Keukenhof

Keukenhof is a spring garden in Lisse, in the Bollenstreek, the bulb-growing district of South Holland between Leiden and Haarlem. It is open only for a few weeks each year, in the spring, when the tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are at their peak, and in that short season it draws huge numbers of visitors from all over the world. The garden covers about thirty hectares, laid out as a landscape park with lawns, ponds, winding paths and old trees, and it presents millions of bulbs in carefully designed beds and borders. It is generally described as the largest bulb flower garden in the world.

The name has a history. Keukenhof means kitchen garden, and in the fifteenth century the land belonged to the estate of Countess Jacoba of Bavaria, who had herbs and vegetables for her kitchen gathered here. Later it became part of a larger country estate with a manor house. The park as it is known today was created in 1949, when the bulb growers and exporters of the region came together to display their flowers and to promote the Dutch bulb industry. The initiative was a great success, and the park has been developed ever since, with new designs and themes every year.

Every spring the planting follows a different theme, and the displays are arranged to flower in succession, so that the colours change as the season goes on. Early on, the crocuses, daffodils and early tulips dominate, and later the main tulip varieties, hyacinths and many other bulbs come into bloom. The flowers are planted in drifts and patterns, in beds of single colours or mixed ones, and in combination with shrubs and trees. Indoor pavilions, in which flowers such as tulips, lilies, orchids and roses are displayed in flower shows, give shelter on wet days, and a historic windmill stands at the edge of the park, from which visitors can see the nearby fields. Guided tours and boat trips along the canals add variety.

Practical planning is important. Tickets are usually sold online for a given date, and booking ahead is advised, particularly at weekends and in peak bloom. The park can be crowded, and arriving early or late in the day is easier. Shuttle buses run from Schiphol Airport, Leiden and other points. Check the opening dates, the times and the prices on the official website, because the season changes each year and the flowering depends on the weather.

The garden suits families, photographers, gardeners and anyone who loves flowers. Allow three to four hours. Surrounding fields of tulips can be visited by bicycle.