Dutch garden Keukenhof welcomes visitors for tulip season after end of prolonged coronavirus induced lockdown
The Keukenhof lost a whole season last year to the pandemic because the first deadly wave of infections swept over the Netherlands. Its scheduled 20 March opening this year never happened due to the country’s strict virus lockdown.
Lisse: Finally, after bleak winter months of a coronavirus lockdown, springtime shoots of hope emerged on 9 April as restrictions were relaxed at a Dutch garden and other public venues.
Under a government-approved pilot scheme, the world-famous Keukenhof garden opened its gates to let a couple of thousand people tiptoe through the 7 million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and myriad other flowers meticulously hand-planted throughout its manicured lawns by a little army of gardeners.
A maximum of 5,000 visitors was allowed into the garden, nestled amid the pancake flat-bulb fields between Amsterdam and therefore the Hague if they might show proof that they had just tested negative for COVID-19.
Minke Kleinen, who visited the city center of Arnhem together with her friend Ilse van Egten, said it felt like their “first legal outing .” the buddies took rapid tests before setting off and got their negative results by email as they drove.
It feels strange that we will stand next to at least one another,” said Van Etten, giving Kleinen a fast hug. “It’s nice!”
The Keukenhof lost a whole season last year to the pandemic because the first deadly wave of infections swept over the Netherlands. Its scheduled 20 March opening this year never happened due to the country’s strict virus lockdown.
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The limited opening — six days cover fortnight in April — is welcome to the 40 gardeners who spend months preparing for the annual spring season. during a normal year, the garden dimensions of fifty soccer fields can accommodate 10 times as many visitors every day.
Park director Bart Siemerink had mixed feelings.
“Of course, happy today. It’s the primary day of Keukenhof 2021,” he said but added that the park still felt different with such a comparatively small number of tourists.
“So it’s an honest feeling that we will open, but this is often not Keukenhof as it’s alleged to be,” he said.
In pre-pandemic years, Keukenhof’s paths, park benches, and cafes are crowded with visitors from around the world taking photos and selfies with one among the Netherlands’ most iconic products — the tulip.
On 9 April, small groups of tourists were scattered around the lawns. you'll get a plate of poffertjes — a Dutch treat of small pancakes covered in powdered sugar — without having to attend during a long line.
The Dutch government announced in the week that many public venues would be allowed to reopen under strict conditions to gauge whether rapid testing can safely help the country ease coronavirus restrictions amid rising levels of vaccinations and warmer weather.
Under the scheme, visitors to the Keukenhof — also as museums, zoos, and other venues — are allowed entry if they order a ticket online and obtain a negative virus test within 40 hours of their visit. All virus tests are free and a result's emailed within an hour to the tested person. That code, in turn, is often scanned at venues.
The tests come against a backdrop of stubbornly high infections that have begun edging lower within the past week after months of lockdown.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge sees the limited openings as how of easing back toward normal life as vaccinations reach more and more people.
Visiting the Keukenhof felt sort of a privilege for those that came.
“This may be a gift,” said blogger Berry de Nijs. “It feels great today. it's beautiful weather anyway ... but to steer through the tulips is fantastic!”
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