A Day Trip to Keukenhof, Netherlands- A Travel Guide
What is Keukenhof?
Why you should travel to this beautiful place when in the Netherlands.
The world’s biggest Spring garden, Keukenhof, is famous for its beautiful collection of Tulip flowers and other landscape elements. The word Keukenhof means ‘Kitchen Garden, which takes us back to its history, which started around the 15th century, as per the site researchers. It was initially started as a garden kitchen to serve the castle, and as it grew with time, in early 1949, a group of gardeners initiated growing several flower bulbs, exhibiting it as a spring garden where you could find varieties of Tulip species with different combinations of colors and arrangements. And soon it became the successful flower park of the season, and it is now visited annually by millions of people all around the world to see the most beautiful tulips, the floral displays of various species, and theme-based flower exhibits. Make sure you keep it in your travel itinerary when in the Netherlands, whether you just want to catch a glimpse of the beautiful flowers or want to wander in the English Landscape or Gothic style of landscape. It is the most picturesque place and Instagram-worthy, so do not be shy about posing around.
How to Reach Keukenhof?
Keukenhof is located in Lisse, a small town in the Dutch Countryside. It is approximately 37 km away from central Amsterdam. And it takes around 40 minutes to reach it by car and around 1 hour and 40 minutes by public transport. As shown in the Google map reference below:
It is significant to know that the Keukenhof Garden Exhibit is only open for about 9 to 10 weeks annually. 2024 will be the 75th Year of the Garden. It starts around mid-March and lasts until mid-May. If you are fond of seeing the early blooming, it is advisable to go at the beginning of April, followed by different sets of flower shows towards the end. In May, they still have to offer unforgettable pavilions and authentic Dutch flower shows.
You can also check out the following information for planning your trip:
· Official Website: https://keukenhof.nl/en/
· Visiting months and hours: 21 March — 12 May 2024, 8 AM — 7:30 AM
· Tickets: It starts in mid-October. For Adults, it is 19 € per person and 9 € for children(till 17 years)
Note: You can also buy group tickets, Car Parking ticket is 6 € and you can also check other activities tickets such as bike ride and boat ride around the tulip fields.
· You can also book a day tour from Amsterdam at the following link: https://www.viator.com/tours/Rotterdam/Day-Trip-to-Keukenhof-Garden-and-Flowerfields-from-Rotterdam/d4211-6926P20
My Experience
I went to Keukenhof on May 6, 2023, and chose an entry time slot between 2:30 and 3:00. In my opinion, it is very late to start, as it gets crowded. As I was travelling from a German city to Lisse, driving at the weekend got us stuck in traffic, and I had to start late. Once I entered the roadways of the town of Lisse, I was guided toward the parking entrance, which was easy as many volunteers were there to help. From the Car park, I Entered the second entry and started my journey in the Garden.
The first thing I did at the Entrance was to collect the Garden maps and check the timing of live flower shows to not miss out on any events that day. Moreover, during the spring, Dutch weather is quite unpredictable, so I had to experience a bit of rain, summer warmth, and cold. Typical Dutch weather, I must say. Moving ahead into the garden, I saw beautiful clusters of colourful tulips trails and paths that looked never-ending.
I witnessed a beautiful English landscape with water elements, dense trees, and contours of the land, it’s a feeling which gave me a sense of charm and a soothing environment. A huge cheerful water fountain in the middle of the water body with circular wooden platforms floating inside the water also allowed you to walk upon was an exciting experience and highlight of the Garden centre.
There is a huge food court, where you can enjoy your meal with good Dutch salad, pasta, chicken soup and a lot more eatery. I had a bowl of couscous salad, tomato soup, and bread and I must say it energized me for the rest of my trip and the long walk ahead. Afterwards, I explored the inside exhibits that were displayed with different themes of the interior and floral events. The most interesting thing for me was to learn about the history of tulips and their cultivation. They had an interesting playful digital screen to learn about tulips by participating in small games such an engaging way of information never fails to an audience. Also, hedge mazes and a picturesque Baroque-style garden and trees around it made it a live experience of the style. Lastly, the windmill and flower arrangements with different combinations of tulips made my day very cheerful and refreshing. I would personally recommend not missing an opportunity to visit the Keukenhof Garden when in Amsterdam.
Tips to be around the Garden
The most important thing to keep in mind while visiting Keukenhof is to wear comfortable clothes, precisely for the weather conditions on that particular day of your visit. Do not forget to check the weather before you leave, as it will be a long outdoor walk. Following simple and little things will make your trip easy and fun.
Speaking of the great food court inside, you can also bring your food to avoid your expense and waiting in a long queue or crowded line. You can enjoy it with a great view of your choice on the allotted benches and spaces around.
I would suggest you arrive at the garden as early as possible it gets too crowded by afternoon and photo opportunities get hindered, and flower exhibits are closed by then.
If you are fond of collecting souvenirs, I must say they are going to be very expensive. I would suggest taking good pictures inside the garden and making some creative memories for yourself would be great.
Lastly, I would say it’s a great place to visit the wonderful garden and the artistic creation of flora and fauna together make it the world’s most visited tulip garden of the decade and you don’t want to miss that especially when in the neighbourhood of Amsterdam. A friendly reminder to make sure to book your tickets in advance.
Dropping you some Videos links, do check them out.
