Bulbs are superb quality and very much cheaper to purchase than in England, so take advantage. You can store them until the correct time to plant arrives.

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Visit a revolutionary re-wilding of the city environs at Oostvaardersplassen, where nature is being given the upper hand.

A 5,600ha wilderness is being created from the old polders, less than 20 miles from Amsterdam, with the introduction of herds of deer, ancient cattle, wild ponies and wild boar to mimic an ancient landscape. Sea eagles have recently bred in the Netherlands for the first time in 600 years, and below sea-level.

Oostvaardersplassen is being viewed as a model for future wilderness projects in Britain, and this ‘European safari’ can be easily visited from Lelystad, a €10 train ride from Amsterdam.

oostvaardersplassen.biofaan.nl/scientificcd/content.html

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In the spring, view the glorious, technicolour bulb fields from the train south of Amsterdam.

For the best view and full Dutch experience, hire sit-up-and-beg bikes from the teepee outside the Keukenhof gardens. You can ride through the bulb fields and on to the coast for lunch beside the sea. Then cycle along the canals back to the gardens for tea. Perfect.

www.keukenhof.nl/nm/english.html

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For tree lovers there are two enormous, venerable, beautiful Caucasian Wingnuts in a tiny park next to the Amstel on Plantage Parklaan in Amsterdam.

They have 10-inch catkins of pale green flowers in summer, and their seeds are collectible in autumn, where they fall next to a glass memorial to the Jews killed in WW2. Some of the seedlings are now growing in Lancashire.

Conveniently, over the road is the Botanical Garden, with a Shagbark Hickory as fine as any you are likely to see in Europe.

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