Keukenhof, Europes most impressive spring garden, has once again opened its doors this year and offers a unique experience to all visitors.
Approximately 40 kilometers outside Amsterdam, near the town of Lisse, an earthly paradise opens its doors to the public every spring. The Keukenhof garden, which welcomes over one million visitors annually, is open again this year from 20 March through 11 May.
Blooming tulips on the hillsides, the colors of spring and the pleasant weather, draw people from around the world every year at this time to the Netherlands to experience the Tulip Festival up close. After all, the tulip has been the countrys hallmark since the 17th century.
Keukenhof Park
Keukenhofs history dates back to the 15th century, when Countess Jacoba van Beieren used this area as the hunting grounds of Teylingen Castle located about 8 km away. The Keukenhof Castle was built in 1641 and the estate grew. In 1857 the landscape architects Jan David Zocher and Louis Paul Zocher, who also designed Amsterdams Vondelpark, redesigned the castle gardens in the English country style.
However, its official use as a park began in 1949, when a group of 20 leading growers and bulb exporters used it for the cultivation of flowers. Keukenhof officially opened its gates to the public in 1950 and achieved immediate success with 236.000 visitors in the first year alone. In 75 years it has managed to evolve into a world-famous attraction.
Flower exhibitions
Visitors have the opportunity to admire over 7 million flowers across an area of about 80 stremmata, with more than 800 varieties of tulips being the most popular. In different parts of Keukenhof, flower exhibitions dominate in both indoor and outdoor spaces. If you find yourself there you will see various potted plants and flower bulbs. The themed exhibitions are based on different flowers such as the famed tulips, freesias and chrysanthemums.
Activities in the park
Beyond wandering the parks vast, multicolored expanses that reach the lakes, visitors can also try many different activities. Among the most popular are a boat ride among the blooming flowers, cycling, a guided tour and a visit to the castle and the mill that has been there since 1892.
The activities are for the whole family, as children can have fun in the playground, follow trails to the lake, find their way out of the maze and see the animals up close in the parks pasture. In addition, there are many options for rest and food at the specially designed kiosks.
Getting to the park
Keukenhof is open from 20 March to 11 May daily from 08:00 to 19:00. You can book tickets early as they sell out quickly, as well as your transportation from Amsterdam. In addition to organized tours you can find, it is also possible to get there by public transport from Amsterdam, with a ticket that includes both the transportation and entry to the park. Take metro M52 to the Europaplein station and from there bus 852 which will take you to the park. The journey takes about 50 minutes by public transport and 40 by car.
