I hoped the tulips in the fields would be blooming, but it was just like that time about 30 years ago. The spring was late, the weather was cold and not many tulips had bloomed yet. Oh, well. It was still great.
We drove from Leiden (about 20 minutes away) and parked on a side street going to a soccer field. We got there early and saw many kids coming from that direction after practice, as well as lots of people leaving the area. I guess the annual flower parade isn't a big deal to them. And we did park on the grass like everyone else.
Some people were going to get their spots for the parade.
We could have parked on the street, but I was glad we parked where we did.
As well as the house on the corner of the street where we parked.
This antique hurdy-gurdy came by first. We donated some money for its upkeep.
Be sure to click on this picture. I loved the little kid all bundled up. It was sunny, but very cold and windy.
We sat on a tree protector like the one you see here.
People down at the corner must be seeing something coming around the bend.
And here we go. The motorcycle traffic cop led the way.
The first car/float was a Cadillac.
Then there was a band. They passed so close, we had to step back from the edge of the street.
The floats were many and varied.
People stepped out into the street to take pictures.
This close up shows what was typical: hyacinths, daffodils and grass. This is not a bad thing. The wind was blowing east to west. We got the great smells and perfume after the floats passed. That's what I remembered from 30 years ago and it was the same this year.
There were some solar powered cars.
This float was all about the Rembrandt Museum.
And this one was advertising some kind of pudding mix.
There were a few tulips around.
Here's another band all decked out in orange. The Dutch flag is red, white and blue, but the color of the royalty is orange.
This float is all about the Franz Hals Museum in Haarlem.
This float promoted a seaside resort nearby.
These little kids next to us were so cute. I think the gray haired guy is their grandfather. There were 2 prams and 2 mothers who looked liked sisters. Both prams had babies in them. It looks like they are on the same birth schedules!
Some bikes were well decorated.
They have septic pumper trucks in Holland and they decorate them...
You may have heard of some of the big Dutch cruise lines.
I'm not sure what this guy in the bucket was asking for money for, but the next picture shows the Euro coins.
We heard "Strawberry Fields" before the float got close.
An agricultural float featuring a pig but sponsored by the major bank we saw in the Netherlands.
And another band.
This float commemorated 50 years of the parade.
These parade traffic cops had some friends across the street from us.
And no parade in the Netherlands can be without a cow and some melk. That's milk to us.
We're very close to the North Sea. There also has to be a lobster.
Who are these guys? They're everywhere these days.
I thought this monkey was great.
And I loved the veggies and other flowers used here.
There are baton twirlers in the Netherlands, just like here in the US.
With a band following close behind.
Too many flowers for this car?
So many people come to Holland from the UK, they have to have tea.
Even thought Trout is all bundled up including his liner, he needed something for his ears. They froze. I had a hood, so I offered him my pink scarf. He declined.
We're getting toward the end with the fire truck.
And the hunky Dutch cop on the bike.
Oops! There he is again.
I think Trout really liked the back of this truck.
And these guys were playing Reggae music.
It was very easy to leave our parking spot after the parade passed.
We were looking for flower fields, but the most promising area was blocked off.
I wish we would've circled back for this. A guy was in a tent with his fishing poles out in front. Yes, it was that cold.
The Bloemencorso is an annual parade in conjunction with the blooming of the flowers in the fields and at the Keukenhof Gardens. Stay tuned for even more flowers later.
