April 2022

In April 2022 we went on a 2 day travel with the Orient Express. It was a fantastic travel from Amsterdam in Holland to Venice in Italy. But before the train ride, we spent some days in southwestern Holland to drive around and see the tulip fields.

Click each photo to enlarge

In mid April we arrived the Schipol airport near Amsterdam and picked up a rented car. We headed southwest to Sassenheim and stayed at the Hotel Sassenheim-Leiden.

Noordwijkerhout-Lisse, Holland, Apr 2022

To get around, we had hired a rented car. It was a brilliant Citroen C3 from Avis.

Near Noordwijkerhout we stopped at some fields with red and yellow tulips, wow! Just what we had hoped to see.

Noordwijkerhout-Lisse, Holland, Apr 2022

We also passed many fields with hyacinths and daffodils. It all made some pretty stunning colourful fields.

On the way we passed several old windmills like this mill in the area around Huigsloot.

Lisse, Holland, Apr 2022

Apart from visiting Keukehof, we also visited the Tulip Experience Amsterdam. Here, we learned a lot about the origin of tulips and how tulips came to Holland and how they became popular.

Amsterdam, Holland, Apr 2022

Having toured the tulip fields, we went back to Amsterdam for a 3 days stay at the Hilton. This Hilton Amsterdam is famous, because it was here on the 24th March 1969, that John Lennon and Yoko Ono showed up and stayed here for a week, carrying out their famous "Bed in" action for peace.

We had a lovely room with a fantastic view of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam, Holland, Apr 2022

Our room was located on the 8th floor, one floor above the suite where Lennon and Ono stayed.

Amsterdam, Holland, Apr 2022

In the lounge is hanging this poster explaining about Lennon's and Ono's stay.

Amsterdam, Holland, Apr 2022

Amsterdam, like Antwerp, is famous for its diamond factories. We went to see the Gassan Factory.

Amsterdam, Holland, Apr 2022

Then it was time to pack all what he had gathered during the week. We needed to leave, because we had an important task ahead of us: we would be going on ... The Orient Express, wow!