After gloomy winter months of a coronavirus exclusion, spring shoots of hope arose when restrictions at a Dutch flower garden and other public places were relaxed.
Under a government-approved pilot scheme, the world-famous Keukenhof Garden has opened its gates to get a few thousand people by hand planted by the 7 million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and myriad other flowers by the manicured lawns by a small army of gardeners.
A maximum of 5,000 visitors were allowed in the garden, amid the pancake ball fields between Amsterdam and The Hague, if they could provide proof 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 their ‘first legal day out’. The friends took quick tests before leaving and got their negative results emailed while driving.
Limited opening
“It feels strange that we can stand next to each other,” says Van Egten and gives Kleinen a quick hug. ‘It is nice!’
The Keukenhof lost an entire season to the pandemic last year when the first deadly wave of infections swept across the Netherlands. It is scheduled that the opening of this year on March 20 never took place due to the country’s strict virus lockdown.
The limited opening – six days spread over two weeks in April – is welcome for the 40 gardeners who spend months preparing for the annual spring season. In a normal year, the garden, as large as 50 soccer fields, can accommodate ten times as many visitors a day.
Park director Bart Siemerink had mixed feelings.
“Of course happy today. This is the first day of Keukenhof 2021, ” he said, but added that the park still feels different with such a relatively small number of visitors.
“It’s a good feeling we can open up, but it’s not Keukenhof as it should be,” he said.
In the pre-pandemic years, Keukenhof’s paths, park benches and cafes are full of visitors from all over the world who take photos and selfies with one of the most iconic products in the Netherlands – the tulip.
On Friday, small groups of visitors were scattered across the lawns. You can get a plate of puffs – a Dutch delicacy of small pancakes covered with icing sugar – without having to wait in a long line.
The Dutch government announced this week that hundreds of public venues will be allowed under strict conditions to evaluate whether rapid tests can safely help the country alleviate coronavirus restrictions amid rising levels of vaccinations and warmer weather.
According to the scheme, visitors to the Keukenhof, as well as museums, zoos and other venues, may have access if they order a ticket online and receive a negative virus test within 40 hours of their visit. All virus tests are free and a result is emailed to the person being tested within an hour. That code, in turn, can be searched in places.
The tests come against the backdrop of persistent high-grade infections that began to decline lower over the past week after months of lock-in.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge sees the restricted openings as a way to return to normal life as more and more people reach vaccinations.
The visit to the Keukenhof felt a privilege for those who entered.
“It’s a gift,” said blogger Berry de Nijs. “It feels great today. It’s nice weather anyway … but walking through the tulips is fantastic! ”