Tulips, several, red and white colored
Netherlands,  Tulips

Keukenhof: The Most Beautiful Gardens in The World

May 22, 2021 / 47 Comments

Last Updated: May 5th 2025.

Keukenhof is a world famous landmark of the Netherlands, not to be missed when visiting the country during spring. Admire the 7 million Keukenhof tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, lilies and other bulbs. On 32 hectares (79 acres) in Lisse, in the province of Zuid-Holland, each year 1.5 million visitors come to see the Keukenhof gardens. When visiting this landmark, don’t skip the Delta Works another landmark of the Netherlands, both perfect to include on road trips. Another perfect route to see tulips is on the tulip route Goeree-Overflakkee.

A pond at Keukenhof
A pond at Keukenhof.

Keukenhof History

Before exploring what there is to see and do at Keukenhof Netherlands, some background on how it came to be.

In the 15th Century all the yields from the Keukenduin (Kitchendune) were for Slot Teylingen, think about fruit, vegetables and game. In 1641 a castle, called Keukenhof, was built in the Keukenduin. It was rebuilt several times until it became the castle that’s still there today.

In 1857 the landscaper Zocher and his son redesigned the garden around the castle, into a English landscape style. These gardens form the basis for the present flower show.

The Keukenhof Mill
The Keukenhof Mill.

In 1949 the first flower show was held on part of the estate. The initiative came from the local mayor, bulb-growers and bulb exporters. W. van der Lee, a landscape architect, took the lead in the design. In 1950 the park officially opened and was a success straight away with 236000 visitors. In 1957 the Keukenhof Mill got it’s place on the terrain.

Keukenhof Mill surrounded by people and blooming flowers. The windmill is in the middle of the picture to the back. Behind a blue sky with white clouds in it. To the right are yellow flowers blooming. To the left and in front of the mill are people standing, walking towards the mill and participating in activities happening in front of the mill. To the right are some trees in the background.
Keukenhof Mill surrounded by people and blooming flowers.

What to See

Keukenhof is famous worldwide for its tulip gardens and other beautiful flowers on display. 100 Bulb-growers supply the show with flowers each year. They deliver 7 million (!) spring flowers each year. In between the flower décor, sculptures and art objects are on display.

A beautiful purple daisy (echinops)
A beautiful purple daisy (echinops).
Art on display in the Keukenhof. Two white blobs on the grass. Behind it a lake. At the other side of the lake trees, lots of people walking and flowers.
Art on display in the park.

The park has 7 different pavilions in which flower shows and demonstrations of flower arranging are being held: Wilhelmina, Juliana, Beatrix, Irene, Willem-Alexander, Oranje Nassau and Mill.

A pink and white tulip
A pink and white tulip.
A yellow aster
A yellow aster.

We loved strolling around all the beautiful flowers in bloom. They’ve gone out of their way to make the displays as stunning as possible and not repeatable. Although famous for the tulips, I loved the orchids the most.

A purple orchid
A purple orchid.
Different colored tulips presented at the Willem-Alexander pavilion. 3 different rows next to eachother with tulips. Presented in squares, each square a different kind of tulip. In the front row from left to right white and red, red and pink with white. Second row, left to right, red, yellow and red, purple, red and white, pink. In the back row, red, pink and white, pink, red, yellow and red.
Different colored tulips presented at the Willem-Alexander pavilion.

There are several inspiring gardens on the estate, such as a historical garden at the entrance near Oranje Nassau pavilion and the inspirational garden near the Willem-Alexander pavilion.

A tranquil garden at Keukenhof
A tranquil garden.
One of the gardens at Keukenhof
One of the gardens at Keukenhof.

There’s a Flower Mosaic next to pavilion Oranje Nassau.

Largest part of the Flower Mosaic.. The picture of the mosaic is taking from a viewing platform, looking down. Beneath you see part of the word flowers, written with pink flowers. The mosaic is presented in the green grass. A tulip is made with orange, yellow, white and red flowers. In the back to the left more pink flowers are forming a words power of.
Largest part of the Flower Mosaic.

How to Explore

You can simply walk from garden to garden and admire them yourself, or take a guided tour. We explored the park on our own back in May 2007 and again in March 2025. I must say it was really crowded this year, despite being there around 10am. Be prepared to wait in line a (long) time for almost every photo opportunity spot created or activity that you can do. We visited on a Saturday, I would guess it’s less crowded on a weekday.

The line waiting to get through the maze onto a viewing platform, we waited for 20 minutes. Hedges on both sides of people standing in line.
The line waiting to get through the maze onto a viewing platform, we waited for 20 minutes.
A white rose
A white rose.

There’s also the possibility to take a tour with an electrical whisper boat. The tour duration is 45 minutes and it is guided.

Explore the surroundings of the Keukenhof, there are many more flower fields nearby. You can rent a bike at the park and set out to explore.

Yellow tulips
Yellow tulips.

There’s also plenty to do for kids. They can undertake a scavenger hunt, explore the maze, visit the petting zoo or play at the Nijntje (Miffy) playground. The Nijntje playground is for toddler age, there’s also a separate playground for older children.

Cosette sitting in front of a fountain.. Cosette has a blue jacket on and blue jeans. She has red hair that's turning white. It's short and curly. She's sitting on the concrete rim of the fountain. The fountain is round with water in it and large. In the middle is the fountain, with several places where the water goes up. Behind the fountain is a garden with trees and flowers. People are walking on the paths in between.
Cosette sitting in front of a fountain.
A white lily
A white lily.

Unfortunately the park was closed for two years in a row, there was/is a Keukenhof virtual tour on YouTube from those 2 years, which you can still watch.

Practical Info

Tickets for Keukenhof are €20.00 for adults, €9.00 for 4 till 17 years old. Below 4 are free to enter. Normally the park is open from March till May. In 2025 this will be March 20th till May 11th, from 8am till 7pm.

Cosette in a large wooden shoe
Cosette in a large wooden shoe.

For a tour with a whispering boat adults pay €10.00, kids aged 4 till 11 pay €5.00 and below 4 are for free.

There are 4 shops on the terrain where you can buy your own bulbs to plant at your home.

Klompenmaker (wooden shoe producer)
Klompenmaker (wooden shoe producer).

There’s ample parking space. Parking will set you back €9.00. This is the online pricing. At the gate a parking ticket will cost you €14.00 There are charging points for electrical vehicles. You can park your bike or scooter for free.

You can get a combination ticket (Combiticket) for public transport and entrance to the park, valid for one day.

How to Get There

The address: Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse.

You can reach the park by means of public transport, by car or bike. There are 4 departure locations for the Keukenhof Express bus: Haarlem station, Europaplein (RAI), Schiphol Airport and Leiden Central Station.

Cosette with tulips
Cosette with tulips.

From Amsterdam it’s 40 minutes by car, from Rotterdam 50 minutes and from The Hague it will take 45 minutes.

Where to Stay

If you want to stay more than one day in the Netherlands,  NH Hotel Schiphol Airport, is a good idea. Other options in Lisse itself are Boutique Suites Lisse-Schiphol, Hotel Restaurant de Engel and Bed & Breakfast De Vier Seizoenen.

Where to Eat

There are several restaurants, food trucks and other points in the park where you can eat. Like poffertjes, a Dutch traditional food, which are available near the Miffy playground. Must say we found the prices high in comparison to outside the park, for food as well as beverages. Other options nearby for dinner are Hotel Restaurant Lowietje, Hofboerderij, Brasserie Hemels, Eetcafé Lef or Het Tussenstation Lisse.

Go and Visit the Beautiful Keukenhof

The tulips and other flowers are beautiful. It’s a joy to stroll around the gardens.

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