Tulip festival and local area info - Holland in May

<p>I'm going to be travelling to Holland around May 5-8th and want to photograph the tulips at the Kuekenhof gardens. Can anyone provide some insight as to how the winter season has been this year - this will give me a crude idea whether the peak of colour may coincide with the travel dates. I understand that in an average year, peak colour is typically mid-end of April.<br>

Any advice how to get early access to the gardens before the crowds arrive?<br>

Shooting the gardens or surrounding fields from the air? (would prefer not shooting through an airplane or helicopter window unless it was open)<br>

Other things to photograph in the area. I enjoy street scenes and modern architecture. I have seen photos of european architecture involving very modern design but don't know if such exists in near proximity. Underground scenes like subway tunnels with modern designs?<br>

Thanks!</p>

 

Winter has been mild up till now. Keep an eye on the next month, March can be quite cold.

I don't think you can enter before the opening hours, just be early or visit the surrounding fields.

Modern architecture in the area: The Hague, Almere, Rotterdam.

<p>For modern architecture, what Jos said, I especially like Rotterdam in this sense. For street scenes, Amsterdam will be more interesting than the other cities.<br>

As for the tulip fields, little chance you can get access to the garden before the crowds appear - as the crowds appear at opening hour and leave at closing hour. As the period is fairly limited, it tends to be busy all round. A good alternative is simply touring around the area instead of entering the park, if the fields are still in bloom and/or being harvested. There are some nice spots around, and all the large fields full of different colours is a pretty nice sight too. Early may could (should) still be fine.<br>

I'm no expert on the possibilities of seeing it by air, but the tulip region isn't far away from Schiphol airport, so I wouldn't be surprised if small air traffic in the region is very limited as there is already a lot of traffic there.</p>

 

<p>I travelled to Keukenhof a few years ago and was there in the third week of April - and I have to admit the gardens were at their just hitting their peak then. I felt very lucky to have been able to photograph them at that time. There are crowds, but as mentioned above, earlier is better than later. I was there right when the gardens opened and was able to take a lot of pictures without any people in them. However, by late morning the numbers had swelled and it was more difficult to get any nice shots, but that also coincided with the sun coming out and having a lot of harsh light to deal with.</p>

<p>I got there by bicycle - was able to ride through the tulip fields before and after going to the gardens, which was rewarding as well. That being said, I would not photograph the fields over the gardens as an either/or proposition -- if you have to choose one, I would go with the gardens. But of course it's possible to do them both.</p>

<p>If you go to the fields, remember that the tulips are largely grown for their bulbs rather than flowers and so its not unusual for the flowers to be cut off when mature. Message is that if you see a good field of tulips, photograph now and don't assume they'll be there in a day or two.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your input!</p>

<p>I live near the Keukenhof and we had a very mild winter, flowers are coming out of the ground now, but Keukenhof usually has a keen spread of blooming flowers over it's 8 week opening period. There will be plenty of other flowers in bloom in May.<br>

Take the effort of visiting Leiden, an old university town. A vibrant and beautiful city 20km from the Keukenhof, a lot smaller, but as pretty as Amsterdam, but without the idiots and stag parties. Also take a trip to Rotterdam. Interesting architecture, and much more city feel that any other place in Holland.</p>