During the past two weeks, the Dutch flower season has come into full swing. The first flowers out were not tulips, but other species like hyacinths. The flowers grown here vary in wide ranges, and include more than tulips. I’ve seen fields of hyacinths, daffodils, narcissus, and more. All of these flowers are beautiful, but my favorites are still the tulips! Either way, they all smelled incredible once they were fully out. There were endless blocks of color when we passed the fields in Lisse, and Noordwijkerhout. The region we live in is called the Bollenstreek, which means “Bulb region” in Dutch. G’s family has lived here for over twelve generations (probably more), which was one of the many factors in my decision to move here. Though I will admit the beauty of the region also had something to do with it! The Bollenstreek region is home to long pristine beaches along the North Sea, and a floral industry which brings the area alive with flowers each spring. Not only the locals are drawn to the natural aspects of the Bollenstreek, but thousands of tourists flood our area in the spring and summer.
At some point it is too much, and some of the farmers start fencing off their properties to keep trespassers out. Their stock is counted and paid by the flower bulb, and trespassers have been known to damage these. I received an awesome chance at seeing behind the scenes operations of this area, when a friend of ours invited us to visit their family farm. Their family owns land on the border of our town, and is one of the few farms continuing to operate in it. They are an important part of the agricultural industry here, and grow everything from plants for local shops to the amazing flowers found in the Bollenstreek. G and I received a tour through the sorting areas, the storage facilities, the green houses, fields, and disposal area where rejected flowers are destroyed. It’s a very intensive process, and we have a lot of respect for the Bollenstreek farmers and their products. Hopefully they can continue to provide these amazing flowers and plants, though they are surrounded by the threat of commercial development.
Daffodils
Flower fields
Sunset over the canals along the fields
Hyacinth
Tulips
Windmill from the Keukenhof peeking out over the flower fields
Yet another person taking a stroll through the fields
Local farmer flower fields
Intensely colored flowers
Tulips from a kind neighbor
Hyacinths from a friend’s farm
More about the Bollenstreek region here
This region includes a place we visited previously, known as the Keukenhof.