The Netherlands: Capital of spring

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Deana Heitzman
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Green meadows and patches of red, yellow and blue were visible for miles from the skies above the Netherlands' tulip fields.

The spur-of-the-moment trip left me with a lasting impression of adventurous and fun memories.

After landing at the airport, it was a short train ride to Amsterdam. When we walked underground to the station we were met by hundreds of people headed to the same destination.

Outside Amsterdam Centraal train station, my eyes widened, unable to take everything in at once after seeing the city for the first time. Fifteen different languages reached my ears, metros were rushing past, and bicycle bells rang, alerting people to move of the way.

Old buildings, museums signs and fake tulips filled the streets. Our adventure had begun.   

The hotel we stayed in was only a few miles away, and our walk was beautiful. Tall houses and apartments lined the streets with canals splitting the roadways. Trees outlined the water while we strolled over bridges filled with bikes.

After thirty minutes, we crossed our last bridge and were met by people standing in a line. Out of confusion, I looked around but nothing seemed different. The houses looked the same. I quickly realized I was staring at the secret annex the Frank family hid in during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in World War II.

We reached our hotel late in the evening and decided to grab something to eat. With more than 4 million international visitors a year, our dinner choices were endless. The most popular restaurants served steak and ribs dishes--but we set our eyes on Mexican cuisine.

The next morning, we signed up for a tour of the largest flower garden in the Holland province--Keukenhof. After a 45-minute drive, we were welcomed by the scent of fresh tulips and other colorful flowers.

Keukenhof is home to 79 acres of more than 800 varieties of tulips. Every year, seven million bulbs are planted throughout the gardens. Although the park is only open from March to mid-May, it's visited by over 800,000 people.

The Netherlands is also home to the famous post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. His works were the annual theme for the gardens at Keukenhof. Whether you visit his tulip self-portrait or the Vincent Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, the country offers many ways to honor his contribution to the arts.

Various other museums are available for the history buffs as well. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam features 80 rooms that display more than 800 years of historic Dutch art and history.

My trip ended with the urge for more Dutch culture. The locals were very welcoming and the streets were always alive with activity. Whether you are looking for a historic adventure or a spring oasis, the Netherlands offers many colorful amenities worth visiting.