Exploring Spring’s Tulip Fields

in the Netherlands & Belgium

The Tulip Time Cruise 2015

• Sail into Northern Europe’s most colorful season on a luxury European river cruise. The

waterways of Holland and Belgium have brought visitors and merchants from around the world to

marvel at the vast fields of tulips for hundreds of years.

• Today, river cruisers join enthusiastic flower-lovers streaming into historic cities like Amsterdam,

Willemstad, and Kinderdijk in Holland, and nearby Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium.

• They come to experience an overwhelming flood of color that carpets the countryside and

brightens northern cities during the few short months of tulip season.

Spring Color: Tulip Time 2015 in Netherlands and Belgium

Amsterdam and Keukenhoe

• The Tulip Time tour begins and ends in the 700-year-old city of

Amsterdam, passing through the heart of the ancient tulip industry,

where gardens and parks host floral shows on a grand scale.

• South of Amsterdam lies the village of Lisse and the famed Keukenhof

Gardens. This sprawling park displays up to seven million blooms

around the grounds, as well as countless more in indoor pavilions.

• As a kind of floral bonus, you’ll be treated to panoramas of other

blooming flowers, like narcissus, hyacinth, and more, often

integrated in alternating rows among the prized tulips.

• We stop for visits to cities like 400-year-old Willemstad, plus Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Netherlands’ largest number of windmills—all 18th century vintage.

• Throughout the Netherlands are swathes of tulips in naturalistic fields, manicured formal gardens, and greenhouse displays for the garden shows of peak season.

• Prepare yourself for bold, strong colors that scream out spring, with only a few pastels. Think jelly bean colors, with plenty of orange, reflecting the official color of the Royal Family of Orange, the Dutch monarchy.

The Netherlands: Tulips and Windmills

• The imposing Castle and Gardens of Groot-Bijgaarden, or Chateau de Grand-Bigard in French, will celebrate a 12th anniversary of its Floralia Brussels show in 2015. The castle was first built in the early 12th century, and fully renovated in the early 20th century.

• The spring flower show finds the grounds strewn with up to 500 varieties in one million planted bulbs. The 400 types of tulips, strewn together with rare varieties of narcissus and daffodils, guarantee blooms across the early, middle and late micro-seasons.

• A visit to historic Antwerp might include a tour of the home of 17th century Baroque master Peter Paul Rubens. See his extraordinary art collection with many of his works. Watch for examples of prized tulips sprinkled throughout engaging still lifes and portraits.

Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium

A Tulip is a Tulip is a Tulip

• Yes, but there are more varieties

than just the one classic shape that

we learned to draw as kids.

• At Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, find

examples of the beautiful red and

white Lustige Witwe, and iconic

parrot tulips, as seen in many 17th

century Dutch paintings.

• At Belgium’s Groot-Bijgaarden, the

400 varieties of tulips include names

that read like a botanic litany, with

classics, lily flowers, viridiflora,

parrots, and multi-flora.

The splendid gardens and artful displays inspire

many to add some color to their own yards.

Thinking of ordering some prized tulip bulbs to

ship home? Here are a few helpful hints:

• Many local growers exhibiting in the big

garden shows will sell bulbs to take

home.

• Find miles of bulbs in every variety of

tulip and more at the Flower Market, or

Bloemenmarkt in Amsterdam.

• Look for the section marked certified for

Canadian and U.S. Customs. Bulbs should

come with a certificate of inspection,

allowing you to carry them into the U.S.

within six weeks. If your trip exceeds

that time frame, inquire about having

the vendor ship them to you.

• Squirrels a problem? Try placing peanut-

filled feeders around to distract them

with an easier-to-reach treat.

Tulip Time at Home

Stop and Smell the Tulips

• Most of us are familiar with supermarket tulips, with all the

fragrance of wax flowers. Good news, though—many tulips have

retained their scents, ranging from mild to exotic.

• The pale peach-colored Apricot Beauty gives a sweet, fruity, scent.

• The deep orange Generaal de Wet is another sweet scent that

doubles as a tasty addition to fresh salads.

• Couleur Cardinal, in deep dark red with violet blush, carries a

lighter scent.

The Complete River Cruise Experience

• Your Tulip Time Cruise 2015 is about more than floral

gardens. As you calmly float along peaceful canals and

waterways, you are entering the heart of a very old

civilization.

• Historic cities, like Antwerp and Ghent in Belgium,

preserve centuries of architecture and culture.

Optional excursions open up more fascinating

wonders, like Bruges, one of the oldest perfectly

preserved medieval cities, and a UNESCO World

Heritage site.

• A side trip to nearby Brussels, capital of the European

Union, may include a visit to EU headquarters.

• All along the way, enjoy AmaWaterways white glove

service on board your luxury cruise ship, and the fine

foods, wines, and beers of each location. Return

home with memories of a springtime like no other,

and a longing to return for next year’s blooms.

Contact Us: Tulip Time 2015 in Netherlands and Belgium

AmaWaterways is an award-

winning river cruise operator,

providing all-inclusive excursions

that open cultural doors along the

great waterways of Europe,

Africa, and Asia. Their rapidly

growing fleet of custom-designed

ships leads travelers to life-

changing, restorative experiences

that always exceed expectations.

For more information, please

visit www.amawaterways.com.