After exploring Enkhuizen and the Zuiderzee Museum, our boat sailed overnight, returning to Amsterdam as our river cruise drew to a close.
But before we formally disembarked the boat for the final time, we had one last activity, and for most of us, it was the reason we booked this Gate 1 Travel Tulip Time River Cruise and certainly the reason we chose this particular week.
We were headed to the Keukenhof Gardens, an incredible destination!
About Keukenhof Gardens
Stationsweg 166A
2161 AM Lisse
Netherlands
Keukenhof Gardens are known as the Garden of Europe. It is one of the world’s largest flower gardens, spanning 32 hectares (nearly 80 acres).
The gardens were opened in 1950 in Lisse, South Holland, approximately forty miles outside the city of Amsterdam.
The gardens plant a staggering 7 million bulbs each year. While they are known for their tulips, the gardens also plant hyacinths, lilies, irises, daffodils, roses, and carnations.Â
The gardens are open year-round for private events. However, they are open to the public for only eight weeks, from approximately mid-March to mid-May. The growing season varies with the weather, but the peak is usually in mid-April, and we were there on April 26h!
Keukenhof Gardens attracts about 1.4 million visitors annually, or 26,500 per day, compared with the Rijks Museum, which draws an average of 8,000 visitors daily.
Travel Tip
If you are looking to take any of the Tulip Time Tours or River Cruises, consider the earliest dates in late March or early May, as they can be a bit less expensive.
We knew we wanted to see the gardens in all their glory, so we splurged on the slightly higher rates during the projected peak week, and it certainly did not disappoint!
Keukenhof Gardens 2027
According to the Keukenhof Gardens website, the dates for spring 2027 run from March 18th to May 9th. You can purchase tickets on the garden’s website starting in mid-October.
Hours of Operation are 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily, with the entrance closing at 6:15 PM.
The majority of the grounds are wheelchair-accessible, and wheelchairs are available for rent at the gardens.
Other things to note include: Lockers are available for rent to travelers. The gardens offer free wi-fi.
Keukenhof Gardens are cashless; this includes the restaurants and gift shops.
Travel Tip
GO EARLY! Our tour bus left Amsterdam at 7:00 AM. When we arrived, the parking lots were nearly empty, with only a handful of buses. By the time we left around noon, the lots were packed, and the entrance was a sea of people.
The History of Keukenhof Gardens
The gardens are built on what was a 15th-century hunting ground. The ground was part of the castle’s kitchen gardens, providing fruits and vegetables.
The property was purchased in 1683 by the captain and governor of the Dutch East India Company. The owner built a large manor house on the property, which he named Keukenhof, now known as Castle Keukenhof.
In 1857, the owners of that time hired well-known landscape architects to design an English-style garden, which remains the primary design of the current gardens.
The current gardens, established in 195d by local bulb growers and flower exporters, were created to showcase their products. Incredibly, they drew over 300,000 visitors in their first season.
Tulip Fields
Going to and from the gardens by bus, we passed quite a few tulip fields.
Random Weird Stuff
Tulips grown in fields are grown for their bulbs. Planted in the fall, they bloom in spring, only to be chopped off, forcing the plant’s energy back into the bulb. This is a huge industry!
The Gardens
We had an incredible time strolling through the gardens. Here’s a glimpse of the gardens, along with some of their sculptures and structures.
Mark and Chuck’s Adventures in the Gardens
Here are a few of the fun photos we took while exploring the gardens. We don’t usually take many photos of ourselves, but we’re working on it.
Have Some Lasagna!
Keukenhof uses a planting system known as lasagna planting. They layer flower beds with larger, late-blooming bulbs at the deepest level. After covering them with soil, they plant smaller, later-blooming bulbs on top.
This planting method helps ensure the gardens maintain the lush flowerbeds they are known for throughout the season.
Tulips, Tulips Everywhere!
Keukenhof Gardens plants nearly 800 varieties of tulips each growing season. We saw some incredibly unique and colorful varieties during our visit.
Random Weird Stuff
Tulips can be grown in practically any color – except blue! Blue is one of the rarest colors in flowers, and while breeders keep trying, tulips always look closer to purple or lilac.
Other Bulbs
Beyond the tulips at Keukenhof Gardens, there are flower beds with all sorts of bulbs. Here is a sample of some of the other flowering bulbs we saw.
The Indoor Pavilions
Keukenhof Gardens has two huge indoor pavilions. Not only do they feature incredible displays, but you’ll also find rest areas, shopping, and food.
The Beatrix Pavilion is dedicated to orchids and anthuriums and is named for the former Dutch Queen Beatrix.
The Willem-Alexander Pavilion, named for the Dutch King, is the larger of the two and showcases tulips, amaryllis, and a rotating display. It’s famous for its lily display in late spring.
The Highlight of our Trip
While we’ve explored some amazing cities in the Netherlands and Belgium on this trip, there’s still a lot more to come. Keukenhof Gardens is one of the highlights.
Be sure to add it to your bucket list; it’s well worth a visit.
If you haven’t had enough of the beautiful Keukenhof Gardens, be sure to check out our Instagram page @MarkAndChucksAdventures, where we’ll be posting more incredible blooms!
Next up, we leave the MS Monarch Queen in Amsterdam and spend the day in Brussels.
