Keukenhof Gardens: Prettiest Tulip Location In The Netherlands

Windmills in the Netherlands - togetherintransit.nl

For 2020 the Keukenhof Gardens are unfortunately closed due to the Corona Virus situation. But since I never shared my photos from last year, I just have to share them this year, ready for you to visit next year!

The Keukenhof Castle is open all year round for visitors, but only 8 weeks in Spring is the gardens open to the public. During these 8 weeks, you should experience the full beauty of the season by walking through the walkways and exhibitions with full bloom tulips!

With the Keukenhof located at Lisse, this pretty Dutch location is not far from Amsterdam or Rotterdam. With buying an entrance ticket online, buy yourself a combination ticket that provides you easy transport to save money!

Tulips in the Netherlands - togetherintransit.nl

Keukenhof Entrance - togetherintransit.nl

Flowers

So is it really full of tulips only? Well no, it’s not! At the Keukenhof you can find some amazing collections of other flowers too. As you find yourself walking along the pretty walkways and secret areas, you will come across many more types of spring flowers in bloom.

Exploring the park, you will find yourself seeing also bluebells, daffodils, hyacinths, roses, poppies, lilies, orchids, carnations and crocuses. The prettiest place for that Spring feeling!

What Else Can You See At The Keukenhof Gardens

As well as the millions of beautiful bulbs in the gardens, there are special indoor exhibitions of flower decorations. There are also many events that you can go and watch too, such as a bird show or a costume show.

Keep in mind that the Keukenhof is a place where you can walk only, so don’t expect to rent a bike here. If you want to cycle along the tulip fields outside of the park, check out our Tulips In The Netherlands post!

Regarding their facilities, the Keukenhof gardens are suitable for all. There are many places for food inside the park, but we recommend taking a picnic and finding a spot on one of the special grass areas.

Fun Facts About The Keukenhof Gardens

There are over 7 million bulbs are planted every year by the 40 gardeners.

You can also see the art work from Museum Kröller-Müller, the Paleis Het Loo and 25 artists.

Dogs are allowed to explore the park with you, as long as they are kept on their leash.

Flowerbeds are synchronised by the gardeners, allowing bulbs to bloom throughout the 8 week opening period.

In 2019, the Keukenhof Gardens received 26,000 visitors per day on average, with 4 days where they reached 45,000 visitors in a day!

In the 8 week opening period in 2019, 1.5 million visitors enjoyed the Keukenhof Gardens in total.

You can enjoy special sections such as the English Landscape Garden and the Japanese Country Garden within the park.

Best Time To Visit

Of course the Keukenhof Gardens are only open during the Spring for 8 full weeks. The park can get extremely busy during the opening months, as many tourists from cruise ships have their excursions here. So the best time to go on your chosen day is as soon as they open, or after lunch, as the cruise ship tourists would have already left by then.

When I visited, we were there by the opening and as we had our tickets bought online already we were in the park within seconds. It was already a little busy, but perfectly enjoyable right from the start.

As a nice tip – you can view the Keukenhof gardens map online before your visit, allowing you to plan a walking route for when you get there!

TIP: If you visiting the Netherlands for the first time, check out this Lonely Planet Netherlands guide that is great for all up to date information and recommendations for the country! Else they have a brand new Lonely Planet Amsterdam guide book for the capital, as well as a pocket-sized Lonely Planet Pocket Rotterdam for Rotterdam, which I also own and can highly recommend.