Keukenhof (full, see 28/4 or 1/5)

Overview

We are now fully booked for the 14/4 trip.
We also have trips on 21/4, 28/4 and 1/5 (maybe also 4/5).
Just check www.expatclub.org/events

The world-famous Keukenhof Spring Gardens are open only 8 weeks per year between mid-March and mid-May. During this short period the garden receives well over one million visitors who come from all over the globe to witness this unique presentation of flowers. This is picture-perfect-postcard Holland at its very best. It is so special that you simply cannot afford to miss it. This spring, the Expat Club will travel from Brussels to the Keukenhof several times. We’d love to have you join us — and bring your friends and family! Don’t forget your camera because you will be shooting hundreds of breathtaking pictures!

This year we will be going 4 times, pick your favourite date:

• Sunday 14 April 2019 (this page)
• Sunday 21 April 2019 ≫
• Sunday 28 April 2019 ≫
• Wednesday 1 May 2019 ≫

Trip in pictures

Welcome to the Keukenhof, the world's most beautiful spring gardens | © Keukenhof

Explore this huge park with an amazing variety of flowers

The park is meticulously designed with a lot of variety | © Keukenhof

© Keukenhof

The Keukenhof is one of Holland's top attractions, with over 1 million of visitors from all around the world | © Keukenhof

At several spots inside and outside the park you can buy fresh tulips and other flowers, as well as a wide selection of bulbs | © Keukenhof

Of course you can buy some delicious cheeses too in the souvenir shops | © Keukenhof

Flowers are not only exhibited in flower beds, but also in all kinds of art creations and objects | © Keukenhof

Rain or shine, you can always enjoy the millions of flowers in one of the several pavilions | © Keukenhof

Every pavilion has a different topic or a specific flower show on display | © Keukenhof

Everyone comes for the tulips but remembers the incredible fragrance of the hyacinths | © Keukenhof

The variation in colours is as impressive as tulip | © Keukenhof

The hyacinth flower beds are as impressive as the tulip ones | © Keukenhof

Just spectacular to look at | © Keukenhof

A third famous flower you can see throughout the season in all shapes and sizes are the daffodils | © Keukenhof

In the fall a team of professional gardeners are planting millions of bulbs, a process that repeats itself year after year.

Every single bulb is first put in the right spot on the field, after which they are carefully dug into the ground in various layers. This allows for different flowers to be seen in the same location at different times. Just ingenious Dutch thinking 🙂 | © Keukenhof

The windmill actually comes from the North of the Netherlands, but it is now the main eye catcher in the park | © Keukenhof

The lake inside the park is a temporary home to some swans. Our guide will tell us about them. | © Keukenhof

Keukenhof

Keukenhof, the best day out among the flowers! More than 7 million bulbs will bloom this spring, with a total of 800 varieties of tulips. A unique, unforgettable experience! Besides the spacious 32 hectares of flowers (i.e. larger than the full Cinquantenaire park) you can enjoy the spectacular flower shows, surprising inspirational gardens, unique art and wonderful events. Check out the map here. Do not miss the Tulip mania exhibition at the Juliana Pavilion. The Keukenhof is also fun for children. They will have a blast with the treasure hunt, petting farm, maze and the playground. There are various restaurants and many snack stands throughout the park. Oh, and don’t forget the delicious Dutch delicacies, the stroopwafel and poffertjes. It’s a great day out for the whole family.

Program

Expat Club has been organising many Keukenhof trips since 2013. We have gained a lot of experience over the years, and therefore we know that the below schedule is the optimal way of visiting this amazing flower park. We avoid the heaviest traffic in the morning hours, do a guided tour immediately upon arrival (so you can have lunch directly afterwards), and plan a boat tour in the later afternoon, with a little bit of time afterwards so you can still enjoy some of the Dutch delicacies or do some souvenir shopping.

08h45 – Meeting time at Place Schuman
09h00 – Latest departure to Keukenhof
11h45 – Arrival at Keukenhof
12h15 – Start guided tour
13h15 – End guided tour & free time
16h30 – Whisper boat tour
17h15 – Free time
18h15 – Departure
20h30 – Return to Brussels

Formulas

The general trip includes bus transportation from Brussels to the Keukenhof, a 1-day entry ticket to the park and a 1-hour professionally guided tour (formula 1). The guided tour is given by an official park guide who will show us around the best areas in the Keukenhof while telling us about its history, the way the park is organised, the €5 billion Dutch flower industry, and, of course, the star of the day: the famous Dutch tulip. You can also choose other formulas, which include a bicycle tour through the flower fields outside the park, a (whisper) boat tour through the flower fields outside the park, or a combination. Current prices can be found on the ticketing page (click on the “Reserve my spot ≫” button).

Formula 2: bus + entry ticket + guided tour + whisper boat
In the late afternoon, we have a reserved private (electric) whisper boat to sail through the canals in between the flower fields outside the park. It provides a unique perspective of the flat Dutch landscape, while you have a unique eye-level view on the endless flower fields. Along the way you can listen to a guided explanation with headphones. Reserving in advance for this tour is required as all boats are regularly fully booked on weekend days. There are only 35 spots available for this option.

Formula 3: bus + entry ticket + bicycle tour (3h)
You can also opt for a cycling tour through the expansive flower fields outside the park. Upon arrival you will be taken directly to the bicycle rental stand where you will be given a well-maintained, safe bike appropriate for your height. You will receive a map and instructions on the different routes, ranging from 5km, 10km, 15km or 25km (30 minutes to 120-150 minutes). Expat Club does not, in principle, guide this group, although in practice smaller groups are formed upon departure, so you will never have to cycle alone. If you are a good cyclist, we can highly recommend the red route to the beach; it’s a great place to have lunch. After a few hours, you can enter the park and enjoy your time there. You must reserve your bicycle in advance because on such busy days they are virtually always sold out. The rental of 3 hours is included (otherwise you pay €5 extra on the day itself).

Formula 4: bus + entry ticket + bicycle tour (3h) + whisper boat
This formula is the same as formula 3, so with a bicycle tour, but it also includes the whisper boat tour in the late afternoon.

Formula 5: bus + entry ticket + guided tour + bicycle tour (3h) + whisper boat
If you are really up for it, and want to see as much as possible, then we can offer you the full Keukenhof experience. Upon arrival you first join the guided tour in the park, after which you go to the bicycle stand (make sure to keep your entry ticket and get a tulip stand on your hand while exiting the park). We estimate you can leave the park at 13h30 at the earliest if you don’t take any lunch, and start the cycling tour at 13h45. If you cycle 2 hours, you can be back at the park at 15h45 to be on time for the 16h30 departure of the whisper boat. This option is only recommend if you really want to get the maximum out of the day and don’t mind a quick lunch. All in all, you will be in the park for about 2,5 to 3 hours, so you still can see a lot.

Transportation

We will be travelling with a comfortable 4* luxury coach from Lauwers Reizen. The seats are configured in Princess Class, which means you will have extra leg space and can recline your seat. This way you can get some extra rest. All seats have footrests as well. There is a (small) toilet on-board and a DVD system with three flat screens.

Comments

• Please be respectful and don’t enter the flower fields outside of the park, unless the farmer is there and allows you to do so. The biggest problem is that you could spread viruses that can threaten the entire crop. You are also simply trespassing, which is not allowed. Inside the park, do not enter the flower fields either and stay on the main walking paths.
• It goes without saying that the blooming status of the flowers depends to a large extent on the weather conditions, during the day and in the weeks/months before our visit. We are definitely travelling in the tulip season, and with the “layered planting” (at 3 different depths) of a variety of tulips more or less guarantees you will always see amazing tulip fields.
• If you join the cycling tour, be aware that it is self-guided and that you are fully responsible for loss of or damage to the bike, your own safety and getting back on time. You will get a map and there are clear signs along the bicycle paths though.