Meet the Spring at its most beautiful in Dutch wonder – flower park Keukenhof. It’s open only from end of March to end of May but still considered to be Europe’s most valued attraction! And it is worth visiting!
Keukenhof has won prizes as Europe’s most valued attraction.
Keukenhof is unique and famous throughout the world.
It is one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands and has clocked up more than 44 million visitors in the last 60 years.
It is the largest bulb flower park in the world.
It covers an area of 32 hectares 4.5 million tulips in 100 varieties.
It is the most photographed place in the world.
There are 15 kilometers of footpaths.
The bulbs are supplied by 91 Royal Warrant Holders.
7 million flower bulbs planted by hand.
The total covered area is 15,000 m2 and there are 4 different indoor pavilions.
Keukenhof is the most beautiful Spring Garden in the world.
In the 15th century Countess Jacqueline of Bavaria was the owner of the estate. In
these grounds she hunted and in the court next to her fortress “Teylingen”, she grew
herbs and vegetables for the kitchen. That is where the name Keukenhof comes
from: Kitchen Garden.
In 1850 the original design for the park was made by father and son Zocher,
landscape architects from Haarlem.
In 1949 a group of flower bulb growers and exporters came up with the idea of
holding an exhibition as showcase for the flower bulb industry.
There are more than 2,500 trees in 87 varieties.
Every year most of the grass (especially under the trees) is removed and about 7000
kilos of annual grass is sown.
Along the entire length of the paths strips of turf are laid out. (= stronger grass)
The beech trees of the Beech Tree Lane are over 160 years old.
A collection of art objects has been composed in the park by Mrs. Ansèl Sandberg.
In the Historical Garden tulips dating from 1595 and also old varieties of daffodils are
planted. It is a replica of the Clusius garden after the original design of 1594 in the
Hortus Botanicus in Leiden. Carolus Clusius, brought the first tulips to the
Netherlands in 1592.
In Keukenhof you can find the Walk of Fame with tulips named after famous people.
The Willem Alexander Pavilion has over 80,000 tulips on display, in more than 600
varieties and 120 varieties of daffodils.
In the Juliana Pavilion there is a special theme exhibition.
At the Orange Nassau Pavilion weekly changing exhibitions of flowers can be seen,
with competitions for the best quality.
During the last week of opening, from May 12 till May 20 the largest indoor lily
exhibition in the world can be seen here with more than 300 different varieties of lilies.
The Beatrix Pavilion shows orchids, bromeliad and anthuriums during the whole
season in cooperation with the Dutch Orchid Organization (KNOP).
The Flower bulb Information Pavilion provides information about bulb growing.
7 Inspirational gardens give garden ideas and tips for the consumer. To give a more specific impression how surprisingly different flower bulbs can be used in a domestic garden, Keukenhof has created seven Inspirational Gardens. The gardens ranging in size from 50 to 120 m², each has their own feel and trend, modern to romantic, robust to sweet.
Every year 12 swans are leased for the duration of the opening period.
For the smallest visitors there is miffy’s garden.
There are 280 benches, 15 fountains and 32 bridges in the park.
There are 5 restaurants, 6 souvenir shops and 3 flower bulb selling points.
The windmill from 1892, is in Keukenhof since 1957 and is on the Dutch Monument
list.
You can sail between the flower bulb fields behind Keukenhof in a silent boat, driven
by electric engines.
It is also possible to cycle in between the flower bulb fields in the surroundings of
Keukenhof.
Every year a Flower Parade takes place in the middle of April.
Every year Keukenhof chooses a new theme for its flower exhibition. In 2011 Keukenhof will bring its first spring greetings to Germany. The international flower exhibition has chosen ‘Germany: Land of Poets and Philosophers’ as its central theme for this year.
It is the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands.
During the open period of Keukenhof you will be able to join a Hop on Hop off bus tour! The tour runs 4 days a week and provides easy access from the Noordwijk region to local attractions as Panorama TulipLand in Voorhout, Lisse and Keukenhof. The guided tour will take in the beautiful local bulb fields.
Holland – that is tulips, canals and Vincent van Gogh. Every year large numbers of tourists come to enjoy the flowering glory of Keukenhof, the impressive canals of Amsterdam with their merchant’s houses and the world-famous paintings of Vincent van Gogh. So it is no wonder that now these attractions have come together to offer these three highlights in a single package.
Just beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!!!!!!!!