Why the Keukenhof Gardens Should be on your Bucket List.

7 min read

If heaven has a fragrance, the Keukenhof Gardens is as close as we can get here on earth. During the spring the Keukenhof Gardens, located just outside of Amsterdam, as well as much of the southern Dutch countryside, becomes a feast for the senses. The scent of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils wafts along on the breeze. Fields upon fields of flowering bulbs planted in gently rolling rows feature bursts of color and it looks as though a rainbow has fallen from the sky and rests on the ground. A visit to the Netherlands is always a treat, but a visit to Keukenhof Gardens must be on your bucket list.

The best place to experience the sights and smells of these beautiful flowers is by visiting the Keukenhof Gardens. The Keukenhof, known as the “Garden of Europe” is located in the town of Lisse in the Netherlands and is one of the largest gardens in all of the world. Every year from mid-March through mid-May, the Keukenhof opens its gates to the public. More than 7 million flower bulbs including 800 varieties of tulips are planted in gardens throughout the 79-acre park.

Getting There

Since the Keukenhof Gardens is located just outside of Amsterdam, it makes for a convenient day trip. If traveling by car, the garden is situated between Amsterdam and The Hague. It is easily accessible off of the A4 at the Nieuw-Vennep exit or A44, exit 3 at Lisse.

Public buses are also an easy option and can be boarded from departure locations within Amsterdam city center, and the Schiphol Airport. Buses also run from nearby Leiden and Haarlem. Click HERE to view the bus map routes.

Our favorite mode of transportation to the Keukenhof Gardens was by bicycle. We visited the gardens twice, and both times we stayed in the seaside town of Noordwijk. Here, we rented electric bikes from Profile Bike Specialist. They were great and really fixed us up with wonderful bikes. The ride to the gardens takes about 35 minutes, but if you are anything like us, it took closer to an hour. Not because it was a difficult ride, but because you have to stop every few minutes to take a picture. Your ride is great as it begins in the sand dunes of the North Atlantic then into the beautiful flower fields.

Keukenhof Gardens Information

During the 2019 season, Keukenhof is open from March 21st – May 19th from 8:00 am – 7:30 pm, with some exceptions during holidays, so check the website for further information. People from all over the world come to the garden every year, so it can get crowded. If at all possible, try to visit during the week, Monday – Wednesday as weekends see the heaviest traffic. Try to plan your visit early in the morning, before 10:30 or later in the afternoon after 4:00. Crowds will be thinner during that time

Helpful Hint: If you want the best pictures, then visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon. That is when you will have the best lighting.

There is an admission fee to enter Keukenhof, but it is worth the price. If you purchase tickets at the gate, it will cost roughly $19 (€17). You can save one dollar if you purchase your tickets ahead of time, online.

What to expect at Keukenhof Gardens

The garden is themed differently each year and this year’s theme is “Flower Power”, a throw back to the ’70s, which is fitting as this year the Keukenhof celebrates its 70th year. Walk the gardens and enjoy the era of peace and love.

Inspiration Gardens

Located throughout the Keukenhof are special Inspiration Gardens. Here are a few you can enjoy.

“Strawberry Fields” inspired by the Beetles “Yellow Submarine” and features “Strawberry Fields” tulips around the border.

“Happiness Garden” offers a barefoot walking path and meditation area to enjoy as you wander through.

“Forest Cabin Garden” features a woodland garden with rustic plants and flowers.

“Green Machine Garden” shows how to grow herbs such as mint, chamomile, aniseed and much more. Stop at the greenhouse for a cup of tea.

Special Events

Scheduled throughout the opening season you can find special events that cover everything from cheese to crafts.

March 29^th – 31^st experience the Old Dutch Weekend. Stroll through the gardens while enjoying old-Dutch style music and live statues dressed in 19th-century traditional Dutch costumes.

The Easter weekend, April 21st – 22nd, offers fun for kids and adults. Learn to create festive garland with yellow daffodils. Don’t forget to have your picture taken with the Easter Bunny!!

Finally, help close out this year’s Keukenhof Gardens season by attending the Woodstock Festival. Running May 13th – May 19th, relive the age of love and peace with music and of course beautiful flowers.

There are events offered all season, so check out the website for details.

Pavilions

Not all of the flowers are outside. Keukenhof has several pavilions each with their own flair.

Make sure you check out the Juliana Pavilion where it houses Tulip Mania. Here you can learn a little of the history of the tulip and how at one point in history a tulip bulb was worth its weight in gold and why it is so important to the Netherlands.

Learn how to grow your own tulips from the advice of one of the experts on hand.

Additional Activities

Guided Tours

Led by a professional guide, this 60-minute walk around the garden’s highlights some of the features of the Keukenhof. Guides discuss how the gardens are created and some of the planting techniques used to create the flower beds.

Walks are offered in several languages including English, Dutch, German and French. This guided tour is an additional cost to the garden admission.

Whisper Boat Ride

Board an electric boat and glide almost silently through the canals around the Keukenhof and neighboring bulb farms. Have your cameras ready as countless photo opportunities abound. Boat rides are approximately 45 minutes. These boat rides are an additional charge to garden admission.

Flight Over the Bulb Fields

If a guided walk or a boat tour just isn’t exciting enough then don’t worry, Keukenhof has you covered. How about taking to the air in a DC-3 Dakota airplane? These planes fly on Saturdays and Sundays and depart from KLM Jet Center at the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Before take off, have a walk around the plane with the pilot as he shares with you the story of “Princess Amalia” and how this plane assisted in the liberation of the Netherlands during WWII. After a brief history lesson, take to the air to see the bulb fields from 1000 feet above. Click HERE for more information and booking a flight.

So, I hope I have convinced you to add Keukenhof Gardens to your bucket list. This huge garden with its millions of flowers all blooming and in full splendor is just incredible to see. With so many ways to enjoy the day from boat rides to walking paths to having a picnic on the ground, you will leave with countless pictures and fantastic memories.