes ,cheap souvenier shops ,all kinds of international cuisine ,pubs,cruise boats along the canal waterways,bicycles,trams,buses,cars,motorcycles,and people of all races,colours,shapes,and sizes and ages.Two words to describe this heart of Amsterdam ie bustling cosmopolitan.
Roads here have an extra lane specially reserved for bicycles.Be careful not to walk on the bicycle paths,we were told.There are 4 storey decks of bicycle parking levels near the canal cruise ride stations.There are bicycle guided tours and bicycles for rent.Bicycle parks with security locks are often seen in allocated places within the city.
The old houses here are typically narrow and tall with staggered pitch roofs.The narrow width is because tax used to be based on door width.Each old building has a crane hoist support on the facade at the roof level used to hoist heavy home furnishings up through the windows which are much larger than the main entrance door.

                                  The colourful tulips in Keukenhof

Amsterdam city centre -a glimpse through the rain.

A few lanes away from Dam Square is the famed Red light area.Lots of coffee shops do not sell coffee but something else.Smoking weeds is legally allowed in some of these coffee shops.So too are some other activities which are considered illegal in many countries.An old building had the year 1663 inscribed on its facade but it was in splendid condition.
And if you love museums and history, the Van Gogh museum and Anne Frank museum are some of the must visits.Some canal cruises in glass covered boats include museum visits as well.
I must say in Amsterdam you will love the windy countryside and the busy city centre and the food and natural beauty of tulips in Keukenhof.With much of its land below sea level and the significant number of bicycles in the city ,Holland or the Netherlands is a pretty European country that is different in character.


Schipol international airport has only one terminal with so many in and out flights.But once you check in beyond the immigration a whole new experience awaits.Shopping is everywhere for almost anything.Duty free shopping gives good offers, so do shop around.There is one shop which quotes their selling price vis a vis the normal price outside of the airport.A really good way in promoting sales.The final bill print out actually states the amount of Euros you saved by shopping with them.There is even a Holland casino inside -I suppose for long transit passengers to pass their time.And a friend mentioned there is also a meditation centre.So from materialism to excitement to peace ,you find it all in Schipol.