The no-fly city break just three hours from the UK with Europe’s highest swing – if you dare
A MASS of shiny flower petals that look like sweet wrappers sprout from the earth around my feet.
The annual Keukenhof tulip festival in the Netherlands is in full bloom and I’ve travelled down for the day from Amsterdam to experience the 79-acre display.
With more than 100 exhibitors showcasing their spring bulbs, it’s no surprise the festival attracts people from all over the world.
And it sits just a 30-minute drive from the trendy capital, where I’d set up base.
A city break favourite, Amsterdam is typically heaving with people.
But it’s easy to escape the crowds — while still ensuring you get the best out of the vibrant cafes, museums and traditional markets.
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Better still, by stepping away from the main tourist hustle and exploring the streets like a local, you’ll save a fortune.
Avoid the famous Damrak Street, leading from Centraal Station, and veer off down Haarlemmerstraat, where independent boutiques, delis and quaint cafes lie in a higgledy piggledy row.
Grab a traditional bitterballen — a meaty, fried and breadcrumb-coated bar snack adored by the Dutch.
Further towards the west, and overlooking one of the city’s many canals, is the Lindengracht market.
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It’s less than a five-minute walk from the touristy Noordermarkt, but this is where the locals go.
Rows of sheltered stalls line a wide road where a man is selling chocolate-oated nuts and juicy dates the size of my palm, while opposite there’s a table filled with humungous wheels of yellow cheese.
There are plenty of foodie treats to sink your teeth into here.
At the newly opened Saint Jean, which sells flaky plant-based pastries such as pistachio cream-stuffed croissants and almond croughnuts, a queue forms round the corner most mornings.
They’re well worth the wait though.
Stock up on a hamper of nibbles and head for the water — booking a boat is the best way to tick off the main sites at leisure.
You can pick up tickets for a canal cruise from the main tourist spots like Centraal station and the Anne Frank museum.
But if you are travelling with a larger group, it’s more fun (and cheaper) to hire a private boat and set off on your own adventure.
Stick boats are easier to steer than ones with a wheel — and you’ll be able to explore the city the way you want to.
With a picnic of local cheeses, wine and sweets, my friends and I (plus Benji the dog) boarded our shiny vessel and set sail along the Southern Canal Ring, lined by drooping willow trees.
GO: Amsterdam
COVID: Holidaymakers must be fully vaccinated and have had their latest jab within 270 days.
GETTING THERE: The Eurostar runs from St Pancras to Amsterdam with fares from £39 each way. See eurostar.com.
STAYING THERE: The Hard Rock Hotel Amsterdam American has double rooms from £185.63 (€220) per night. See hardrockhotels.com.
OUT & ABOUT: A Tulip Festival Card is from £41.65, including transport from Amsterdam and a tour of tulip fields with an audio guide. See tiqets.com.
Sloepdelen has boats from £55 per hour for up to 12 people. See sloepdelen.nl/en.
We float past the zoo and canalside bars before venturing to the bottom of the ring, where the newly opened Hard Rock hotel sits.
Here, rooms are funky and comfortable.
Expect dark carpets, swanky curtains and wacky walls decorated with rock-star memorabilia.
A double starts at £185 per night, but if you’re after ultra-low cost, try the Ibis Budget near the airport, which has doubles from £56 a night.
The Hard Rock is also less than a ten-minute walk from the main museum square.
Buy an I Amsterdam card (around £53 for 24 hours at tiqets.com) which gives you entry to all the top attractions and, most importantly, free access to public transport.
Trust me, you will be grateful for the latter after a few days of pounding the busy streets.
If you want to visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museums, you will need to book around a month in advance.
But if you do miss out, the card still gets you entry to plenty of other popular attractions.
These include the Ice Bar, Madame Tussauds and the A’dam Lookout, where brave holidaymakers can rock in a giant swing on the roof of a 20-story building.
Just make sure you haven’t gobbled up too many bitterballen first.
