Special to Road Trips for Gardeners
From Holland.com

Millions of blooms spring up on land which was once the sea floor of the Zuiderzee. One of the best ways to explore the region is by cycling or driving along one of the routes which form the Tulip Route Flevoland every spring. These guide visitors through the countryside around Dronten, Lelystad and Zeewolde and range from 10 to 70km.

From April to early May, the Noordoostpolder Tulip Festival offers the chance to see more than 2,000 varieties of tulip in special gardens and shows, as well as activities including carriage rides, pop-up eateries and children’s attractions.

Orchideeën Hoeve, a tropical garden in the north-east of the province, is open year round and is the chance to explore exotic flora and fauna in an Amazonian rainforest, visit Europe’s largest butterfly garden, feed monkeys and catfish.

Other Flevoland gardens open to visitors throughout the year include Kwekerij Joosten and the English-inspired Goldhoorn Gardens.

While in Flevoland it is also possible to spot shipwrecks dotted throughout the reclaimed landscape. The region claims to be “the shipwreck graveyard of the world”, with over 450 wrecks found in Flevoland.

The tulip is synonymous with Holland and the bulb fields in spring attract millions of visitors with their colorful displays. With more than 5,000 hectares of tulip fields, annual festivals and a range of flower-based activities, Flevoland is one of the major Dutch regions to explore the country’s floral landscape and industry.
(Photos courtesy of Holland.com and Goldhoorn Gardens)