Here’s a good reason to visit the Netherlands in the spring! The Keukenhof in Lisse, the largest spring park in the world, welcomes from March 21 to May 19, 2019 thousands of visitors who come to admire its floral treasure: the tulip. The opportunity to discover this flower symbol of Holland in all its forms and appreciate the Dutch passion for nature. A magical, colorful, fragrant and unforgettable spectacle awaits you a few kilometers from Amsterdam.

The tulip and Holland: a love story

Coming from the Ottoman Empire, where Sultan Suleyman I fell in love with this lively and graceful flower, the tulip was shipped to Vienna, Holland, then throughout Europe around the beginning of the 17th century. If the tulip inspired the greatest artists of humanity, and among them Alexandre Dumas, it is not by chance. The tulip is undoubtedly one of the most cultivated flowers in the world and the most revered. Its name comes from the Turkish tulbend which means turban. It was introduced to Holland at the end of the 16th century, where it was cultivated for the first time by the famous botanist Carolus Clusius. The tulip immediately caused a sensation with the Dutch who made it their national flower. It is the beginning of a long love story between the tulip and Holland.

In spring, various tulip events take place. Each year, the most beautiful flowers of this country are exhibited in several parks, the most famous of which is the Keukenhof, located in Lisse, a few kilometers south-west of Amsterdam. This park was created in 1840 by a dozen bulb growers. It is on the property of the Countess Jacomine of Bavaria who, in the 15th century, liked to walk around and pick the aromatic plants from her garden for the kitchen of the castle, hence the name Keukenhof which means “kitchen garden”.

The largest flower garden in the world

In the heart of the Bollenstreek, the Keukenhof park in Lisse, the largest flower exhibition park in the world, is the Mecca of contemporary tulipomania. For around sixty years, the Keukenhof has served as a showcase for the flowers of 90 Dutch producers. No less than 7 million bulbs are exposed on 32 hectares to the amazed looks of the approximately 800,000 visitors who go there each year between the end of March and mid-May. There are not only tulips at the Keukenhof: hyacinths, daffodils, roses, orchids and lilies (magnificent exhibition in May) complete, among other things, this picture of an idyllic nature.

In the park, floral shows are presented in several exhibition pavilions where the public admires compositions made by horticulturalists. This year, the Keukenhof’s exhibition, which takes place from March 21 to May 19, 2019, has as its theme Flower Power and the 1970s . Inspirational gardens, created by renowned landscapers, give ideas for your own garden. In the garden, a hundred works of art are placed among the flowers.

Areas are specially reserved for children: go with your family! Finally, be aware that if you fall for a type of flowers, you can order them from exhibitors at the Keukenhof.

Want to visit the surroundings of the park? From the Keukenhof, boat trips allow you to cross the canals crossing the tulip fields (€ 7.50 for 50 minutes). Those who prefer dry land will rent a bicycle to venture around.

Very flowery activities

Finally, to choose your weekend well, we have put together a small selection of events to discover at the Keukenhof:

– Lily exhibition

Be aware that it is possible to bring back a souvenir from the Keukenhof by buying flowers or bulbs in one of the garden’s many outlets. You will find a choice without equal there. Finally, don’t forget that the Keukenhof lives to the rhythm of tulips. It only opens its doors in the spring. The other months are devoted to the maintenance of the park and the planting of the bulbs which bloom during this period.

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