Cheap date in the flower fields
April 27, 2012 149 Comments
Hubby and I always love our cheap spring date where we would normally drive around the bulb field areas in the Noordoost Polder, have coffee by the flower fields sold by some enterprising farmer’s children and have lunch of fries and kroket in a snack bar that we would find open in one of the village centers along the flower route. We don’t see the need to go to any fancy restaurant for what can we ask for when already surrounded by so much beauty that we are literally drowning from the sight of millions of tulips in full bloom.
It is kind of funny that this activity that we do every springtime comes as too corny and tacky to a lot of people. Many Dutch would not want to be seen in the flower fields, more so, to have their pictures taken in such a setting. I don’t mind being branded as corny and tacky in my appreciation of this incredible beauty. To me, seeing this amazing wonders of nature every spring is a testament of God’s existence and infinite love for us.
Hubby enjoying his coffee sold by an enterprising farmer's daughter who had a thermo of coffee and biscuits for visitors like us. A cup with a piece of cookie costs a mere Eur 50 cents.
About Malou
Malou, I am guessing that after the bloom the bulbs are harvested and then sold? How many years do they have the bulbs bloom before they harvest? I know one of the major sellers here say their bulbs are bigger because they are older.
No, the flowers will first be cut so that the bulbs can further grow. In summer, the bulbs will be harvested. The process goes on, bulbs will be planted again in autumn.
What absolutely delightful photos. I can understand why you would be inspired every year to visit the flowers and tulip farm.
Thanks a lot. Yes, this amazing vista never fails to amaze.
Malou, as always gorgeous pics. It’s always the simple things that are the best.
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Thanks a lot, Brigitte. There is no need for anything fancy to have a wonderful time.
Aaaaaah looks like heaven! The flowers are so beautiful!
Thanks a lot. Yes, this is my own heaven here.
Gorgeous photos, great date!
Thanks a lot, Cycling Grandma.
Corny, tacky, cheap… I don’t think so… how about beautiful and awesome.
Looks like a wonderful date sans enfant… you actually got to sit and enjoy that 50cent cup of coffee.
Gorgeous fields I hope to someday see in person… we are all over the corny around here!
Thanks a lot, Wendy. The little girl (still a baby then) was in the capable hands of the oma and opa. If you get the chance to visit Holland, come around springtime to enjoy this spectacle.
Seems odd the Dutch don’t want to be seen in those fields.
I think it’s odd too! I can’t think of any better day than one among the flowers!
I guess because this is just too ordinary and human as we are, we tend to value what is unreachable or not so common.
Spectacular! As always.
You could make a good living selling your photos – whether as cards, or framed pictures.
Thanks a lot, Michael. Someday I hope to do that.
Great photos! Don’t you find it just overwhelming with all those gorgeous flowers around you?!
Thanks a lot, Cathy. It can indeed be overwhelming and at the same time, just amazing to realize that paradise exists.
The sheer scale of these fields is staggering. Awesome!
Yes, as far as the eyes can see.
Prächtige Farben!
Danke schön, Michael.
a divinely beautiful corny……never seen so much colour ; D
Aptly said, Lyn.
Every time I see this kind of photos you take makes me want to go there so bad…… one day… one day… hopefully soon and of course on spring time!!! Thank you so much for sharing…
If you have the chance, come in spring to experience this, Camila.
Awesome…..love it!!!
Thanks a lot, Golappan.
Beautiful post Malou. Cheap and chic!
Thanks a lot, Janine.
It’s a cloudy day here on the East Coast – seeing these amazing photos was needed! Just discovered your blog (thanks for checking me out btw) – I’ll be diving into the archives to see what I’ve been missing!
Too bad it is cloudy there. We’ve had that too most of April and even today. The sunny weather with blue skies seemed to be a one-off yesterday.
You live in a country so blessed with flowers and nature…Truly enjoyed the photos..All the best, Jenny
Thanks a lot, Jenny. Yes, indeed I am lucky to be so close to this amazing spectacle every springtime.
I love it! That’s like blue bonnets here in Texas, people always joke about people taking their kids there. But I say the blue bonnets and Dutch flowers are famous for a reason – because they are beautiful! So why not enjoy your own backyard?
Thanks a lot, Jamielynne. Nothing beats an inexpensive thrill right at one’s backyard. I love the flower fields and why not enjoy them when I can? People from all over the world descend to Holland just to see them in spring and that’s even very pricey.
Beautifully corny….
So true.
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.
Thanks a lot, Sillyliss.
I have always wanted to see these tulips in person! Alas, living half way across the globe may make that impossible–so thank you for posting such beautiful, beautiful photos!
I hope someday you also get to see this in person.
Lovely …. are the photos taken this year. Cheap dates … seams to keep your love blooming. Once again, you take stunning photos.
Thanks a lot, Viveka. These pictures were from 3 years ago.
Oh .. doesn’t matter the cheap date .. keeps the love lasting longer, maybe.
I am all for cheap. Yesterday we had the same trip to the flower fields and had so much fun without spending a single cent. We rewarded ourselves with a nice barbeque when we got home.
Beautiful pictures. Some of the corny dates are the most memorable.
Thanks a lot, Beatrix. Indeed the corny dates remain fresh in memory.
I love this! It sounds incredibly romantic. And I also love the photos of you popping out among the tulips; you look like a pretty tulip yourself!
Thanks a lot, Jasmine. Can’t go wrong in pictures when amidst the flowers.
I don’t think this is corny at all – indeed, I think it is such a wonderful way to share your love for each other and enjoy the beauty of our world! Thanks for the inspiration. And for the reminder that dates are not about how much money we spend but how much time we spend and the quality of that time together.
Glad to know that we share the same perspective. Having a wonderful time is really not about the amount spent but the quality of time together.
I think you’re a really good photographer and we have similar likes really. I love cooking, baking & traveling too. keep up the great work
Glad to meet a kindred spirit.
Gorgeous shots, all the colors are amazing. That would be a wonderful outing, why go sit inside when you can be out there in that beauty!
Thanks a lot, Angeline. Such a waste to ignore this beauty when it is all for free.
Tulips are my fav flowers – how lovely. Your photos are fabulous!
Thanks a lot, Susan.
Beautiful! And beautiful shots, too.
Thanks a lot, Dawn.
GORGEOUS! Looks like a perfect date to me!
Thanks a lot, Moonbeam McQueen.
Such fabulous color and photos!!! Such a wonderful date for you two!!!
Thanks a lot, Cee. Indeed it was a wonderful date.
Wonderful!
Thanks a lot, Elfkat.
You both look perfect (and happy) in those fields. All gorgeous.
Thanks a lot, Diane.
I don’t think it’s corny at all! Glad you posed in the flowers and enjoyed the beauty.
Thanks a lot. In life, we should also pause for a while to savor nature’s beauty. There’s always something refreshing with that.
What an amazing farm. Great photos.
Thanks a lot, EduDad.
Best cheap date, EVER!!! I want a date at the tulip fields!!
Such a date is always fulfilling because the scenery is spectacular and it is all for free save for a few cents for the coffee.
I really like pics of you guys with vast background of tulip fields.
Looks so cool.
Thanks,
Vic
Thanks a lot, Vic.
I don’t often comment, because you already get so many.
. But I enjoy the beautiful photos of flowers. And your flower dates sound like just the sort of thing my husband and I would enjoy. 
Thanks a lot, Judith. Glad to know that you enjoyed looking at the pictures.
WOW!what a beautiful place to visit its a photographers eyecandy great shots
Thanks a lot. I’m sure that this place will charm you at first sight.
WOW! so beautiful!! i bet that smelled delicious.
Thanks a lot. The scent is very mild but the sight is simply awesome.
Beautiful!
Thanks a lot, Barbbydesign.
What an utterly stunning setting! Imagine not making a point of drinking in spectacles like those, and identifying with them, when they are on one’s doorstep. They need their minds adjusted, those who don’t want to be seen in those vivid displays.
I guess most people always think that the grass is greener at the other side of the fence that they fail to appreciate the treasure that is right before their eyes.
Your pictures are gorgeous! Makes me want to click my fingers and be there!
Thanks a lot, epicuriousbrit. Come and visit in spring to enjoy this spectacle.
The aroma of fresh coffee in field after field of glorious tulips…now that’s what I call a romantic date! Beautiful photos, malou…just beautiful!
Thanks a lot. In such a setting, who needs more?
Precisely! Glad you two had fun!
I don’t understand why they WOULDN’T want to go play in the flowers. They are so enticing. I think this is a lovely tradition for you both.
I guess they just see this scenery every spring year after year that it has become too ordinary. Since I grew up in the tropics and the tulips I knew then while growing up were only from pictures, I am very appreciative that I now get to see them in such proportion every spring.
That is an excellent point. I know people in my area who rarely visit the beach and it is less than 20 minutes away. Breaks my heart.
Wow, what awesome shots… it’s like swimming through colour.
Tulips are so beautiful, especially for a date!
Thanks a lot, Eve.
Malou….AGAIN you’ve given us lovely tulips, thanks so much.
*anna
Glad to know that you like this post, Anna.
The only time is like flowers is when I’m in the dutch flower fields. The colors and the contrast are so powerful!
Thanks a lot, lulumus.
I cannot believe that Dutch would find this corny! It is amazing, wherever you live, you do not appreciate what beauty is truly around you!
This has become too common for them. Meantime, I just savor the view to my heart’s content.
How beautiful!!! I would enjoy being surrounded by such beauty. What a blessing! I am full of smiles.
It is, Terra. I am grateful that every spring I can enjoy this spectacular beauty around me.
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Malou, Your blog is wonderful, as are your photos! I’ve nominated you for a blog award, which you can see here: http://johnmullinax.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/curmudgeonly/ .
Thank you for sharing your blog! (And also, thank you for the lumpia recipe!!
)
Thanks a lot for the appreciation, John.
How could you not want to be seen among such beautiful flowers?
My sentiments exactly. Anyway, I love it that going to the flower fields is one peaceful and calming thing to do as well, away from the busy tourist path in spring.
Love, Love, Love your pictures. Thanks for sharing all those beautiful flowers. It truly looked like a day in heaven.
This is a glimpse of heaven every springtime.
So gorgeous!
Bella and DiDi
Thanks a lot, Bella and DiDi.
wow, beautiful!
Thanks a lot, Sherwin.
So gorgeous! I don’t think i’d ever get sick of visiting those gorgeous fields of flowers either
Thanks a lot, Olivia. I never tire of these amazing fields so I return year after year. I’m sure that if you get to experience this, you will also be charmed to no end.
Absolutely gorgeous pictures!
All the colors are so vibrant and inspiring
What a lovely trip…
Thank you for sharing
Thanks a lot, Previse.
What a great date. Not tacky – but heavenly, just like your photos.
Thanks a lot, ladyfi.
Funny that the Dutch don’t want to see their lovely tulip fields. Here so many people go to see them that they clog up the freeway and cause a major traffic jam, and they’re not tourists.
Too ordinary for them I guess. I love escaping to these tulip fields because there are hardly anyone there. Definitely out of the tourist route.
Simplicity and beauty. Thank you. One of my favourite quotes is Hopkins – ‘There lives the dearest freshness deep down things’. Those tulips couldn’t look more full of spring. L x
Cheap dates are good dates. What beauty!
I’m always so jealous!
Ashley
This is beautiful!
My but you have just brightened my day!
Thanks for the following! I’m following you back too! We have flower fields in San Diego too but definitely not quite like this. My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Central Europe next year – this might be on our list
.
Those are some amazing pictures. The tulips look phenomenal! I wish we had something as beautiful like those fields – here as well. That is a wonderful idea for a date!
Gorgeous!
Oh I’d do corny any day to have fields of flowers like these to walk among and have my photo taken. And what better place to have a cup of coffee with the family! Lovely! Sharon
wow.
So beautiful! I would love to find fields of flowers like that to take pictures in!
Hey there! Thank you so much for following my blog!
Loved reading your insights about the Dutch and browsing through your pictures. I love Europe from whatever I have read about it, and do hope to visit the place at least once in my lifetime. Thank you for showing us a different side to your country and hometown.
Spectacular! God’s creativity amazes me. Thanks for sharing.
What wonderful flowers tulips are and such beautiful colours.
Love love love this post – great photos taken on an obviously great date! Beautiful!
anne
Reblogged this on Greatpoetrymhf’s Weblog and commented:
To cheer your day
Wow. I have never seen such huge fields of flowers. Lovely. Thank you so much for sharing! I love it!
Agreed… I also think these sorts of dates are the most romantic of all!! And most memorable!!
Gorgeous tulip fields and loved your eggroll recipe, now I’m hungry, could you come over and bring some. We had a Vietnamese neighbor that use to bring over food for us to try. She moved and now we sure miss it.
Wow! Such intense colours
Kim*
Huh! How did I miss this blog from my blog feed!? How are you? You are making me jealous by sitting amongst my favorite flower, the tulips! The picture of you with the white tulips and their pink tips is my favorite! You look great in all your pictures and so sweet to have the flower date! Romance is in the air! Beautiful pictures!
I love the pictures and the date idea! It is so hard to find cheap places to go out especially when you have to hire a babysitter! I love the picture of you in the yellow tulips. Beautiful!
Love all the beautiful colors!
You have such a fantastic eye and the stories you write to accompany them – what a wonderful combo. It’s a vacation for both the eye and mind.
Ohhhh, Malou, your pictures are so beautiful. I’m wistful! We tore up our garden last year with plans to develop an organic edible landscape. It’s proving to be a long process. Last autumn I did manage to get some apple trees, rhubarb, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries planted. Sadly, however, four bags of bulbs stayed in the shed!! The only tulips I have in the garden this year are four pretty, but lonely, little lovelies! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos. Kim