After the bleak winter months of a coronavirus shutdown, sprouts of hope sprang up in the spring as restrictions eased in a Dutch flower garden and other public places.
Under a government-approved pilot program, the famous Keukenhof Garden opened its doors to let a few thousand people walk on tiptoe through the 7 million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and a myriad of other flowers planted. by hand through its manicured lawns by a small army of gardeners.
A maximum of 5,000 visitors were allowed into the garden, nestled in the middle of the fields of flat bubbles between banners between Amsterdam and The Hague, if they could prove that they had just tested negative for COVID-19.
Minke Kleinen, who visited the central city of Arnhem with her friend Ilse van Egten, said it felt like her “first legal day”. Friends did quick tests before leaving and got their negative results by email while driving.
Limited opening
“It’s weird that we can be next to each other,” Van Egten said, quickly embracing Kleinen. “It is beautiful!”
The Keukenhof lost an entire season last year due to the pandemic, as the first deadly wave of infections swept across the Netherlands. It is expected to never open on March 20 this year due to the country’s strict virus blockade.
The limited opening (six days spread over two weeks in April) is welcomed by the 40 gardeners who spend months preparing for the annual spring season. In a normal year, the garden the size of 50 football fields has a capacity for 10 times more visitors each day.
Park director Bart Siemerink had diverse feelings.
“Of course, happy today. It’s the first day of Keukenhof 2021, ”he said, but added that the park still felt different with a relatively small number of visitors.
“So we can open up a good feeling, but it’s not Keukenhof as it’s supposed to be,” he said.
In the years leading up to the pandemic, the roads, park benches and cafes of Keukenhof are full of visitors from all over the world taking photos and selfies with one of the most iconic products in the Netherlands: the tulip.
On Friday, small groups of visitors scattered across the lawns. You could get a plate of poffertjes, a Dutch delicacy of small pancakes covered in icing sugar, without having to wait in a long line.
The Dutch government announced this week that it will allow hundreds of public places to be reopened under strict conditions to assess whether rapid tests can safely help the country ease coronavirus restrictions amid rising vaccination levels and a warmer climate.
According to the scheme, visitors to the Keukenhof, as well as museums, zoos and other places, have permission to enter if they apply for an online ticket and undergo a negative virus test within 40 hours of their visit. . All virus tests are free and the result is emailed to the person tested in less than an hour. This code, in turn, can be scanned in places.
The tests take place on a backdrop of highly stubborn infections that have begun to subside over the past week after months of blockage.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge sees the limited openings as a way to step back into normal life as vaccines reach more and more people.
Visiting the Keukenhof was a privilege for those who entered.
“This is a gift,” Nijs blogger Berry said. “It simply came to our notice then. Anyway it’s nice weather … but walking through the tulips is great! ”