Felicity Long
When you think of the Netherlands, tulips are naturally among the first things that come to mind. But other than in flower markets, Amsterdam is not as overflowing with the flowers as visitors might expect, even in the height of the season.
But that is about to change with a new event called Amsterdam Tulip Days, to debut on April 24 in the city. The project is a joint effort on the part of the Museum Van Loon, the International Flower Bulb Centre in Hillegom, the Tulip Museum in Amsterdam, the City of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Tourist and Convention Board.
In an effort to turn the entire city into a tulip garden, bulbs have been planted in the gardens of museums, outside downtown buildings and at private homes.
Many of these gardens, usually not accessible to the public, will be open on April 24 and 25.
The heart of the tulip showcase will take place in the garden at the Museum Van Loon, a 17th century canal house that once belonged to artist Ferdinand Bol, a student of Rembrandt.
Travelers interested in visiting the tulip gardens in the city should be aware that most are not wheelchair-accessible or pet-friendly.
Related exhibitions will also be on tap, including a Rijksmuseum show of 17th and 18th century prints and drawings of tulips as well as with a rare showing of a tulip book, a kind of illustrated catalogue, dating from the mid 1600s. The show runs until June 1.
All this hoopla over a flower makes sense when you consider that once upon a time, during the so-called Tulipmania of the 17th century, one bulb is said to have been worth the price of a man's home. Nowadays, U.S. travelers who have been battered at home by winter storms will likely settle for them being a symbol of spring.
For details, visit www.museumvanloon.nl or http://us.holland.com/.