Keukenhof

I am off to the Netherlands this weekend. I've been in the winter and the summer but this will be the first time in the spring. I can't wait to see the bulb fields.

I would like to go to Keukenhof and wonder if any of you have been and what you thought of it.

http://www.keukenhof.nl/nm/english.html

Thanks!

Ooooh, I'm jealous! 
I loved Keukenhof when I was there the first week in April '05.  The colours and smells were just divine.  Really yummy ice cream as well.  Enjoy. 
Are you going to Edam as well?  Cute town just outside Amsterdam where they make cheese.  Damn, I need to go back to Holland!

I haven't been to Edam yet but certainly have had the cheese! 

We went last year around this time. My profile picture was actually taken there!  It was really nice, but I was more fascinated by the fields of flowers that you passed on the trip there, then the beds of flowers at Keukenhof. The one thing they did have was an orchid exhibit which was beautiful.

It was really nice, but I was more fascinated by the fields of flowers that you passed on the trip there, then the beds of flowers at Keukenhof.

That's what I was thinking!

It was one of those places that I'm glad I went, but I wouldn't do it again. It was a bit pricey and there are other things I'd rather spend my money on. Like cheese! 

It was one of those places that I'm glad I went, but I wouldn't do it again. It was a bit pricey and there are other things I'd rather spend my money on. Like cheese! 

Yes that is my thought too.  Good to know it is worth a one time visit at least.

Definately worth a visit at this time of the year!!

DH and I are off to Amsterdam for the weekend too!  Plans are to go to Keukenhof on Monday before returning home.  Sunday is the Hayseed Dixie gig at Melkweg,,,should be interesting!

It was one of those places that I'm glad I went, but I wouldn't do it again. It was a bit pricey and there are other things I'd rather spend my money on. Like cheese! 

Really? The tours were free when we went there. Though my friend and I just rented cycles in the town and asked at the tourist information where we could see cheesmaking, and had them mark it on our maps. Then we cycled there, past loads of windmills (on a particularly wet & cold day!) and the "factory" was really just a single family farm, and the son in his 20s looked so happy to give a tour and shirk his work for the day. We also visited a wooden shoe factory on our way back to Amsterdam, though that was in a different town, not Edam. Still, that day we spent around Edam is one of my finest memories of my whole Eurailing trip.

Really? The tours were free when we went there. Though my friend and I just rented cycles in the town and asked at the tourist information where we could see cheesmaking, and had them mark it on our maps. Then we cycled there, past loads of windmills (on a particularly wet & cold day!) and the "factory" was really just a single family farm, and the son in his 20s looked so happy to give a tour and shirk his work for the day. We also visited a wooden shoe factory on our way back to Amsterdam, though that was in a different town, not Edam. Still, that day we spent around Edam is one of my finest memories of my whole Eurailing trip.

Not sure if you're talking about Keukenhof which are huge gardens. We took the train to the Leiden, then got a bus ticket to Keukenhof which included the entry fee to the gardens. It definitely wasn't free. I even paid 3 euro for a fairly useless map!

Not sure if you're talking about Keukenhof which are huge gardens.

Oops, sorry - I thought you were talking about Edam and the cheese making! Nevrmind...

It definitely wasn't free. I even paid 3 euro for a fairly useless map!

Nope, it sure isn't! My friend and I biked to Keukenhof from Leiden. It was a gorgeous day. Entry was €13.50 which is comparable to a place like entry to Kew Gardens at £13. I am glad we didn't buy the map then!

It was definitely one of those places to see at least once. The tulips weren't quite in bloom yet so it was a bit anticlimatic. The dafs were lovely though. The displays inside the buildings were good. I like the one in the middle of the park with all of the different types of tulips on display. That was my favorite.