Ask anyone to name five things they associate with Holland and they'll probably come up with suggestions like windmills, clogs, canals, cheese and tulips.

Flowers and bulbs are hugely important to the Dutch. They are undoubtedly the country's biggest export and it's easy to see why when you walk through the world's largest flower gardens ... Keukenhof.

The colourful oasis is just 30 minutes from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport and while Keukenhof – which literally means 'kitchen garden' – is undoubtedly one of Holland's crown jewels, it was no surprise when Queen Beatrix officially opened its 60th season on March 18.

Despite the pomp of the opening ceremony, it was Keukenhof's colourful parkland panorama that stole the show.

And in recognition of the 400 years since Dutch explorer Henry Hudson went ashore in the 'New World' – that was back in 1609 when he landed in what is now New York's Manhattan district – he named it New Amsterdam.

This year's short nine week season has a floral 'Statue of Liberty' as its centrepiece with over 53,000 blue and white tulip heads forming the American icon.

The park itself – which stretches over 32 hectares – sees upwards of seven million tulip bulbs planted annually by a team of 30 resident gardeners.

Even the grass is taken up afterwards and the whole park planned again by a team of designers.

Once the new flower beds are in place at the end of February, grass is then seeded over the whole park which means that there is a totally different display each year.

It's a huge labour intensive programme for such a short period as the gardens are only open until May 21 having opened on March 19, but records have already been broken this year and almost one million visitors will have poured through its turnstyles by next week.

Sprawling through a magnificent natural woodland setting and boasting almost 15 kilometres of meandering pathways, the Keukenhof is enhanced by numerous ponds and a scattering of statues, the breathtaking backdrop lined by hundreds of ancient beech trees.

And being South Holland, the garden also has its own windmill ... but that dates back to 1892!

Needless to say, Keukenhof is the Netherlands' most popular – and photographed – tourist attraction with hundreds of coach parties arriving daily with Americans, Japanese and Chinese tourists all making it a 'must see' attractions on their European tours.

There are formal gardens and pavilions with unique indoor flora and fauna exhibits along with many themed displays.

Keukenhof has been the true showpiece for the Dutch flower industry since 1949, when bulb growers and exporters created it as a living advertisement.

The first visitors in March enjoy a carpet of crocus, daffodils and narcissi then by mid-April hyacinths begin their short life while over 600 varieties of tulips weave a dazzling display unsurpassed by anything I've ever seen.

Sadly it's an all-too-short season, but then comes the painstaking process of digging and replanting in time for the following Spring's display.

The gardens are not the only floral attraction as the annual flower parade – which was held this year on Saturday, April 25 – is also watched by upwards of a million visitors.

Dozens of bright flower- decked vehicles and floats began their 40km journey along the seafront at Noordwijk and they end up at Haarlem where they remain on display for another 24 hours.

With a theme of children's books and stories, over 980 coaches were at Keukenhof this year to watch the colourful show pass by ... and it also meant a record-breaking 59,000 paying customers strolled through the turnstyles to enjoy the gardens bathed in glorious sunshine.

From a small jetty close to the Keukenhof windmill you can take a 50 minute boat trip around the surrounding waterways and while gardens are stunning, it's better still to rent a bicycle and ride around a total of five pre-planned routes around the bulb fields.

Being extremely flat and with excellent cycleways keeping you away from the traffic, there are circular tours of between five kilometres and 23 kilometres - and the cycling couldn't be easier.

It also gives you a far better idea of the enormity and extent of the flower business in this part of Holland ... while the smells and colours are simply wonderful.

We actually stayed a short bus ride away from Keukenhof on the coast at Noorwijk. A quiet but tasteful resort, it has a 13km long sandy beach and is set among rolling sand dunes.

We stayed at the Hotels van Oranje, located on Noorwijk's seafront along the Koningin Wilhelmina Boulevard.

It's actually three hotels in one and a true five-star establishment, boasting a huge indoor wave pool in the basement along with a fully equipped gym, two saunas with hot and cold plunge pools, a jacuzzi, plus salt and vapour rooms which all make for a totally relaxing atmosphere.

On our two night stay, we dined among the dunes at Restaurant Zuiderbad where the range of fish dishes couldn't be faulted and while our hotel itself had a series of top class restaurants, we opted for Steakhouse de Harmonie which as the name suggests, specialised in an impressive selection of meat dishes.




FACT BOX - Keukenhof - April 24 -26

Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions
W: www.holland.com/uk
E: info-uk@holland.com
T: 020 7539 7950


How to get there

KLM - the airline that flies from all over the UK to all over the world - flies from 14 regional UK airports to Amsterdam Schiphol, including Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds-Bradford, Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff. Fares from the UK start from as little as £100 return.

KLM offers seamless travel with its quick and easy internet check in facility. Passengers can check in online between 24 hours and up to one hour before departure.

For more information on internet check in, to book flights visit www.klm.com

For telephone bookings call 08705 074 074.


easyJet offers flights to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol from London Gatwick, Stansted or Luton with up to four flights a days. Fares start from £22.99 (inclusive of taxes) one way. To book go to www.easyjet.com

There is a direct shuttle bus (number 58) from outside the airport to the Keukenhof. It departs every 15 minutes, takes 30 minutes and a combi ticket (including entrance to the Keukenhof) costs €20 for adults, €11 for Children (4-11) and €17.00 for 65+.


Keukenhof
Stationsweg 166a
2161 AM Lisse
T: +31 (0)252 465 555
F: +31 (0)252 465 565
E: info@keukenhof.nl
W: www.keukenhof.nl

Entrance fees: Adults €13,50; 65+ €13,50; Children (4-11) €6,50 per person. Parking (vehicles) €6 per vehicle

Boat Tour - €7.50 for 50 minutes tour contact details as above


Kees van Dam Rent-a-Bike
Stationsweg 166a
2161 AM Lisse
T: +31 (0)252 373 714
M: +31 (0)6 1208 9858
E: info@rent-a-bikevandam.nl
W: www.rent-a-bikevandam.nl

Six routes through bulb fields and some to nearby sand dunes & sea starting from 5km (half an hour) up to 25km (3 hours)

Prices:
€8.50 bike rental + route
€10.00 bike rental + route + souvenir
€12.00 bike rental + route + Coffee or Tea with real Dutch Apple pie
€14.00 bike rental + route + Ticket Panorama Tulip land



Where to stay

Hotels van Oranje
Koningin Wilhelmina Boulevard 20-31
2202 GV Noordwijk
T: +31 (0)71 367 6869
F: +31 (0)71 367 6800
E: info@hotelsvanoranje.nl
W: www.hotelsvanoranje.nl
Room prices start from €170.00


Restaurant Zuiderbad
Koningin Astridboulevard 104
2202 BD Noordwijk
T: +31 (0)71 362 0551
F: +31 (0)71 362 0359
E: info@zuiderbad.nl
W: www.zuiderbad.nl (only in Dutch)


Steakhouse de Harmonie
Koningin Wilhelmina Boulevard 20
2202 GV Noordwijk
T: +31 (0)71 - 367 68 56
www.hotelsvanoranje.nl/en/restaurants-bars/steakhouse-de-harmonie
W:

Special thanks to Rianne Ojeh of the Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions for her help and kindness while in Holland.