By Kristen de Joseph
Amsterdam Travel Expert, about.com
2016 welcomes the 67th season of the famous flower park near Amsterdam, and it's one that offers a double dose of the Netherlands. Not only will Keukenhof feature the bulb flowers and tulips that are the pride of the Netherlands, but its 2016 theme - the Golden Age - harks back the most storied period in Dutch history.
Keukenhof 2016 Theme: The Golden Age[post_ads_2]
Every
year, Keukenhof chooses a different theme to unite its flower
displays. 2016 marks the third year in a row that the theme has taken an
introspective turn: while the years prior to 2014 honored different
countries in Europe and their relations with the Netherlands - 2012's "Poland - Heart of Europe"; 2013's "UK - Land of Great Gardens" - since 2014 the park has shifted its focus to the country and people of the Netherlands. 2014's theme, simply titled "Holland!", was a celebration of Dutch culture; Keukenhof 2015 commemorated the 125th anniversary of the death of Vincent van Gogh.
The 2016 theme is a tribute to the era when the Netherlands was a
worldwide maritime power, and the country's prosperity helped Dutch
art, science and philosophy to flourish. At the same time, it was a era
of contradictions: while the country attained some of its most coveted
achievements at this time, the human cost of its prosperity was paid by
the colonies, which endured brutal atrocities under the Dutch Empire. By
all accounts, however, it's a period that continues to fascinate both
the Dutch and the rest of the world.
The centerpiece of the park
is traditionally the bulb mosaic, which is fashioned out of 100,000
flowers to encapsulate each year's theme. In 2016, the mosaic takes the
form of a Delft blue tile which illustrates sea trade and the merchant
houses of Amsterdam. Other displays also draw their inspiration from the
17th-century Netherlands.
Keukenhof 2016 Visitor Information
[post_ads]The
park's 67th season runs from Thursday, March 24 to Monday, May 16,
2014. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m, even on Sundays
and holidays. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., so bear in mind
that the office closes 90 minutes earlier than the park.
Admission
fees are the same in 2016 as they were in 2015: € 16 for adults and € 8
for children (4 to 11 years old). There are no discounts for seniors or
students (over 11), but the park is free for children up to 3. The
season ticket (lentepas) is a value for anyone who wants to
visit three times in the same season, and is priced at € 45 for adults, €
17.50 for children. Avoid the lines with printable e-tickets, available
on the Keukenhof e-ticket site.
Combi-tickets
that include both park admission and transport (bus from Amsterdam,
Schiphol, Leiden and Haarlem) are available online as well as at VVV (tourist information) locations;
in Amsterdam, these include the VVV offices at Stationsplein 10, across
from Central Station; Leidseplein 26; at Amstel 3, inside concert hall
Het Muziektheater; and at Arrivals Hall 2 in Schiphol Plaza.
How to Get to Keukenhof in 2016[post_ads_2]
Keukenhof is situated some 34 km (21 miles) south of Amsterdam, in the town of Lisse, South Holland. Visitors can bike, drive, or take the bus to the flower park. Car directions are available on the Keukenhof web site.
The
Arriva Keukenhof Express buses are put in service for the park each
year. In 2016, these dedicated buses consist of bus line 858 from
Schiphol Plaza (the square in front of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol); line
50 from Haarlem Central Station; line 90 from The Hague (and nearby
towns such as Wassenaar, Katwijk, Noordwijk or Noordwijkerhout);
and line 854 from Leiden Central Station.
Visitors who travel from Amsterdam should either take the train to Leiden (the closest station to Keukenhof) and then transfer to line 854, or take
bus line 197 to Schiphol and transfer there to line 858. Customized
public transit directions are available at the travel advice site 9292.
