LISSE, Netherlands (AP) — Finally, after bleak winter months of a coronavirus lockdown, springtime shoots of hope emerged Friday as restrictions were relaxed at a Dutch flower garden and other public venues.
Under a government-approved pilot scheme, the world-famous Keukenhof garden opened its gates to let a few thousand individuals tiptoe through the 7 million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and myriad other flowers meticulously hand-planted all through its manicured lawns by a small army of gardeners.
A maximum of 5,000 visitors was allowed into the garden, nestled amid the pancake flat-bulb fields between Amsterdam and The Hague if they could show proof that they had just tested negative for COVID-19.
Minke Kleinen, who visited the central city of Arnhem with her pal Ilse van Egten, mentioned it felt like their “first legal day trip.” The friends took rapid tests before setting off and got their negative results by email as they drove.
“It feels strange that we can stand next to 1 another,” mentioned Van Egten, giving Kleinen a quick hug. “It’s nice!”
The Keukenhof lost an entire season last yr to the pandemic as the first deadly wave of infections swept over the Netherlands. It’s scheduled for March 20 opening this yr never happened because of the nation’s strict virus lockdown.
The limited opening — six days spread over two weeks in April — is welcome to the 40 gardeners who spend months preparing for the annual spring season. In a normal yr, the garden the size of 50 soccer fields can accommodate 10 times as many visitors each day.
Park director Bart Siemerink had mixed feelings.
“In fact, happy today. It’s the first day of Keukenhof 2021,” he mentioned, however, added that the park still felt different with such a relatively small number of visitors.
“So it’s a good feeling that we can open, however, this is not Keukenhof as it’s supposed to be,” he mentioned.
In pre-pandemic years, Keukenhof’s paths, park benches, and cafes are crowded with visitors from around the world taking photos and selfies with one of the Netherlands’ most iconic products — the tulip.
On Friday, small groups of visitors were scattered around the lawns. You could get a plate of poffertjes — a Dutch treat of tiny pancakes covered in icing sugar — without having to wait in a long line.
The Dutch government announced this week that hundreds of public venues would be allowed to reopen under strict conditions to evaluate whether rapid testing can safely help the nation ease coronavirus restrictions amid rising levels of vaccinations and warmer weather.
Under the scheme, visitors to the Keukenhof — as well as museums, zoos, and other venues — are allowed entry if they order a ticket online and get a negative virus test within 40 hours of their visit. All virus tests are free and a result is emailed within an hour to the tested person. That code, in turn, can be scanned at venues.
The tests come against a backdrop of stubbornly high infections that have begun edging lower in the past week after months of lockdown.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge sees the limited openings as a way of easing again toward normal life as vaccinations reach more and more individuals.
Visiting the Keukenhof felt like a privilege for those who got in.
“This can be a reward,” mentioned blogger Berry de Nijs. “It feels nice today. It’s beautiful weather anyway … but to walk through the tulips is fantastic!”
