If you’re looking for a perfect family day trip that combines stunning flowers, vibrant colours, and a whole lot of fun, then I’ve got just the place for you. Get ready to join me on an exciting journey to the world-famous Keukenhof Garden in the Netherlands!
Picture this: a 32-hectare garden bursting with over 7 million flowers, including the biggest tulips you’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s a floral wonderland that will leave both kids and adults in awe. And trust me, it’s not just for flower enthusiasts – there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy!
Think of wandering through themed gardens, where each step brings you closer to new surprises and delightful scents. Capture the most Instagram-worthy moments as your little ones giggle with excitement amidst breathtaking displays of colourful blooms.
The Tulip History in The Netherlands
The Tulip was first spotted in Edirne, Turkey in the 16th century by Ogier de Bulbecq who was Emperor Ferdinand I’s ambassador to the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The tulip was hardy enough to grow in the Netherlands and the craze quickly spread from the south to the north of the country.
The flower was seen as a symbol of luxury. And indeed, this craze or “Tulipmania” went as far as one bulb could cost you over 2500$. People would speculate their houses for bulbs. And in 1637, this market bubble went burst and many were ruined.
Today, the Netherlands is still the world’s largest producer and exporter of tulips, and the flower remains an important part of Dutch culture and economy. The Keukenhof Garden, located in Lisse, is one of the best places to see tulips and other spring flowers on a grand scale.
What is Keukenhof?
The garden was created in 1949 to showcase the Dutch flower industry and is now one of the biggest gardens in the world. There are approximately 7 million flower bulbs planted, mainly tulips but also hyacinths, daffodils, muscaris and other flowers, which are donated by over 100 growers.
A team of over 40 gardeners plant the bulbs in autumn over a period of two months for the pleasure of more than 1,5 Million visitors, coming from all over the world every year. And I can confirm that this is one of the busiest places I’ve seen, and we can hear many different languages as we walk around the garden.
What can you see in Keukenhof?
So, You could stroll just admiring the stunning floral displays but with an area that covers 32 hectares, there is more on offer.
Firstly, the floral arrangements would make any photographer enthusiast dizzy, you can expect to take hundreds of photos here. It is a feast for the eyes. I loved how they arranged the flower beds and paths so you could have the effect of being in a field of tulips without damaging any. There are prompts scattered across the garden as well as beautiful fountains.
The garden is composed of different themed gardens, with different landscape designs. I particularly liked the pink tea garden display of beautiful bulb combinations which you can replicate at home on a smaller scale! The tropical garden which I didn’t expect and the Japanese garden which was teaming with newts.
And I appreciate the added touch of displaying the name of the tulips so you can buy your favourite bulbs later (disappointingly not in their shop). I definitely took note of my favourite tulips as well as the list of the different flowers making up beautiful beds. This is something I wouldn’t know how to put together. So, there is plenty of inspiration for your own garden.
Other places where you can draw inspiration and not to be missed, are the pavilions. The “Willem-Alexander Pavilion” and the “Oranje Nassau Pavillon” have splendid flower show with creative displays and a wide variety of flowers, not just tulips. The “Orange Nassau Pavilion” in particular, has chairs (or Bicycle!) in the different exhibits for photos. And if you are a fan of lilies and other exotic flowers, make your way to the “Beatrix Pavilion”! And do not miss the “Juliana Pavilion” to learn about the history of the tulip in the Netherlands and Keukenhof.
Check out the art exhibition throughout the park from 25 different artists. These sculptures are also for sale. The dragon in the photo below was going for 15,000 euros.
Extra Activities in Keukenhof
There are a couple of extra activities you can do that are not included in the entry tickets. You can take a boat tour among the tulip fields at an extra cost. This was a very popular activity and you can expect a queue. Then, you can rent bikes to tour the tulip fields outside Keukenhof Garden as the park is for pedestrians only. We didn’t partake in those activities as we visited towards the end of the season and the fields weren’t as filled as we expected.
There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes across the park. But if it’s your first time in the Netherlands, don’t miss out on the chips from the food trucks by the kid’s playground. They are honestly the best chips or “friet” I have eaten so far!
You can also bring your own food like we did as there is a picnic area, and benches all over the park where you are permitted to eat. We stopped at the tree trunks by the “Juliana Pavilion” as it seemed like a very popular picnic spot which was perfect for the children who couldn’t resist climbing on them.
Please note that you can not use the restaurants and cafes to eat your own food.
Keukenhof for Children?
Not to worry, if the children can get bored of seeing flowers upon flowers, there is plenty for them to do.
There is a small petting zoo with goats, rabbits and peacocks. Also, you can get a scavenger hunt booklet at the entrance or at the “Juliana Pavilion”. There is a playground with swings, a zip line and everything a child needs. A maze with an observing tower with views over the tulip fields. The maze was our daughter’s favourite as she kept doing it. And this was the opportunity for them to test the theory that you get out of a labyrinth by brushing the right side with your hand all the way out.
There are prompts across the park like stepping stones(wooden platforms) over a pond and wildlife observation in the waterways. For my son, the highlight of the visit was certainly finding newts in the Japanese garden stream and finding a dragon sculpture.
When should you visit?
The garden is only open for eight weeks each year, from mid-March to mid-May. So you can imagine that it’s a minimal time to accommodate over 1,5 million visitors. It is probably best to time it wisely as much as possible.
We avoided coming during the school holidays and we came during the week, also the beginning of the week would probably be best. Unfortunately, time-wise, we came at the busiest time of the day, between 11 am and 4 pm while the park is open 8 AM – 7:30 PM. Now, the website recommends 3 hours to tour the garden. It took us well over 5 hours, and yet, we haven’t seen everything.
You might want to check the website calendar to coincide your visit with events which might interest you like the flower parade.
Where to stay?
Keukenhof is very well situated, it’s in the city of Lisse. But if you’re visiting for more than a day, you might prefer to stay in a city you want to explore. And there are plenty of cities around that are less than an hour’s drive away, Amsterdam, Haarlem, The Hague, Rotterdam, Leiden, Gouda and Delft.
We decided to stay in a hotel in Rijswijk, which was the cheapest decent hotel we found just 30 mins drive away from the Keukenhof and 20 mins drive from Rotterdam and the Hague for easy access to halal restaurants. The park being so popular, it is quite difficult to find accommodation so you’d want to plan and book well ahead of time.
How to get there?
If you come by car, it’s pretty straightforward. There are plenty of parking spaces for an extra fee.
There is also a Keukenhof Express Bus available from Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Leiden and Haarlem. The combi ticket includes both the entrance to the park and the bus ride to the park for that day. Having an Express Bus from the airport is very practical, you could come for the day as many buses are scheduled throughout the day. Also, if you are coming directly from the airport with luggage, there is a luggage depot near the entrance.
You could also access the park as part of a tour with a tour company.
So, is Keukenhof worth it?
Absolutely, the Tulip has a rich history in the Netherlands, dating back to the 16th century. Today, it remains an important part of Dutch culture and economy, with the Keukenhof Garden being one of the best places to see tulips and other spring flowers on a grand scale.
With approximately 7 million flower bulbs planted and an area that covers 32 hectares, there is plenty to see and do in the garden. From stunning floral displays to themed gardens and pavilions, the Keukenhof Garden offers something for everyone. Additionally, plenty of activities for children make it a great destination.
However, due to its popularity, it is essential to plan and book well ahead of time. With its convenient location in the city of Lisse and easy access from nearby towns, Keukenhof is a must-see destination for any flower enthusiast or traveller visiting the Netherlands.
So, pack your sunscreen, grab your camera, and get ready for an unforgettable family day trip to Keukenhof Garden. It’s a day filled with laughter, beauty, and cherished memories waiting to be made.
