Boot tochtje op een mooie april zaterdag middag tussen de bollenvelden/Boattrip between the bulbfields on a sunny saterday afternoon

outdoorbare commented recently that as I lived in holland I should post some pictures of tulips...

Whilst out walking in the dunes near egremont we passed some tulip fields. You can see here how they are grown in narrow rows, each row often flowering at a slightly different time to ensure the harvest lasts over a number of weeks...

Fly to this location (using Google Earth)

West Blyth.

Bulbfield, Bant's Carn, St Mary's, Scilly Isles

Taken from the narrow path towards the gangway where we were allowed to walk. Very annoying security precautions!

... not "Purser's Office". I was not too sure about those Buddhas in niches over the desks...

Bollenvelden bij Noordwijk, flowerfields in Holland

South-Holland landscapes -

In the 17th century (1630 - circa 1637) a bizarre tulip mania arose in the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , also known as "tulip-rung", "tulip madness", "tulip mania" or "bulb-madness": tulip bulbs suddenly became speculative merchandise . The madness pushed up prices to an exorbitant level, even until the bulb was worth its weight in gold. The craze was at its peak at the end of 1636, beginning of 1637. In February 1637, the "bulb market" collapsed just as suddenly as it had emerged; many bulb speculators remained destitute. Tulips were grown in all sorts of colors and depicted on still lifes by artists, such as Nicolaes van Verendael . Often the stripes on the flower were not genetically determined, but the result of a virus infection .

Keukenhof Gardens in Holland.

We were here for the second sitting. Our table arrangements did not quite work out, and I ended up having only one and a half meals at this table -- but it was a good table in good company!

Nederland, Flevoland, Noordoostpolder, 16-04-2012; IJzerpad met bloembollenvelden die op het punt van bloeien staan. Boerderijen en kavels op regelmatige onderlingen afstand, voorbeeld van moderne grootschalige polder met rationele verkaveling. De aanleg van de polder maakte deel uit van de Zuiderzeewerken (plan Lely) en viel in 1942 droog. De meeste boerderijen (en dorpen) zijn van na de tweede wereldoorlog. The northeast polder (NOP), is an example of modern large-scale polder with rational allotment. The construction of the polder was part of the Zuiderzee Works (Lely plan), in 1942 the polder was dry. Most of the building, farmhouses and villages, is post-war.

QQQ

luchtfoto (toeslag), aerial photo (additional fee required)

foto/photo Siebe Swart

Nederland, Flevoland, Noordoostpolder, 16-04-2012; Noordermeerweg, overzicht van de polder met rechts het IJsselmeer. Voorbeeld van moderne grootschalige polder met rationele verkaveling. De aanleg van de polder maakte deel uit van de Zuiderzeewerken (plan Lely) en viel in 1942 droog. De meeste boerderijen (en dorpen) zijn van na de tweede wereldoorlog. The northeast polder (NOP), is an example of modern large-scale polder with rational allotment. The construction of the polder was part of the Zuiderzee Works (Lely plan), in 1942 the polder was dry. Most of the building, farmhouses and villages, is post-war.

QQQ

luchtfoto (toeslag), aerial photo (additional fee required)

foto/photo Siebe Swart

Presumably an original. Very pleasant light.

... to a tunnel under the Schelde River. Reminded me of the escalators of the London Underground -- old and deep.

Not open that day, it being Queens' Day. The café staff were in attendance though, serving drinks on the square. They allowed us to catch this quick glance of the café. The main hall of the building was in darkness, but very imposing to see.

Where I live, in April the bulbfields start to flower again. If you could only smell these hyacinths!

Nederland, Flevoland, Noordoostpolder, 16-04-2012; IJzertocht, met bloembollenvelden die op het punt van bloeien staan. Boerderijen en kavels op regelmatige onderlingen afstand, voorbeeld van moderne grootschalige polder met rationele verkaveling. De aanleg van de polder maakte deel uit van de Zuiderzeewerken (plan Lely) en viel in 1942 droog. De meeste boerderijen (en dorpen) zijn van na de tweede wereldoorlog. The northeast polder (NOP), is an example of modern large-scale polder with rational allotment. The construction of the polder was part of the Zuiderzee Works (Lely plan), in 1942 the polder was dry. Most of the building, farmhouses and villages, is post-war.

QQQ

luchtfoto (toeslag), aerial photo (additional fee required)

foto/photo Siebe Swart

... by London Underground.

The amazing light late in the afternoon and the last bit of clouds vanishing to elsewhere

... on 6 November 2007. Britain had caught up!

... on the bridge wing.

And a wind turbine, which seems to be so small now :)

Taken from the top of the gangway. The lookout terrace was so close to the decks that it was easy to have a conversation with the passers-by.

Large field of flowering bright red and yellow tulips in Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands

.

Tulips. Tulpen. Noord-Holland.

Last days of the tulip season.

Flevopolder area, The Netherlands.

We had ship cards with invisible photos, which we were allowed to keep. None of this nonsense about having to hand them in!

Tulips.

Tulpen.

Egmond. Noord-Holland.

That sign hung over my window (also pictured here).

For Ron and his Italian colleague. Lots of tulips!

... where we took our first drink of this cruise.

I went for 1970's View-Master feel with this shot.

... where we found the beautiful Café Américain, and a moment of relaxation from the din outside!

And the steps were in better condition than those of QE2...

Modern energy-generating windmills with fields of tuplis in Zeewolde / windmolens in een veld van bloeiende gele tulpen in Zeewolde.