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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What is the Dutch Residency Permit?
Dutch Residency Permit is important for a non-Dutch citizen like myself. It allows me to travel most of Europe without a passport for up to 90 days. But most importantly it allows me to live in The Netherlands without issue. It’s the official ID for non-Dutch residents and without it I’d be living here illegally!

When can I get one?
This special permit is granted after filing for one with the Dutch Integration website. Sander and I are together and that’s the main reason for my stay. We had to prove our relationship to the government. It was an easy enough process and I received mine after a few months of waiting. After that comes the hard part. I had to complete the Dutch Integration Exams. These include (when I took them) 5 exams and one job interview known as the ONA. I had 3 years to do them, so I had enough time to practice and get pretty good scores. The Dutch Residency Permit placed me in the system and reminders came almost monthly about taking the exams… It’s actually pretty important and the fines for failure are quite high.

How long does it last?
My particular Dutch Residency Permit lasts for 5 years! There are permits that are only 1 year though so be aware of what sort of permit you have.

How can I renew my permit?
After I had gotten the results of my tests, I got silence from the government. I had no idea what I’d have to do when the ID came close to expiring so I got worried. Lucky for me, I got a letter in the mail that alerted me when I was eligible to renew my permit. The process is super simple compared to everything else. Log into the website, answer some questions about yourself, and pay the fee.

It does ask if the reason for living in The Netherlands is the same. In my case it is! We’ve applied and we’re now waiting to see if I need to go in for fingerprints and an updated signature. They also mention I might need a passport photo, so I’ll have to dig mine out! I applied for a new passport last year and that process went super smooth.

How do I become a citizen?
In my particular circumstances, I can actually apply for citizenship this year. However, there are conditions. The biggest one is, I would have to give up my American Citizenship. That’s not something I’d like to do though, as I still have family and assets in America. One way around this is to either marriage or a domestic partnership with Sander. I may need to take a few exams as well. The stress and paperwork don’t seem worth it right now so all I’m doing is a renewal. But this also means that if something happens to Sander or our relationship dissolves, I cannot stay in The Netherlands. My reason for being here is to be with him and if that reason is void then I need to go back to America!

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The Dutch don’t quit!
Now I cant speak for all Dutch but many of them rejoice when it snows. It’s been a long time since such low temperatures appeared in The Netherlands so they took advantage of it. Kids took to the local ponds to ice skate and I saw many adults pulling toddlers on sleds. Even as the snow fell, people went grocery shopping with kids in tow. The Dutch are a hardy type of people, able to celebrate any sort of weather. And I know that it can get a lot colder. This snow was nothing compared to other areas. But the fact is that even when it used to snow tons in the past… The Dutch can still have fun.

The wonderful thing about living in a place you grew up, is you always learn something new. Which is why I love to tell people to take chances and risks. Life is short. Instead of hiding away from the sun I stand out there and embrace it. I’ve learned so many things about myself and others. While we’re all still in lock down, I’ve decided that I still want to make the most of the situation. And I’m not the only one!

A neighbor celebrated his 50th birthday today, parade style! All his friends and family came to visit and drop off gifts and the street was filled with a parade of cars. It was a sweet and wonderful gesture because we’re all in an intense lock down right now. They got to see all the people they would have celebrated with. See the Dutch are intense about celebrating 50th birthdays. They go all out with the decorations and party times. This parade compromise was perfect to solve the “no parties” rule.

So if there’s anything you can learn from the Dutch, don’t let the small stuff get you down! Embrace what you can, when you can! And things will always get better. The snow looked so beautiful in the sunlight and looks magical at night. I never got to experience these types of situations back in California. What can you do during a pandemic? Just don’t give up and focus on what’s important in life. And don’t forget about the friends and family you can always call on.

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Routine
Out of all the things on this list, having a routine saved my buns. I got up in the morning around the same time. Then I walked the dogs, came back and had breakfast, and then sat down to work. I could only get up for breaks. At 5pm I was done and the rest of the evening was for doing whatever. This strict routine helped me fill out my days. And I spent my time being productive instead of being melancholy. I also felt more accomplished and at the end of the day I had something to look forward to the next morning.

Meal planning
Most of my summer planning was for food. We started to order our groceries online and it’s done wonders for me. I planned out so many tasty summer meals and Sander was blown away each time. It was a lot of fun researching recipes and finding Dutch equivalents of ingredients. It allowed me to get more familiar with Dutch items, the grocery website. But most important of all, I brought exciting dinners into the household. We had been in a dinner rut for a long time because Sander did the shopping and picked up the same foods. Meal planning allowed my creativity to resurface in a fresh way. It also made dinner something to look forward to.

Intermittent Fasting
And speaking of meals, I’ve jumped onto the intermittent fasting wagon. I eat brunch at 11am and stop eating after 7pm. It’s allowed me to eat healthier and stop after dinner snacking. In my fasting periods, I only drink black tea. Now I feel healthier and have more energy around the house. Also I’ve been able to drink more water and spend less time dehydrated. It’s been great so far. I bought a 1000g bottle of peanut butter and washed it when it was empty. And now I use that as my iced tea cup. I made Sander’s parents laugh when they saw it but I let them know at least I hit my water intake goals!

Little smiles
It’s been months since I decided I would let little things make me happy. The scent of my favorite perfume is a good one. Preparing a delicious meal is another. It’s been so long now that I’ve conditioned myself to get happy at the smallest things. And it works wonders. It might be selfish of me to do so but no one should be unhappy for months at a time. It’s terrible for mental and physical health. So while you can be aware of the world burning around you (like what’s happening in my home state of California…) don’t let it get to the point where you can’t function as a human.

We only have one life to live, please don’t most of it being unhappy about being alive. And it’s wonderful to think that people love the idea of getting help. It’s freaking 2020 for crying out loud. You shouldn’t make friends and family responsible for your mental health. Be strong and take charge. Find a therapist if you need it because we all need someone to talk to.

Please note this photo is from 2016 when we went sailing with Sander’s aunt and uncle. You can read about that here!

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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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I grew up in California where the coldest it would get was maybe low 40°s in the middle of winter and around close to midnight. I stretched out under three blankets, warm in my bed with the heater on. Now I can barely even think about going outside and enjoying it. I leave the house to walk the dogs and hurry back inside before I freeze. And once again, I can hear the voices “Oh boo hoo, it’s always so much colder where I live.”

Congratulations! You win! What you win is up to you because this isn’t a competition.

So today, I’ll address the most commonly asked question (other than, “Why on earth would you come to the Netherlands”), “How do you feel about this weather?”

Here in The Netherlands, the winters can be annoyingly cold. It’s a cold where one can say “I can go outside but I’d rather not.” There are some days when spring is approaching and you can feel the warm sun on your skin. The next day will be a downpour. I’ve had the thermostat usually turned up at 80° to help me combat the stiff winds. It’s not crisp all the time. Most of the time, it’s biting!

Spring is when everything turns green and lush. It’s so fascinating to see buds on everything. The once barren trees and bushes spring back to life. Winter literally turns everything (expect the grass) lifeless. The flowers sprout everywhere! But watch out! You can only enjoy them from afar. The Dutch are seriously over protective of their flowers. It’s more of a look and don’t touch situation so keep your hands to yourself!

Summer is a dream made in heaven. Honestly, if we could have summer all year around, I would never want for anything else. Sander and I bike around 5 miles a day. The sun is out until close to 10pm. The nights are balmy and majestic. The one complaint I have is that homes usually don’t have AC. Businesses are the lucky ones so if you gotta cool off, make sure you have a cold shower handy!

Fall… Honestly I can’t even remember much of fall. It happens so quickly that one moment you have a light jacket on and the next you’re in your heavy winter coats. Regardless of this “middle season” the weather is still good enough to go out in. I’m excited for the end of winter so that I can be active again. Sure I can go outside but I can’t hold an umbrella while I have one dog leash in each hand!

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