Keukenhof, So Worth The Trip!

Sunday morning I woke up and my back was still killing me, but I couldn’t stand the thought of not making it to Keukenhof.  The last time I was there was about 8 years ago and I was due for another visit.  I packed my camera bag with painkillers and tried to take the Suck it up, Buttercup approach.

It worked wonderfully and while I still wasn’t able to get down and crawl around the ground to take more close up photos, I still did pretty well and I’m so glad I went!

We arrived at just after 8am, which was our best move of the day.  In the early morning the crowd is very thin and the light is beautiful.  From about 8am – 11am it was tolerable and we enjoyed walking around taking photos.  After 11am it started getting busy, and by the time we left at 3pm the crowds were almost unbearable.  So, if you plan on visiting, go early and save yourself the headache!

There’s really nothing you can say to explain how beautiful Keukenhof is.  It’s also impossible to capture it in a photo.   There are thousands, possibly millions, of photos of the gardens out there but unless you see it for yourself it’s not the same.   I can honestly say that I stopped a few times that day and just heaved a big sigh, enjoying one of the few moments I get where I truly love living in this country.

Keukenhof is also great for children.  So there is no fear of them dying of boredom while you enjoy the scenery.  There are playgrounds, a hedge maze and a petting zoo to keep them entertained along the way.   From what I could see when I was there, they also seem to enjoy getting their photos taken amongst the flowers.

One of my favorite moments was when I stopped on a bench to give my back a break and decided to use the time to practice my panning technique on the children playing on a pully in the nearby playground.  It was my first time ever attempting to capture motion in this way, and I really enjoyed it.   After a few completely blurry photos I was quite pleased with myself when I managed to get some with a clear subject.   This is something I definitely want to practice more in the future.  I think I will soon park myself on a bench in the city center and practice on cars and bikers.   One good thing about living in such a busy city, I suppose.

So, all in all it was a great day!  I’ve been paying for it since with my back, but I should be ok in the next day or two.  It was totally worth it though!

For the rest of my Keukenhof pics, click HERE.