Keukenhof Gardens, Amsterdam

Spring and Amsterdam seems to have a great relation whose essence is reflected in the Keukenhof gardens that are simply honored as the Spring Gardens of Amsterdam! Keukenhof itself stands for a garden and is nestled near the beautiful Amsterdam. It is a must-watch site without which your tour to Netherlands is incomplete. In fact, to be precise, it is the cruise journey to this charming state that does not become memorable without disembarking at these gardens. Yes, many cruise operators bring you here on your sojourn to this country; so do look out for that! Reachable by a myriad of small river spring cruises, Keukenhof is actually the talent of the mayor of Lisse in 1949, who wanted to make an open-air showcase of flora with the aid of the chief Dutch bulb growers for showing the best of fusion and for vending an eclectic mix of bulbs.

Geographically located near Lisse, the gardens are actually known as the planet’s biggest flower garden that occupies over 32 hectares to engulf 7 million flower bulbs. And to this, add the surveyed record of more than 800,000 annual visitors that speak a lot of the captivating features of the Keukenhof gardens. Now, this is really an outstanding achievement of these gardens despite the fact that they are open just for a few days in spring only.

Among all the flowers that are set here as rainbow rows, tulips will simply hold your eyes! So, this is the great news for all tulip lovers. Tulip is undoubtedly the most colorful of all flowers of spring. The charm as well as the beauty created by the floral arrangements here seems to be so endless that a mere video shooting or photos just cannot capture it all well. And on top of that, you can experience the natural grace of the bulbs as well as tulips only for s short period as the gardens welcome people only for two months each year.

The Keukenhof Gardens expand so continuously that a one-day discovery is just not going to give you what you intended for. So, all those who are crazy for flowers, should plan for at least 2-day trip here. But, this does not mean that the trip to these gardens would involve tiresome strolls. In fact, the walking routes are planned in such a manner that they pass along the flower rows to soothe you completely. The surface is quite flat and that even the physically challenged people can enjoy the strolls.

Within the gardens, at one end, you will see a giant windmill that act as a landmark for the visitors here. The main attractions after that are the obvious outdoor gardens, greenhouses, and a myriad of displays. Most of the people explore these gardens via a cruise shore excursion, but they are almost disappointed due to the fact that they get less than half of the day for discovering it all, which is just not possible even if you run on the sidewalks. If you are in this situation, I would recommend for exploring a few greenhouses loaded with orchids, pavilions, exhibits, as well as the outdoor gardens. Among the variety of flowers blooming here, the most mesmerizing ones besides the tulips are narcissi, lilies, azaleas, hydrangeas, hyacinths, daffodils, and ancient trees all of which cheer up even the most moody person – thanks to the natural fragrance and the incredible sight of colors.

A majority of the area reveals the typical English landscape; however, you will also admire the other inspiring garden styles like the Historic Gardens of medicinal herbs, Japanese greens, and Nature Gardens of the bulbous, perennials, and wild shrubs. Finally, you have found the source of inspiration for remodeling your gardens to incorporate all types of sizes, shapes, patterns, and colors.

Facilities

• Cafes
• Snack bars
• Gift shops

2011 dates

24 March to 20 May

Best time to visit

Mid-April or before a few days of shutting down of the gardens

Entry fees

€14.50 per adult

€7 per child

€6 for parking

Reaching here

Go for a Connexion’s combo ticket that includes a come back bus trip for €25.

Timings

8:00 am to 7:30 pm daily

Upcoming highlights

• Flower Parade on 16th April
• Indoor shows
• Art galleries
• Biking
• Boat trips