On a cold but sunny Monday, I visited the
'Keukenhof', the most beautiful spring garden in the world! Although it's been organised yearly for the past 60 years, it was my first visit ever! I already regret that!!
A bit of history:
Where Keukenhof is situated now, was a hunting area in the 15th century. Herbs for the kitchen of the castle of Jacoba van Beieren were also collected here; hence the name Keukenhof.
The current park was a section of the sizeable estate of Slot Teylingen, with beautiful untamed bushes and dunes. After the decease of Jacoba van Beieren Keukenhof fell into the hands of rich merchant families. Baron and baroness Van Pallandt invited landscape architects J.D. and L.P. Zocher, designers of the Amsterdam Vondelpark, to make a design for the garden around the castle. This design, in the English landscape style, has always been the basis of Keukenhof.
At the moment the estate belongs to a Foundation. On the initiative of the Lisse mayor of that time and a number of leading flower bulb growers and exporters, an open air flower exhibition was organised here for the first time in 1949. This expanded to an annually recurring event that has always drawn great numbers of visitors from all over the world. This is how Keukenhof became the park that we now know.
Some facts & figures:
Has won prizes as Europe’s most valued attraction
Keukenhof is unique and famous throughout the world
It is one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands and
has clocked up more than 44 million visitors in the last 60 years
It is the largest bulb flower park in the world
It covers an area of 32 hectares 4.5 million tulips in 100 varieties
It is the most photographed place in the world
There are 15 kilometers of footpaths
It is the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands
The bulbs are supplied by 91 Royal Warrant Holders
7 million flower bulbs planted by hand
More than 2,500 trees in 87 varieties
Walk of Fame with tulips named after famous people
Of course I took my camera, but the biggest challenge starts here: what to show you? I made over 250 pictures... Well, I will just give it a try, and if you want to see more, just let me know and I will add another post with only pictures!
Not all (unfortunately) but lots of the bulb varieties you see, you can order.
Which, of course, we did! How to leave empty-handed? Impossible! Well, actually it is possible: we ordered what we liked and it will be delivered to our house in the beginning of October, when the bulbs need to be planted! Handy, isn't it??
It really was a lovely day: spending time with family, surrounded by gorgeous flowers, blue skies & sunshine... what else can you wish for?
So tell me, when will you visit Keukenhof?
(and please don't wait as long as I did)
