Haarlem, North Holland, The Netherlands April 15, 2026

So those of you who are loyal followers, you now know why I was painting and posting about tulips! It was all a part of my anticipation for the main reason for coming to Haarlem now. I chatted with a few locals at the Gardens today who all said they come to visit weekly during the period when the Keukenhof Gardens are open from late March to mid May. They said this week the flowers are all at their best and could not be happier for me coming this far at the most perfect time. On top of that, the weather today was ideal!  

The Keukenhof Gardens are located in Lisse, South Holland. It’s a thirty minute direct bus ride on the Qbuzz, a special setup just while the Gardens are open.  I booked a 7:30am ride and an 8:00am entrance ticket.  I’m a morning person, I like the morning light, so I was there as the gates opened.  For the first couple of hours, it was no issue getting photographs without people in them.  After that, I had to be quick, crafty and patient.  The photos of me were taken by others.  I returned the favours and snapped special seconds in time of others for them. 

I will let the photos tell the story!  I’m at a loss for words that would do the views justice. I captured so many pretty sights, I picked a few to share. They are not necessarily my favourites, it is just too overwhelming right now to go through them all.

I was thinking, don’t fall in!

Eurasian Blue Tit

Eurasian Wren

This is a view from inside the Gardens looking out to a tulip field.  After three hours of walking around, I was so fulfilled, so overwhelmed and so ready to sit for awhile.  I picked up a pasta dish at a food truck within the Gardens then ate while I people watched, and by now there were loads to watch. 

I exited Keukenhof Gardens. Qbuzz was waiting there. I hoped on, he took off, with only me onboard.  For the first few kilometres, the views were of tulip fields like the photo above. After arriving back to Haarlem then back to my home away from home, I needed one of those crash power naps.  It worked wonders!  Then…..

…..it was time to go from flowers back to the canals!  I strolled for awhile before heading to the outdoor patio where I was with the three ladies yesterday.  This time I picked a table right at the edge.  I ordered the same beer!  How about this view!  

 view of bridge to my right

Oh what the heck, I ordered more bitterballen!

The order comes with seven balls and a side of mustard.

The canal was busy!  

It was great entertainment!

At this point the canal was so busy! The Guard of the bridge came out and yelled at everyone in the boats to move to the right or quickly go back. I assumed that was what she yelled, I don’t speak her language.  Her hand gestures and the actions of the boaters were my language.  All this, so…..

…..she could swing the bridge open….to let…..

…..this barge get through! The flat part is the front, the back section has the car on the roof. 

Oh the excitement, as if the 🌹🪻🌷💐🌷 were not enough!

I had a little more life left in me so walked along the canal to the ice cream shop.

 Mango gelato on a waffle cone was the icing on the cake.  

Haarlem, North Holland, The Netherlands April 14, 2026

Very shortly after enjoying an early provided breakfast, I hit the walkways along the canals. The sun was long up, the sky was nothing but blue and everything that could reflect in the still water, reflected. I am truly enjoying Haarlem and I knew I would as it is a smaller version of Amsterdam which means it is perfect for me.  

These are just a few of the many photographs I took, enough to give a true taste of the beauty. 

In addition to walking along the canals, I veered down numerous side streets.  

All were narrow, winding and lined with every type of unique shop you would want.  

Two and a half hours later, it was time to put my feet up, have a quick power nap, a bite to eat then get back out the door. This was the view as I waited for the Captain to pull up in his electric powered boat.  It was time for a Canal Boat Tour.  

Here he comes!

There were eleven of us, myself being the only Canadian. This was the perfect group size for my liking. I could ask for nothing more from the Captain, he was the best.  These are just a few of my photos, once again, to give you a taste of the beauty of Haarlem but this time from on the water.

Eurasian Coot with her three babies!

After the tour, I asked the three UK ladies who were on the boat, to join me for a beverage at an outdoor patio on the edge of the Spaarne.  I enjoyed a local beer along with a serving of bitterballen.  Two hours later, we said our goodbyes, they were heading back home tomorrow after an eight day visit here.  I headed back to my home away from home to get ready to….   

….visit Keukenhof Gardens tomorrow!

Stay tuned!

Haarlem, North Holland, The Netherlands April 13, 2026

Luck would have it on lucky April 13th!  Although the flight left twenty minutes late due to the need to be de-iced, the flight then arrived thirty minutes early. Passport Control took five minutes, we were at a close gate to baggage claim, luggage was on the carousel when I arrived. “You are very early!” was what she said when I arrived at my home away from home.  She told me “I can contact cleaning staff to get your room ready!”  By 9:30 am I fell onto the bed for a crash power nap!

All that was a most wonderful welcome to The Netherlands!  The real welcome was savouring the sights while strolling along the Spaarne, then finding the perfect spot to sip a local brew and snack on bitterballen. 

I was supposed to be here last year.  If you have been following my blog since then, you know what transpired, life happened and I found myself on another kind of journey.  That journey is history, long forgotten!  I am happy to now be here, following a journey, creating memories, never to be forgotten!

These are a few of the sights while walking off jet lag.  

From canals to boats and bicycles to flowers,

 these are what make Holland!  

a Great Crested Grebe

a solo Mute Swan

Thirteen kilometres later, I was ready for more than a crash power nap!  

Tomorrow I will be happy to be on Haarlem Holland hours!   

opportunistic windows

When the weather outside was frightful, I took a watercolour lesson on washes.  It was a good way to pass time until the weather window opened presenting an enjoyable opportunity to be "out & about". The wash includes the blue, brown and green. Small amounts of very wet paint are strategically dropped on wet paper.  While wet, you move the paper all around and up and down so the colours spread and blend.  I got what I hoped for after it dried, a scene that looks like a sky, mountains and a meadow.  Then my mind wandered and instead of creating a mountainous scene, I went with where my mind wandered to, a view of a girl in a flower field admiring tulips!  

With the weather window now beautifully opened, I aimed for Creekside and Hanson Ranch to check for Mountain Bluebirds and crocuses.  It had snowed heavily the day prior and it was still cold on this morning but I could not pass the opportunity to be outside under a blue sky.  From the top of the ridge, I had a view across to Nose Hill in the middle background and a snow-covered golf course below me.  

I did find a few crocuses, but this was the only healthy one.

It was in a spot where the sun shines.

A yawning coyote!

One of two that were digging in the snow for snacks. 

I saw no Mountain Bluebirds but I did see this Black-necked Stilt!  

I waited for another lovely day where the weather window opened once again after being shut for a couple of days.  I read where there were opportunities to see new arrivals at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I spent a couple of hours strolling the area, the scenery was beautiful and filled with birds songs yet I heard no new songs.  

The Wood Ducks continue to increase in numbers.  This male sat on the snow at the edge of the water watching the ladies swim by, no doubt with hopes of an opportunity to do a little dance to make an impression.   

The male and female Mallards jumped from the water to the snow and strolled across to the grassy area. No doubt they were scouting out a place that may be perfect to build a new home for when the time comes to lay eggs. 

This Robin found a small spot in the water where the sun shone down on.  

It was a good opportunity to splish splash take a bath. 

Here we go, the Canada Geese couple are once again perched on the bridge railing! 

On another day when it was better to be inside rather than wandering "out & about", I went to a local book store to stroll.  This book jumped out at me, I knew I had to have it not even knowing what it was all about.  It has to be OK if it is a bestseller.  In a few days I will have lots of downtime.  I will take that window of opportunity to delve into my new book!