Seven Million Reasons to Visit Keukenhof Gardens

Much of Holland is transformed into a vast sea of flowers from mid March to mid May. It starts with crocus (a small, spring-flowering plant of the iris family) season in March, which is followed by daffodils and hyacinths. Finally the tulips show their gorgeous colors, this is from mid April through the first week of May.

Its long spring season with cool nights makes Holland the perfect country for tulip growing. The soil in the polders (a piece of low-lying land reclaimed from the sea or a river) is continuously drained, creating ideal growing conditions for tulip bulbs, which love well drained but moist soil.

From mid March to the end of May, the tulips transform big parts of the Netherlands into a colorful patchwork quilt. If you are traveling to Holland do see the tulips in April, you will discover fields filled with gorgeous color everywhere.

Tulips Are From Turkey, Not Holland

Originally cultivated in the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey), tulips were imported into Holland in the sixteenth century. When Carolus Clusius wrote the first major book on tulips in 1592, they became so popular that his garden was raided and bulbs stolen on a regular basis. As the Dutch Golden Age grew, so did this curvaceous and colorful flower. They became popular in paintings and festivals. In the mid-seventeenth century, tulips were so popular that they created the first economic bubble, known as “Tulip Mania” (tulipomania). As people bought up bulbs they became so expensive that they were used as money until the market in them crashed.

Today, Holland is still known for its tulips and other flowers, often being affectionately called the “flower shop of the world.” Tulips are cultivated in great fields of beautiful color, and tulip festivals abound throughout the country in the spring.  The Dutch people took their love of tulips abroad when they settled, and tulips and tulip festivals are now found in New York (originally New Amsterdam) and Holland, Michigan, where the connection to their Dutch roots is very strong.

Keukenhof

Keukenhof is the home of the Holland’s annual tulip festival and the most well known tulip festival in the world. The Dutch festival is located just south of Amsterdam in the small town of Lisse. It’s a fun day trip from the capital for flower and garden enthusiasts.

7 Million Flower Bulbs

Tulips from Holland are world famous. If you want to see the Dutch tulip fields in bloom, you should visit Holland in April and May. This is the same period in which the biggest flower park in the world, Keukenhof, opens its doors. Keukenhof is a park where more than 7 million flower bulbs are planted every year. Gardens and four pavilions show a fantastic collection of: tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, carnations, irises, lilies and many other flowers. You will be overwhelmed by a spectacle of colors and perfumes.

Travel to Holland in mid April to see the tulips at their best. Tulip season runs from the end of March until mid May, but the flowers are usually at their best halfway through April.

Tulips, Tulips and More Tulips!

It is a grand garden of Tulips, tulips and more tulips . First conceived in 1594 with about 15 varieties of Tulips and bulbs and cultivated for four hundred years, this gardening display has developed into a unique spring garden for people to come and see the designers, botanists, artists who have created and nurtured over a such long period of time.

It is a spectacle of natures’ beauty at its best. This is the best effort of mankind to harness the gift of God … Tulips and Daffodils and share the beauty with people at large.

There are about 400 varieties of Tulips on display . Botanists and research personnel created new varieties of Tulips by using latest advances made in breeding ( hybrid processes)

Understand a new variety of tulip breeding takes around 25 years to develop and another 5 years for commercialization. My admiration goes to those scientists, designers and artists who have put their heart and soul in creation of this beautiful garden which attracts all young and old. 

Please do not miss it if you are in Amsterdam and see the riot of colors and enjoy the scent of tulips and daffodils !

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Yes Ted, tell me more about your amazing tour, AMSTERDAM TULIPS – THE KEUKENHOF GARDENS