#uniquedestinations
Tulips from the Netherlands are world-famous. If you want to see the Dutch tulip fields in bloom, you should visit the country in April and May. This is the same period in which the biggest flower park in the world, Keukenhof, opens its doors to welcome every year almost 1.5 million visitors, who come here to witness a miracle.
The Garden of Europe
Keukenhof, widely known as the “Garden of Europe”, is located in Lisse in the western Netherlands between Amsterdam and The Hague. Lisse lies at the heart of the Bollenstreek, the country’s famous flower growing region that exports bulbs to over one hundred countries. Keukenhof spans seventy nine acres of beautifully designed landscapes, where approximately seven million flower bulbs are planted annually. The park is celebrated not only for its stunning tulips, but also for hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, and irises.
The Keukenhof Castle
Keukenhof stands on the former fifteenth century hunting grounds of Teylingen Castle and once served as the castle’s kitchen garden. The garden supplied fresh produce and herbs for the residents who lived within the fortified walls. Its most famous resident was Countess Jacoba van Beieren, who lived from 1401 to 1436. She also held the title Dauphine of France as the wife of the Dauphin of France. In 1638, the estate was purchased by Adriaen Maertensz Block, a wealthy Dutch merchant and administrator. After rebuilding the property in 1641, he gave the restored castle the name Keukenhof.
The creation of the garden
In 1857, Baron and Baroness Van Pallandt commissioned architects Jan David Zocher and his son Louis Paul Zocher to redesign. The father and son were also designers of Vondelpark in Amsterdam, further enhancing their landscape architecture reputation across the Netherlands. They restructured the park surrounding the castle, creating an English landscape style that shaped the modern gardens seen today worldwide. In 1949, an association of bulb growers and flower exporters established the park to showcase products and strengthen exports internationally.
Keukenhof park also features four pavilions where organizers exhibit new flower varieties and invite visitors to vote for their favorite blooms. The park opens for eight weeks from mid March to mid May each year. Castle Keukenhof grounds remain open throughout the year and host festivals such as Castlefest, the Ladies Winternight, and the Christmas Fair.
For more information visit the official site of the park.
*[All photos are from iStock]
