Gardens of Earthly Delight: Keukenhof
By Pamela Robin Brandt
About 18 kilometres from Amsterdam (south of Haarlem, between
Hillegom and Lisse), the Keukenhof is essentially the world's
biggest bulb garden.
Fully open only for about two months every year (April and
May), the Keukenhof requires the other 10 months for its roughly
100 registered suppliers to prepare its flamboyant 70-acre
display of over six million multicoloured tulips -- plus hyacinths,
daffodils, and other spring-blooming bulbs -- against a background
of green lawns, trees, canals, a man-made lake with swans,
and a beech-lined promenade.
At the end of May, all bulbs are pulled up, the gardens are
redesigned, new bulbs are planted, and even the lawn is re-sown.
Peak period for tulip viewing is the end of April, which
conveniently coincides with the region's annual grand flower
procession on the road from Haarlem to Noordwijk aan Zee.
Avoid weekends, if possible, which bring maximum crowds; the
Keukenhof draws 900,000 visitors each spring.
Historically, the Keukenhof was, from 1401 to 1436, the hunting
preserve of Countess Jacqueline of Bavaria. The countess also
grew fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs here for use in her
nearby castle, hence its name 'kitchen garden'.
In 1830, the preserve was transformed into a landscaped park
in the 'English style', i.e. imitating nature. This explains
the Keukenhof's irregular bed shapes, contrasting with the
strict geometry of the area's many commercial flower fields
(A windmill constructed in 1957 has a viewing platform that's
well worth the climb for its view of these vast carpets of
colour separated by irrigation canals).
In 1949, a bulb-growing consortium acquired the site, and
the Keukenhof's main purpose today is still bulb growing,
with tourism secondary. Bulbs sold for export are guaranteed
to be flawless and virus-free.
The Keukenhof is accessible by coach or train from Amsterdam,
Haarlem and Lisse. But since the area is Holland's main bulb-producing
region, perhaps the best transport is an easy bike ride along
flat back roads, providing the opportunity to smell as well
as see the surroundings.
Information:
Where:
The Keukenhof
Stationsweg 166A
2161 AM Lisse
The Netherlands
Hours:
8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily from the end of March to the end
of May; dates vary slightly each year depending on tulip-blooming
times. In 2000, the Spring Garden show is from March 23 through
May 21.
A limited Zomerhof (Summerhouse) garden display, from August
3 to September 17, focuses on later-blooming gladioli and
irises.
Price:
Adults, 19 fl.; children 4-12, 9.50 fl.
Getting There:
From Amsterdam (18 kilometres northwest of Keukenhof) by
train and bus, via Lisse; combo Amsterdam-Lisse train/Lisse-Keukenhof
bus/Keukenhof admission tickets available at Amsterdam Centraal
Station. (Combo ticket info: tel. 31 900 9292). From Schipol
Airport (Amsterdam), bus 92 to Lisse, then bus 54 to Keukenhof.
Driving from Amsterdam: Take the A4 west towards the Hague,
then the N207 south through Lisse to the Keukenhof.
From Haarlem station, buses 50 and 51; or, Sundays and holidays,
express bus 54. From Leiden train station during season, an
NZH 'Keukenhof Express' bus to park entrance.
Further Info:
31 252 46 55 55 - phone
Website: www.keukenhof.nl
For Flights and Airfares to the Netherlands - click
here for the Travel Homepage.
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