Located in the town of Lisse, Keukenhof Gardens are named after the kitchen gardens where Countess Jacoba of Bavaria grew fruit, vegetables and herbs in the grounds of her estate between 1401-1436 (hence the name Keukenhof, which literally means kitchen garden). Keukenhof was designed as a park by two horticultural architects called Zochter in 1840, with the flower garden opening in 1949 when a bulb-growing consortium acquired the site and decided to develop an open-air flower exhibition. Today, Keukenhof Gardens, which is the largest flower attraction in the Netherlands and the largest display of bulbs in the world, is an impressive and flamboyant example of the Dutch population’s love of tulips. Although open daily, the best time of year to visit is between the last week in March and the last week in May when the beautiful bulb flowers are in full bloom.
Air: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Rail: Train: Leiden Central Station or Haarlem Station. Road: Bus: Public services.

Keukenhof, Stationsweg 166 A, 2161 AM Lisse, The Netherlands
Tel: (0252) 465 564
Website: www.keukenhof.nl

Netherlands