Travel Guide Heemstede

Heemstede is a nice suburb south of Haarlem and is a nice stopover of a few dozen kilometers in the middle of flower fields, to be done by bike. Heemstede is located at the foot of the Haarlemmermeer, a former lake. The lake was drained in the middle of the 19th century and has been replaced by a polder dedicated to the cultivation of flowers, favored by a sandy soil. In mid-March, the flowering begins with the crocus, which cover the fields with their orange or purple petals. Then come the narcissus, hyacinths and, finally, around mid-April, tulips that cover the region until early May. Iris and gladioli close, in August, this natural pyrotechnical festival.