When spring has sprung, your thoughts may be turning towards gardening. If you are in the market for tulips, the best place to buy them – or just to see them – is the tulip fields of Keukenhof in Holland. These huge gardens are the largest and most spectacular flower gardens in the world – from March to May every year they are a sea of multicolored tulips stretching over the flat Dutch landscape as far as the eye can see.
Close to Jacoba van Beieren’s Castle, it is situated where was a hunting area in the 15th century. The cultivation of flowers in the area dates back to the 15th century when much of the present day site was a garden belonging to the estate of the castle Slot Teylingen. The residents of the castle grew fruit and vegetables, as well as flowers in their gardens, giving it the name Keukenhof (kitchen garden).
After the decease of Jacoba van Beieren Keukenhof fell into the hands of rich baron and baroness Van Pallandt, which invited landscape architects J.D. and L.P. Zocher, to make a design for the garden around the castle. The current park was a section of the sizeable estate of Slot Teylingen, with beautiful untamed bushes and dunes. The English landscape style, has always been the basis of Keukenhof. An open air flower exhibition was organized here for the first time in 1949. In its first year of opening, more than 200,000 people visited the site, enough to justify the gamble and expense of developing the area. This expanded to an annually recurring event that has always drawn great numbers of visitors from all over the world. More than 7 million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, daffodils and other spring bulbs fill over 32 hectares with color and fragrance. Keukenhof has surprises in store for visitors of all ages. The pavilions feature 30 alternating flower and plant shows. Discover the latest trends in gardening and get new ideas from its 7 inspirational gardens (cookery, love, country-life, Rob’s familie tuin, Dutch cow and recicle garden). Numerous works of art are shown to advantage amongst the flowers.
More than 30 Flower Shows are an important part in the program of Keukenhof. Over 600 growers present their most beautiful flowers and leading arrangers create truly unique shows with them. You determine which grower has the most beautiful flower of the show. You can vote for the best flower per show. There are several large indoor pavilions where you can while away the day in case of inclement weather. You will also learn how a flower grows from a bulb, why almost all bulbs come from the Netherlands and what for example bulb peeling entails. Throughout the park you will learn a lot about nature and the different flowers. Along the way you will pass a large playground with amongst others climbing equipment. Make a stop at the petting zoo, there you walk in between the lambs. Keukenhof is still primarily a showplace for commercial bulb growers, and though you are not obliged to buy anything, you will find many opportunities to spend your money.
Be sure to bring your camera along on this unique experience. Take a bike ride or boat trip from Keukenhof and enjoy the bulb fields surrounding the park. Every weekend there are events and activities for visitors of all ages. At Keukenhof you can gain inspiration and relax in the beautiful surroundings for eight weeks long! Don’t miss it!
Sources| keukenhof.nl, amsterdamcitytours
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