Spring time in Holland & Something for Mother’s Day

With Mother’s day just around the corner and spring knocking at our doors, here are a few reasons that make the Netherlands the perfect “Spring Break” location.

Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to splurge on your mum and make the weekend extra special for her; dinner, spa day or shopping is always nice, but taking her away to do those things would make it extra special.

To sprinkle a little something extra to her Mother’s Day treat you don’t need to travel far, just a short drive or train journey to Harwich (where you can treat her to a hotel on the sea experience while you sail to Holland). From the Hook of Holland port why not visit a nearby retreat location like Landal GreenParks (one of favourites). You can enjoy a relaxing weekend, have dinner and add all the special touches to make Mother’s Day a perfect Dutch experience. What’s ideal is if you already have travel plans to sail from the UK to Holland for the weekend or the following week, then you will be in for a nice trip as the rest of Europe celebrate Mother’s Day on a different date.

SPRING TIME IN THE PARKS & TULIP FIELDS

With the recent film about the famous artist himself, a great way to start your trip would be with a visit to the Van Gogh museum, from there you can take a stroll in Vondelpark for a springtime picnic. If the spring showers get in the way of an outdoor eating experience then there are a few lovely brasseries, cafes and restaurants nearby where you can still enjoy the views. Once you have finished your daytime excursions an evening or night out in the heart of Amsterdam would be a great way to end the day, this famous city’s popularity speaks for itself, it is one of the most visited tourist destinations with so much to offer.

If you would prefer a closer location to Hook away from the bustling atmosphere of Amsterdam, then why not enjoy a short drive or bus trip to Rotterdam where there’s the Diergaarde Blijdorp, Rotterdam Zoo. This is something for families couples or even solo travellers to enjoy and with spring in the air there will be more things to enjoy while touring the zoo.

The Kralingse Bos in Rotterdam is also a nice springtime destination, this beautiful wooded park is perfect for sailing, walking and even barbecuing.

Of course you cannot visit Holland in spring without the mention of tulips! While in Holland you could visit one of the world’s largest flower gardens at Keukenhof which is often referred to as the Garden of Europe. It’s easy to get to by railway and car from Amsterdam and is only open for a few weeks from March to May to display its blooms, so make the most of it this spring and start planning your trip.

A FEW SPRING EVENTS & MUST-SEES

Keeping on the theme of flowers, you could also take a trip through the Netherlands to view the Flower Strip or Bollenstreek that stretches from Haarlem to Leiden, a spectacular 20 kilometre display of blossoming crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths and the famous tulips. You can experience this amazing spring attraction by car, if you are feeling adventures and want to try it the Dutch way then follow the bike route for the Flower Strip.

If you prefer the more laid back approach to experiencing the Netherlands during springtime then there are plenty of museums to visit, trace the history of the tulip at Amsterdam Tulip Museum. Immerse yourself in the history of tulipomania, discover the six connected rooms detail the tulip’s journey from its native Central Asia to the Ottoman Empire, finally landing in Holland in the 16th and 17th century.

Utrecht is also fast becoming a hot spot, visit the National Railway Museum in Utrecht, it’s been fully restored and looks exactly like it did in the 19th century, marvel at the beautiful chandeliers and visit the 1st and 2nd class waiting rooms.

Get to know The Hague in one of the most traditional ways, from the water with the Ooievaart, a boat trip on the canals of The Hague. While in The Hague, take a trip to the palaces on a tour of the Golden age see famous art like the “Girl with a Pearl Earring”.

If planning on travelling later on in spring, then the must-see attraction would be King’s Day (formly Queen’s Day) which kicks of April 27, renowned for being one of the biggest and most colourful festivities in the Netherlands! It is celebrated throughout the country but some of the most famous street parties are in Holland (notably Amsterdam), with DJ’s, parades, street carnival and plenty more attractions for children and adults alike, you wouldn’t want to miss visiting Holland during spring.

 


  • madison says:

    That field of tulips is gorgeous. I”ve been to the Netherlands during tulip season and the colors are mind-blowing. So is Keukenhof, a kind of tulip theme park, which could be kitschy except that it”s so beautiful.