Holland at Tulip Time 2024

Join award-winning photographer, Charles Needle, for an unforgettable journey to one of the most beautiful Spring gardens in all of Europe: Keukenhof Gardens (Lisse, Netherlands).

Keukenhof, the world’s largest Spring bulb garden, features a dazzling 79-acre display of 7 million tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other bulbs in a stunning park-like setting. Under Charles’ expert guidance, you’ll learn how to improve your garden and flower photography, with special emphasis on creative macro and Impressionistic camera techniques. While immersing yourself in this magnificent setting for an entire week, you’re likely to feel like a kid in a technicolor candy store!

In the surrounding Dutch countryside, we’ll also photograph nearby tulip fields, historic windmills, and Kinderdijk, an extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring 19 historic windmills which inspired 18th-century Dutch painters. Our week will also include an early-morning field trip to photograph and experience the hustle and bustle of Aalsmeer, the world’s largest flower auction.

INCLUDES

5 full days of intensive photography instruction in the field and classroom, classroom lectures, stimulating assignments, and supportive group image evaluations. Field instruction emphasizes creative macro, Impressionistic, multiple-exposure, and artistic smartphone floral photography.  

Cost also includes: 

• 6 nights lodging at a 5-star seaside resort hotel that’s minutes away from the entrance to Keukenhof Gardens.

• 6 breakfasts.

• Group Welcome Dinner (with one glass of wine).

• Ground transportation during the workshop (via private passenger vans).

• Spring Pass to Keukenhof Gardens (which includes unlimited entry in 2024).

• Entrance to Aalsmeer Flower Auction.

DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Airfare. (Upon request, we can provide a travel agent who will book your airfare. Additional surcharges may apply.)

• Airport transfers. We will provide information to help you book your own airport transfers from Amsterdam Airport Schipol to/from the hotel.

• Hotel parking (if you decide to bring your own vehicle).

• Keukenhof Gardens daily parking (if you decide to bring your own vehicle).

• Lunches, some dinners (including alcoholic beverages).

• Optional travel insurance. (Strongly recommended. Please see below under “Cancellation Policy.”)

• Other incidentals such as laundry, phone calls, tips & gratuities, etc.

LODGING

Our home base for the week will be a 5-star seaside resort hotel that’s minutes away from the entrance to Keukenhof Gardens.  A limited number of single rooms are available upon request and require an additional single supplement.  Please let us know if you would like a single room upon registration.  Every effort will be made to find a suitable roommate, should you require one.  All classroom sessions will be held at the hotel as well.

GETTING THERE 

Airfare is not included in the package price.  Please let us know if you would like help arranging flights. The workshop begins at 4:30 pm, Sunday, April 21, 2024 and ends the evening of Friday, April 26, 2024 after dinner. We suggest a US departure on April 20, 2024 for an overnight flight to Amsterdam Airport Schipol (AMS) and return flight to the US from AMS Airport the morning of April 27, 2024.

When booking your return flight, please be aware our hotel is a 20-30 minute drive from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.  April 27th is a national holiday (King’s Day), so please allow extra time to get to the airport.  Most international departures require that you arrive at the airport 3 hours prior to departure.  Please do not book any non-refundable airfare before December 31, 2023.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS

Taxi service to/from the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to our hotel can be pre-arranged with AC Taxiservice.  The charge for a roundtrip is between 145 and 175 euros, depending on what type of vehicle you want and how much luggage you have.  The phone number for AC Taxiservice is 0031 071 36 25 022.  If you plan to use this service, we suggest you book your taxi as soon as possible, as April is one of the most popular months for tourism in Holland.

An alternative would be to take Uber to/from the Amsterdam Airport. Click here for more information.  You could also just “wing it” and catch a taxi at the airport upon your arrival. There are usually plenty of taxis at the airport terminal. (Look for signs in English that will direct you to the taxi stand.)  Make sure you avoid taking one of the unlicensed, illegal taxis that operate at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. You can recognize licensed taxis by their blue number plates and roof lights with the official logo and the name of their operator. All licensed taxi drivers in Amsterdam must keep to official fares, so all fares are transparent.

ITINERARY

• Sunday, April 21

Meet & Greet and orientation session starting at 4:30 pm followed by a group Welcome Dinner at the hotel.

• Monday, April 22

Early morning entry field session in Keukenhof Gardens.  Afternoon class session with lecture.  Evening field session in Keukenhof.

• Tuesday, April 23

Early morning entry field session in Keukenhof Gardens.  Afternoon class session with lecture.  Evening field session at Keukenhof Gardens.

• Wednesday, April 24

Early morning visit to FloraHolland Flower Auction in Aalsmeer.  Visit various scenic locations in north Holland.  Return to hotel after dinner.

• Thursday, April 25

Free morning to work on images.  Supportive Group Image Evaluations at hotel.  Sunset shoot at Kinderdijk. 

• Friday, April 26

Early morning entry field session in Keukenhof Gardens.  Break.  Evening field session in Keukenhof.  Group Farewell Dinner at the hotel.

• Saturday, April 27

Morning departures for Amsterdam Airport Schiphol or elsewhere.

PROFICIENCY LEVEL

All skill levels and camera formats welcome, including smartphone cameras. Students should also have a basic understanding of exposure and proficiency in post-capture image editing software, such as Lightroom, Photoshop or Snapseed.

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY

No strenuous activity will be involved during the workshop; however, Keukenhof Gardens is a 79-acre park with mostly flat paved pathways and some small hills, stairs, etc.  Wheelchairs are available for rent at Keukenhof. A modest level of health and fitness will greatly enhance your workshop experience.

CANCELLATION POLICY

All workshop withdrawal requests must be in writing and received either by US mail or e-mail and acknowledged by Charles Needle Photography. There are NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY, even for medical or family emergencies. Unless otherwise noted, based on cancellation date, the following apply:

• Greater than 120 days before this tour start date: refund, minus a $700 administrative fee.
• Within 120 days of the start of the program: no refund.

We encourage you to purchase refundable airline tickets and trip cancellation insurance. We strongly recommend trip insurance to protect you in the event of an unexpected situation that prevents you from attending the tour.  We recommend Travelguard or Travelex Insurance Services.  Please be aware, some trip insurance companies require that you purchase insurance within a certain number of days of paying your deposit and registering for the workshop.

We reserve the right to cancel this workshop if the minimum student enrollment is not met, or due to any COVID-19 or other health concerns. In the event we cancel this workshop, you’ll be notified as soon as possible and be given the option to receive a full refund or apply your payment toward any future workshop or tour within one calendar year from the date of cancellation.

We are not, however, liable for expenses incurred such as airfare or accommodations, and for this reason we also recommend purchasing trip insurance. The financial liability of Charles Needle Photography shall be limited to the amount paid to Charles Needle Photography for the workshop only and shall not be extended to cover any other associated travel costs incurred (e.g. non-refundable air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, miscellaneous transportation costs, lodging costs, medical expenses, travel insurance premiums, etc.).  For this reason, we highly recommend trip cancellation insurance.