Keukenhof Flower Show
Get growing in the town of Lisse
From late March to late May, the fields of the Keukenhof Gardens are a riot of color and scent. A short, half hour drive from Amsterdam can get you to the town of Lisse, where you’ll find the Keukenhof Gardens, planted with a staggering seven million flower bulbs.
The history of KeukenhofIn the early 1400s, the 32-hectare park was an herb garden and hunting estate for the castle of Duchess Jacoba van Beieren. In fact, the name Keukenhof means “herb garden” in Dutch. Jacoba’s life was quite tumultuous. She was sovereign of Holland for a time but was ousted by her own uncle. She took refuge in England for a few years before returning to Holland with her third husband. He deserted her there and she was imprisoned by her cousin. She escaped the prison in disguise and stayed in Holland in an attempt to regain her power. After trying unsuccessfully to raise a rebellion in Holland against Burgundian rule, Jacoba relinquished her Dutch titles and retired to her fourth husband’s estates. Those estates are now the grounds of the Keukenhof Flower Show.
In the mid-1800s, the park was landscaped to resemble an English garden by the same architect who designed Vondelpark in Amsterdam. In 1949, the first Keukenhof Flower Show was held to showcase the Dutch bulb trade. The event was a wild success and has become a yearly tradition. As the bulbs only bloom during the spring, Keukenhof is only open to visitors from March to May.
At the Keukenhof Flower Show you’ll find countless varieties of flowers, including roses, orchids, lilies, chrysanthemums and of course famous Dutch tulips.
The Flower ParadeEach year, the Keukenhof Flower Show is celebrated with the Bloemencorso Flower Parade. Decorated floats cruise through the bulb growing district from Noordwijk to Haarlem. The floats are covered in flowers and take hundreds of hours to complete. In the evening, the floats are illuminated and tour through Noordwijkerhout. Thousands of visitors flock to Lisse and Noordwijk to watch the parade and tour the Keukenhof Gardens.
The Keukenhof Flower Show is a spectacle not to be missed. The intricate and creative flower designs are stunning to view and add a relaxing side trip to any tour of Amsterdam.
Keukenhof Flower Show
Get growing in the town of Lisse
From late March to late May, the fields of the Keukenhof Gardens are a riot of color and scent. A short, half hour drive from Amsterdam can get you to the town of Lisse, where you’ll find the Keukenhof Gardens, planted with a staggering seven million flower bulbs.
The history of KeukenhofIn the early 1400s, the 32-hectare park was an herb garden and hunting estate for the castle of Duchess Jacoba van Beieren. In fact, the name Keukenhof means “herb garden” in Dutch. Jacoba’s life was quite tumultuous. She was sovereign of Holland for a time but was ousted by her own uncle. She took refuge in England for a few years before returning to Holland with her third husband. He deserted her there and she was imprisoned by her cousin. She escaped the prison in disguise and stayed in Holland in an attempt to regain her power. After trying unsuccessfully to raise a rebellion in Holland against Burgundian rule, Jacoba relinquished her Dutch titles and retired to her fourth husband’s estates. Those estates are now the grounds of the Keukenhof Flower Show.
In the mid-1800s, the park was landscaped to resemble an English garden by the same architect who designed Vondelpark in Amsterdam. In 1949, the first Keukenhof Flower Show was held to showcase the Dutch bulb trade. The event was a wild success and has become a yearly tradition. As the bulbs only bloom during the spring, Keukenhof is only open to visitors from March to May.
At the Keukenhof Flower Show you’ll find countless varieties of flowers, including roses, orchids, lilies, chrysanthemums and of course famous Dutch tulips.
The Flower ParadeEach year, the Keukenhof Flower Show is celebrated with the Bloemencorso Flower Parade. Decorated floats cruise through the bulb growing district from Noordwijk to Haarlem. The floats are covered in flowers and take hundreds of hours to complete. In the evening, the floats are illuminated and tour through Noordwijkerhout. Thousands of visitors flock to Lisse and Noordwijk to watch the parade and tour the Keukenhof Gardens.
The Keukenhof Flower Show is a spectacle not to be missed. The intricate and creative flower designs are stunning to view and add a relaxing side trip to any tour of Amsterdam.
