Keukenhof
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Keukenhof
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From March 23rd until May 25th spring busts out all over in
Keukenhof with its six million tulips, narcissi, daffodils,
hyacints and other flower bulbs in a setting of trees, splendid
ponds and fountains, flowering shrubs and a great variety of
perennials. In several pavilions you can enjoy flower decorations
and succesive flowershows. Several statues, art exhibitions and
this season also a Tulip Cartoon Parade add extra lustre to the
flowers. The newest promise at Keukenhof is the 'Natural Garden',
where flower bulbs are running wild in a naturalized scenery. The
fascinating beauty of Keukenhof is hard to describe. Personal
experience is a must.
For the name of this flower exhibition in Lisse we have to go far back in history. In the 15th century the area where the Keukenhof is now situated consisted of woodlands and virgin dunes. These were the hunting grounds of the tenants of the Castle of Teylingen, whose ruins still exist today. From 1401 to 1436 these grounds were part of the property of Countess Jacqueline of Hainault. The countess and her entourage used to go hunting there, while vegetables and herbs were grown for use in the Countess' kitchen. 'Keuken' and 'hof' mean 'kitchen' and 'garden' respectively. In 1830 the first drawings for the park were made. Like the Vondelpark in Amsterdam, the park was designed by the German landscape gardener Zocher, in the English landscape style. The pond near the main entrance and the 'beech lane', with its majestic trees, stem form this period.
In 1949 a group of prominent Dutch bulb growers from the Lisse region developed plans to create this open-air flower exhibition. It was to serve as a permanent showcase for the bulb and flower industry. There were originally 40 participating firms. This number has now grown to 84. They are the 'Court Purveyors', who see to it that every season only the very best specimens are shown in the Keukenhof.
But before the Keukenhof comes to that, the garden's architects and designers prepare 100 new designs. The firms deliver bulbs in accordance with the designs and planting lists. From late September and before the first frost sets in, the bulbs are planted by 24 gardeners. The trees are tended and 6,500 kg of grass seeds sown. Indoor exhibitions are prepared and many statues are allocated a place in the park. At the end of 10 months of hard work, the Keukenhof is ready to be presented, as a new Spring Garden, to hundreds of thousands of flowerlovers from around the world and to you as well!