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Spring is the most beautiful time for flowers. When hundreds of petals bloom, heralding the arrival of spring, people's hearts are filled with excitement. If Asia is famous for cherry blossoms, then Tulips represent spring in Europe. And when mentioning tulips, how can we forget about the Keukenhof Flower Garden in the Netherlands? Keukenhof Flower Garden is also known as the largest tulip garden in the world. It not only boasts hundreds of different tulip colors but also stands as a special symbol of the Netherlands.
Detailed Introduction to Keukenhof Flower Garden
It's no coincidence that the Keukenhof Flower Garden is awarded the title of 'Most Beautiful Tulip Garden in the World.' This garden is not only the soul of the Netherlands but also carries significant cultural and lifestyle values of European people. Below are some detailed insights into this remarkable flower garden.
The Formation History of Keukenhof Flower Garden
According to Dutch, Keukenhof Flower Garden also means 'European Flower Garden.' It's given this nickname because since its establishment, it has attracted numerous European tourists every spring.
Reversing the wheels of time, let's go back to the 15th century. Keukenhof Flower Garden used to be a place supplying rare herbs to Countess Jacoba de Baviere. After her passing, the flower garden went through many wealthy owners of that time. However, this garden remained unchanged.
The precursor of Keukenhof Flower Garden was the herb garden of Countess Jacoba de Baviere (Image Source: Collected)
It wasn't until 1641 when the Governor of the Dutch East India Company, Adriaen Maertensz Block, initiated the construction of Keukenhof Castle. He also developed over 20 hectares of vacant land into a flower garden. After 200 years, the Zocher father and son, renowned architects, renovated the entire garden of the castle. Additionally, they constructed the famous Vondel Park in 1857.
By 1949, a group specializing in flower cultivation and export had the idea to develop the Keukenhof area into a flower exhibition site. This not only brought a huge economic boost to the flower production industry but also contributed to the development of the Dutch tourism sector.
In 1950, Keukenhof Park officially opened its doors to the public for visitation. Immediately, this destination successfully attracted 236,000 visitors in its first year alone.
Over the past century, Keukenhof Flower Garden has become the most famous tourist attraction. Every year, it has drawn over millions of tourists to admire the national flower of the Netherlands.
The Significance of Keukenhof Tulip Garden
Keukenhof Flower Garden is one of the three largest flower gardens in the world, covering 32 hectares. It serves as a stage for over 7 million tulips with a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
The flower garden brings enormous economic benefits to the Netherlands through tourism and flower production demands (Image Source: Collection)
It's not just about enjoying the flowers. Keukenhof Flower Garden also hosts more than 20 flower exhibitions by 500 artists and 100 flower companies. This provides excellent opportunities for flower businesses to connect and grow.
Where is Keukenhof Flower Garden Located?
Keukenhof Flower Garden is situated in the town of Lisse, south of Amsterdam, Netherlands, approximately 40 km from the capital city center.
Detailed information about Keukenhof Flower Garden:
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Specific Address: Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse, Netherlands.
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Admission Ticket Price: €19/adult (equivalent to 495,000 VND/ticket), €9/child (equivalent to 234,000 VND/ticket).
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Operating Hours: 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM (open only from the end of March to the end of May).
Ideal Time to Visit Keukenhof Flower Garden?
As per regulations, the world's largest tulip garden is only open to visitors for 8 weeks. The opening period extends from late March to the end of May. Therefore, visitors can only explore during this time.
Among these, the best time to embark on a journey to Keukenhof Flower Garden is in mid-April. This is when tulips are in full bloom. When you visit the garden during this time, you'll feel like you've stepped into a fairytale land. The entire garden space will be covered in the fresh colors of spring.
Moreover, when visiting the garden during this period, visitors can also enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Keukenhof Spring Flower Festival. This is the largest flower festival of the year in the Netherlands, usually held in April with various themes and exciting activities.
How to Get to Keukenhof Flower Garden
Keukenhof Flower Garden is located in the suburban area, far from the city center. However, it is adjacent to many nearby cities such as Den Haag and Rotterdam. Therefore, visitors do not need to worry about finding entertainment spots.
To have a convenient visit to Keukenhof Flower Garden, visitors should travel by car or some public transportation options:
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Bus: With a developed public transportation network, bus routes go directly to Keukenhof from Amsterdam with multiple departure points. Therefore, visitors don't need to worry too much about transportation. Bus ticket prices range from 23€ – 35€ per person (equivalent to 598,000 VND - 900,000 VND).
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Train: Firstly, visitors can catch a train from Amsterdam to Leiden Centraal station. Then, take bus number 854 to the flower garden. The all-inclusive train ticket prices range from around 50€ per person (equivalent to 1,300,000 VND).
From the train window frame, travelers can marvel at the picturesque scenery of the Netherlands (Source: Collection)
Additionally, travelers can rent bicycles to explore the incredibly beautiful scenery of endless tulip fields stretching to the horizon. Bicycles are the most popular mode of transportation in the Netherlands.
Key Attractions in Keukenhof Flower Garden
With a total area of 32 hectares, visitors may take several days to explore all the attractions in the flower garden. For a schedule to discover the world's largest flower garden, you can stroll, cycle, or simply spend the whole day immersed in the Dutch tulip paradise. Below are some key attractions in Keukenhof that you can consider.
Keukenhof Castle
While not possessing the grandeur and magnificence of castles in England or France, Keukenhof Castle impresses with its classical, romantic beauty adorned with hundreds of colorful flowers. Construction of Keukenhof Castle commenced in 1642. To date, the castle has stood for over 400 years in the land of tulips.
The castle exudes a nostalgic, romantic beauty akin to a poetic muse (Source: Collection)
Garden Willem-Alexander
Dutch locals affectionately refer to Gian Willem-Alexander as the 'heart of Keukenhof Garden.' This section is situated to the east of the garden, covering an area of approximately 6000m2. Surrounding the garden are hundreds of vibrant tulips in full bloom, displaying a spectrum of colors.
Gian Beatrix
Gian Beatrix lies to the northwest of Keukenhof Garden, named after Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. This area spans about 2500m2 and showcases the finest European orchids. Among them, the Beatrix garden allocates around 1000m2 for the cultivation of the most beautiful orchid varieties. Particularly noteworthy are the scenic footpaths leading to neighboring areas.
Gian Wilhelmina
Located between the end of the park and near the lake of Keukenhof Garden is Gian Wilhelmina. Unlike the previous two sections, this is the only area that does not display flowers but instead houses a restaurant. Upon arriving at the Wilhelmina area, you will see a small cabin inscribed with the name 'Keukenhof.' This serves as the entrance to the park that has existed for decades.
The flower sections within Keukenhof Garden boast colorful tulips of various sizes and shapes (Image Source: Collection)
Important Notes for Visiting Keukenhof Garden
To fully enjoy a visit to Keukenhof Garden, visitors should take note of the following important points:
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Visitors should aim to visit the flower garden between late March and late May, as the garden is only open for a short three-month period.
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The tulip season usually blooms most vibrantly in mid-April each year.
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Absolutely refrain from entering the flower fields or engaging in behavior such as trampling or picking flowers and leaves, as this can severely affect the landscape of the garden.
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It is advisable to avoid visiting on weekends as the area can be extremely crowded and bustling. Therefore, visitors may opt to visit on weekdays instead.
Above are all the detailed information about Keukenhof Garden. With the insights provided by Mytour, travelers will have a wonderful destination for their upcoming trip to the Netherlands. If you are interested in booking an affordable Netherlands tour, please contact Mytour's 24/7 hotline Mytour. Our dedicated team will provide free consultation on itinerary and tour prices with many attractive offers.
