Abandoned but not forgotten
Located in North Brabant, Asten, Asten Castle has stood against time for over 600 years. It’s been decades since the Asten Castle had occupants. Many of the efforts to restore it have fallen through. We had a wonderful tour guide to explained to us the origins and history.

The most recent disaster to hit was World War II, which sealed the deal on the Castle being a ruin. It may have been erected as far back as the Middle Ages and was used as a fortified house. During the Dutch Renaissance it was converted into a castle by Bernard van Merode. There are double moats around the castle and a 2 bridge system as well. There is even a basement where food was stored during the summer. It’s cooler underground so the natural lower temperature helped to prevent food spoilage.

Outside sits a small wall, a memory of the past. It had been a dungeon where witches and even a werewolf had been held for trail. I wish our tour guide had more information!

Peaceful Grounds
The area around the Castle was lush forest and not 1but 2 moats! There were a lot of activities both for adults and kids. And the ruins itself was amazing to explore. The architecture was beautiful, even if most of it was far past the glory days. What was interesting to see, was what was missing. Locals had dismantled a few rooms for the bricks and the stone so areas, like the main seating hall, were missing. Instead the curator had displays to show where people might have spent their evenings.

More than Historical
These days Asten Castle is a national monument. There have been some talks about bringing it into the modern age but nothing set in stone. It’s currently a private piece of land but tours are available. The wonderful think about Asten Castle, is that it’s more than a piece of history, it’s a piece of heritage. As with many European countries, that heritage isn’t always the most wholesome. But the Dutch are doing their part in educating the next generation of Dutch citizens.

Castle Day
We happened to be in the area in time for Castle Day. That meant that the courtyard was alive with activity. There were food vendors, live music, and craft beer for sale. While we didn’t stay for any of the food, we had a wonderful time. There were demonstrations on many interesting topics, including Dutch bee keeping! For the children, there was a ton of stuff to do. Plenty of games, activities and even a story telling event in the forest. To get to the story teller, kids had to travel the path and answer questions about the nature around them.

Final Thoughts
I’m thankful we were able to experience Asten Castle. It’s not open everyday to the public and we came at the right time. I love visiting historical landmarks and ruins. They tell a story from the past and that’s exactly what Asten Castle is. It’s fascinating to see how old buildings were constructed, and how they stand up to the test of time. It’s disappointing that much of the castle was destroyed. But there are still memories to experience at the location. Asten Castle is a delicious slice of Dutch history that I, as an immigrant, love eating up.

Much of the information here is from the Dutch Wikipedia page and from our tour guide, but you can also find good details on Castles.nl.

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Book in advance
You can bet your bottom dollar that the Keukenhof will be busy. Like super busy. In 2019, the park had to close ticket booths early almost everyday because the park had reached its attendance limit. Can you imagine!? A garden with too many people! I’m not kidding when I heard stories about people turned away. So many tourists from far away countries who came only to see the flowers… And couldn’t see them! Do yourself a favor. Book in advance so you save yourself from the headache of standing in line, and some drama if you’re unable to get in. You can find all this information and more on the Keukenhof’s website. This also includes information on travel to and from the park so you don’t get lost.

Come prepared
Like every tourist trap in every country… The prices to eat and drink inside the Keukenhof will be sky high and lacking in quality. The lines will be long and there will be tons of people in attendance. It might be hard to get the perfect shot. The weather is warming up too so bring plenty of sunblock, sun protection and even some snacks. And if you have children bring something for them to play with! While the Keukenhof is a garden, it’s hardly a place for kids to run around and play. There are plenty of open grass fields but they can’t run through the flowers! Which leads me to my next tip.

Be patient
A trip to the Keukenhof can be a wonderful once in a lifetime experience. The endless rows of flowers, the rich Dutch history, the clean air and freshly cut grass… But you’re going to be there with a thousand other people who may or may not be as mindful as you. It’s going to be loud and a bit chaotic. Remember to be patient with others and wait your turn. I’m serious when I say that some exhibits have lines for them. It’s been a few years since I last went to the Keukenhof, but I have a few posts if you’re curious about what past exhibits were.

Mind your neighbors (and the flowers!)
The largest rows of tulips are both inside and outside of the Keukenhof. Do remember that everything outside of the garden is private property. People live and own those fields! I’ve always seen photos of tourists stopping their rentable cars on the side of the road to take photos. This can pose a huge problem if those are 1 way streets. Don’t cause a lot of traffic by forgetting to be respectful.

Don’t forget to have fun
Something that people often forget, is to have fun. Sure you’re here to see the blooms and snap those pictures for your social media feed… But take time to breathe. Don’t forget you’re here to enjoy nature. If you don’t want to brave the crowds, there’s always the Keukenhof Castle. A hidden gem of Lisse, this beautiful wandelen park is the perfect place to be if you want a quiet time and a slice of Dutch nature. There are plenty of flowers, an extensive path to walk, an animal petting zoo, and even an historical castle from the Dutch Golden Age.

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The Dutch are most known for their tulips so there’s no surprise there. The flower was popular in the mid-seventeenth century and even created “Tulip Mania.”

From there it seems the crazy never left The Netherlands. All this history and more can be found inside the park’s various buildings. What’s wonderful about the Keukenhof is that it’s as much as a historical landmark and slice of history as it is an open air museum.

This “Tulip Mania” is what helped the Dutch Golden Age bloom, so to speak. And even though the Dutch did well before the rise of the tulip… Well let’s try and picture a beautiful Dutch landscape without those millions of rows we always see on the internet.

People who have never been to The Netherlands can speak about those colorful blooms because of photos they’ve seen. The Netherlands has made it to bucket lists time after time because people want to see those flowers for themselves. The raw and natural beauty can only be enjoyed when seen in person.

People can also relate those fields of tulips to what it is to be Dutch. And while it’s only a small part of the Dutch lifestyle, it’s possible that it’s the only part outsiders will ever see. And for some that’s good enough. But for others, for thousands of tourists, it’s not enough to see a photo. They want to witness those rolling fields for themselves.

It’s the desire to learn about different cultures that drives humans to grow and thrive. It’s a shame we only get to see these blooms once a year. The Keukenhof not the entire Dutch experience but it’s an exquisite slice.

I understand that the Keukenhof isn’t the best place to see the tulips but it’s the easiest to access. The sprawling 79 acres gives tourists more than enough space to wander and to view the local pride. By local, I mean from all over The Netherlands.

This year is the first time I’ve heard of the park closing it’s doors early. The weather was so wonderful the weekend Easter weekend that too many people came to see visit. The visitor capacity limit reached it’s limit.

I’m thankful that we got to see it again this year. I do encourage online pre-sale tickets if you want to go. This year is almost at a close though so be sure to check the opening dates. The weather has been warm with clear blue skies so now is the best time to get in and see the flowers before their season is over.

I’m not sure if we will attend next year though. With rising visitor numbers it may be better to allow tourists to view the gardens. I love roaming among the flowers but I’m hardly a tourist anymore!

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The Flower Power Movement again embraced with beautiful and extravagant orchid displays. See the thing about the Beatrix Pavilion is it always features orchids. I know the Dutch are well known for their tulips but for some reason, orchids are also very popular. So again we pushed past the Instagrammers and casual strollers for a peak at this year’s wonderful display.

What I love seeing are the unique displays of flower arrangements. I’ve always admired flower arrangers and their work but I never made the time to take a class in America. There are tons of classes here, well because this is The Netherlands. But my Dutch speaking level isn’t high enough for me to attend one. In a few years when I have a better grasp of the language. I mean there are many times when I understand conversations. But my vocabulary is pretty basic.

Either way I love the smell of spring and the fresh flowers. Everywhere we wandered we found lush scents. It was so magical. At times it didn’t even bother me when it was so busy. These people were here to appreciate the flowers like we were. So it’s fine to share my personal space for a little while.

The Keukenhof is only open a few months of the year so it’s important to get in while it’s open! For some visitors this might be the only chance to see the endless fields. Even I, someone who isn’t too pleased with crowded spaces, and respect that.

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Of course now there’s a lot to be frowned on but let’s be real here… When has there ever been a perfect decade? What’s beautiful about the humans experience is that nothing is perfect. And this year’s Flower show embodies that in a colorful way.

The Oranje Nassau Pavilion interpretation is only skin deep but it displays the beautiful innocence that was treasured at the time. The flower displays are tall, vibrant and full of rich color. Displays were outrageous, fashion-wise, and the scent of flower blossoms was light and delicate. It was so fun to see how the Dutch view this influential movement that is, even today, still a huge part of western history.

What I have here is just a simple taste of what there is to be experienced at the Now The Oranje Nassau Pavilion. It’s always going to be crowded and I didn’t want to push people out of the way for the perfect shot. To get the real deal, you’ll just have to visit! Each week a new flower is showcased in the hall! We went during the last week of March so we go to see the beautiful Freesia and Hyacinth show. If there’s a particular flower you’d like to see then you can find out more on The Keukenhof Flower Shows.

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I love the history behind the space as well. The Keukenhof is one of the largest flower gardens in the world. It’s close to where we live, in the middle of the city Lisse. Around 7 million flowers are planted each year! I can’t even picture the man power behind that!

This year the warmer weather has arrived a bit early but we didn’t miss too much. It was good to see many flowers had bloomed but other plots had yet to flower. The blubs are planted in such a way that new blooms open each week. It’s a good way to keep visitors coming in and a good way to keep the park open longer. Once the last bloom dies then the Keukenhof is closed until the next spring.

The real reason for the Keukenhof’s creation is to showcase flowers from growers that hail from not only The Netherlands but all of Europe. The Netherlands is well known for being a huge exporter of flowers. At the Keukenhof, growers can show off their hybrids and special blooms. It’s wild to see so may variations of just one type of flower!

Although I will admit this year was a bit different. I felt tired after only an hour in the sun. Maybe all my indoor time is catching up with me. It could have also been the cold that I had brewing inside. Who knows. But enough talk, have some beautiful flowers.

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See the flowers here want the warmest weather to open up and it’s been pretty cold the past few weeks. Imagine our surprise to find that there were still hundreds of unopened blooms!

That didn’t mean we missed out. We still got to experience a colorful and fragrant day at the Keukenhof. The Keukenhof began as an exhibition for farmers to showcase their best flowers. There are endless rows of mixed blooms to entice potential buyers. The major souvenir that is purchasable here are the tulip bulbs.

After all, the tulip is what most people associate the Dutch with (among other things). I was curious about the prices on the black tulips called Queen of the Night. Last year we found hundreds of them in bloom but this year they were still asleep. While I couldn’t find prices for a single bulb, there were large sets being sold. A tourist can buy 215 bulbs for around $125.

Of course, tulips aren’t the only flowers on display. The park showcases what the farmers have to sell so naturally there would be other species up for viewing. We saw many species we’ve never seen before and it was fun to talk about them. The more popular ones were the crocus and the daffodils. Grape hyacinths are also popular with the Dutch. Many gardens are filled with them. The same goes with lavender.

It’s interesting to see what are the most popular when it comes to the arrangements. Colors were usually bright and lush but there seemed to be a solid theme this year. Popular colors were mostly yellows and pinks. White and red was a bit less common but still could be found throughout the park.

The halls were full to bursting with colors and blossoms. The flowers were so tall that they were taller than some children. It was a sight to see for sure. Hundreds of people waited their turn to have a shot at some of the displays. Some were more popular than others but regardless, the halls demonstrated the various ways that flowers could be arranged and appreciated.

While it was easy to walk around the paths and trails, there were spots that were heavily crowded. WHile these were easily avoidable, Sander and I felt like it would be too much effort to brave through the people to visit the top of the windmill again this year. We passed. Another fun attraction we hadn’t done yet was the boat ride through the tulip fields but once again the line for that went on for hours.

The only unfortunate thing about having so many unsupervised people is that they tend to get a little crazy when taking photos. While most people stayed off the grass, you would still get the occasional teen or entire family that crawled in with the flowers to get a good photo… It was a bit cringe worthy but I suppose if they felt it was worth it…

In the end, we still had a great time. There’s a part of me that wants to go back in a few weeks to see what has bloomed since our visit. We didn’t see any Queen of the Night in bloom and I love those the most. The weather has just been too cold for them to open up just yet. In the next few weeks we’re supposed to be getting more sun so hopefully it will encourage the flowers to finally open up.

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Of course, most of this land is for walking among the flowers, but the numbers are pretty impressive. Tourists from all over the world come to gaze at never ending rows of tulips that bloom only for a few short months. It’s usually open from the middle of March to the middle of May.

Sander and I live only ten minutes away, yes only ten minutes! He had also never been. My favorite flower was the zwarte tulp aka black tulip. A dark red tulip and yellow tulip cross pollinated to produce such a deep red that to the naked eye, it looks black. Of course it isn’t black, but it’s still amazing to see what science can produce!

So picture this. A warm and sunny day, small clouds hovering overhead. A gentle breeze to cool your skin when the sun gets too be a bit too much. The birds are finally singing again and the fatty bumble bees hover out of reach.

The Dutch seem to say, We’ve come out of our hibernation and this is our time in the sun!

There’s no need to say this with words, the feeling is on every face. I read somewhere that the Dutch are like sunflowers, when the sun is out, everyone is. I can vouch for this! Of course since the Keukenhof is very popular with tourists. We got to hear many different spoken languages but by far, Dutch was the most popular.

What does the last day of the season mean though? We passed many flower beds that had were cut since their blooms had already wilted. We missed out on seeing the rows and rows of tulips since their season had ended as well. It wasn’t crowded either so it was easy to take photos.

Among these fresh faces are thousands of magnificent blooms of all shapes and colors. The Netherlands is known as one of the largest flower producers in the world. And from the various displays that have are erected in their showcase green houses, it’s clear to see. Flower arranging seems to be a trait that the Dutch are born with, green thumbs and all. I’ve never seen so many beautiful blooms all under one park name.

We hit up the cafeteria and decided to splurge on a standard Dutch “spoil yourself” meal, a hot cup of tea with apple pie. There are other vendors stationed along the various walking paths. I recommend you buy them at a local grocery store. Stroopwafels in the park were €6 for a stack you could get them for €2!

I recommend that if you decide you want to visit North Holland around spring time, do come around April. All the flowers around our home are in bloom and if those buds are out, then the Keukenhof is in bloom too. Prices are listed on the site and may be subject to change. Parking is also an extra €6 but if you can bike or walk to the Keukenhof, it’s free. There are also buses you can take for a non-rental ride. Sander says the train is also an option. But since there are buses for the Keukenhof, it might be easier to catch one of those.

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I’m still laughing about how accurate that is. Sander had never been to anything like a Renaissance Faire. I had grown up attending a few amazing Renaissance Faire, so I wanted Sander to experience it at least once. Being in California, we’re all aware of how the heat can dominate the entire day. We slathered Sander in some heavy duty sunblock and hit the road with my long time friend, and Renaissance Faire attendee Adam.

We spent more of the day browsing vendors selling only things found at such an event. Pewter mugs with wolves on them, jewelry that imitated that similar pieces worn during the time, incense and gemstones that claimed to ward off evil spirits and silvery dragons that can hang from braided hair. We also found old coins and small plush familiar pets, as well as costume clothing for those who wanted to dress up. See RenFaire is all about participation and patrons always, always dress up.

I had dressed up on the several occasions I had attended but those costumes are long since gone. I don’t have a need for them now that I live in the Netherlands. We did all make fun of how Adam, an attendee for 14 years now, still has no outfit to wear. He says he will for next year, so we have to wait and see!

We made sure to pay our respects for Daniel. He was an ex-coworker and very close friend when we had all worked together in a bookstore. Adam and Daniel were close friends even after the bookstore closed. I remember his loving and caring nature and his ability to make anyone to smile. He was most heroic during the San Bernadino shooting back in 2015. He saved the lives of four people before he passed away. Daniel had been in the RenFaire since 2001 and everyone has felt his absence since then. His name was mounted on a wall with other people who had worked previous years. This year a bell had been added. Adam rang it twice, in Daniel’s name.

We met the Washing Wenches (very good friends of Adam’s) and Sander even participated in their show! It was a comedic performance and we either had to cheer or be drenched in water from a well that had used to clean underwear (or so we were told). We listened to the Merry Wives of Windsor, a group of women with beautiful voices but very mature content in their songs. After that we watched jousting and cheered for the good green knight and claimed his man bun was the cause of his defeat.

We watched a glass chalice created before our eyes, before being doused with water and destroyed in an instant. We watch the ancient art of falconry and held on to our hats as various birds of prey swooped low over the audience. It was a busy weekend for the Faire but the grounds were so huge and the activities well planned out. So our small group of four never felt overwhelmed.

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The trip out to Haarlem and our destination, Kunstijsbaan Kennemerland, was short and in no time we were strapped into our boots. If you don’t have a pair of skates you can always rent them. Sander’s parents provided us with a pair. The rental line was pretty long though so we were thankful for the free pair.

It’s been at least 10 years since I had last been on the ice rink! Things were a bit rocky. Thank goodness, I didn’t fall because I had Sander to cling to. It was fun and refreshing to feel the cold against my face and the sound of the ice under foot. Sander’s pace was faster than mine so he left me a few times to take a solo round.

The last time Sander had taken to the ice was back in high school. Around that time they made the rink semi-covered. There’s also a middle section for parents and children who cannot keep the faster pace of those on the outer rink. That’s not to say that we did not have children on the fast lanes, because we did! Some of the children were so fast, that it seemed like skating was as easy as walking.

The rink is open until March and then it will be closed until next season. I know that we had lots of fun this time around and we will definitely go again this coming winter!

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