Fields of Joy. Amsterdam Keukenhof: A Synchronized Explosion of Floral Colour
On the sand dunes of Lisse, multi-coloured carpets of blooming flowers covered thousands of of fertile plains. The brilliance of the sunshine augments the palettes of patterned farm under the wings of passing flocks of egrets.
It was 7:00 a.m. as I strolled along the perimeter of the Tulip rows. The serenity of the blissful morning brought a rush of joy as my viewfinder absorbed hundreds of images into the camera. From the quaint town center I took a bus to the Keukenhof Garden and arrived just as the gates were opening. Already a sizeable throng had gathered in front of the ticket office. We were greeted by a pair of beautiful Dutch girls who were selling the 60 Year Anniversary Souvenir Book. If you have ever dreamt about heaven or a paradise of myriads of splendid floral parks, this is it! You are standing on the threshold of your dream -the Keukenhof Garden is the Virtual Reality. The impact of the scenery around you is enough to get your ardrenalin pumping. At once you are mesmerized and completely lost in a wonderful land of aromatic flowers.
In this ‘Sen-surround’ you hear nothing but the continual choruses of applause and ovations from the flow of passing eye-witnesses. They are busy with their compact cameras whispering under restrained outbursts of bewilderment. Gradually the traffic turns into a snarl with a cacophony of foreign tongues. The congestion is exacerbated by the model-posing and clicking away of the shutter. At its peak every standing space along the paths, in the restaurants, and even off-limits areas are filled with noisy chatterings.
As Ir. H. Van Os, the Chairman of the 50th Keukenhof Committee, explained, “Keukenhof’s 60th anniversary is not only a moment to reflect on the past, but also to look forward to future innovations in the art of floral exhibition. From now on,’a new style every year and a fresh look every day’ will be our motto when we open each spring until we close after the last golden days of each summer. Keukenhof received over 35 million Dutch and foreign visitors and has developed into a showcase for the flower bulb and ornamental plant industry and the Netherlands’s calling card”.
AT ONCE YOU ARE MESMERIZED AND COMPLETELY LOST IN A WONDERFUL LAND OF AROMATIC FLOWERS.
Known and loved internationally, Keukenhof receives more than 800,000 visitors from all over the world each year. Keukenhof is something that has to be experienced to understand how breathtakingly beautiful nature can be and how the flower bulb industry can enhance that beauty.
The Keukenhof was formerly a sea-side forest for hunting where plenty of herbal plants originated from the wilds. The owner, Countess Jacoba van Beieren, a descendent of Teylingen Castle (1401 - 1436), and a passionate and obsessive herb collector turned the estate into the source of her kitchen supply, hence, Keukenhof-meaning kitchen courtyard. But it was the work of the German landscape architect, J.D. Zocher who was inspired by English landscaping and gardening who created the concept of the ideal park with its majestic beech trees (Beukenlaan) lining the path. Later in the mid 20th century a group of enthusiastic bulb growers and exporters practically turned the park into a showcase for tulip gardens.
The highlights of my Keukenhof sojourn, were the Grand Royal flower bed with its classical and modern bulbs, and the Historical Garden which has an interesting collection of bulbs dating back to Jacoba van Beieren’s time.
The mysterious aura of the Keukenhof draws annual throngs of curious tourists, nature lovers, specialists, professional gardeners and botanists like a pilgrimage as a holy land. It is estimated that about 7 million bulbs of different varieties such as Tulips, Narcissus, Daffodils, Hyacinths etc. are planted - the orchestration of such a gigantic project on 32 hectares of cultivated land is in itself a miracle.
During the long winter months, the team of gardeners and landscape artists are already planning for the simultaneous flowering, the synchronization for the 8 week programme is truly a task of great magnitude and coordination.
Fact file
- Getting there: upon your arrival in Amsterdam, take a train to Haarlem. The bus terminal outside Haarlem’s Central Station has a special Keukenhof bus to Lisse.
- Opening Hours: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm daily during the period 21st March until 21st May. The best time between 15 April to 1 May.
- The writer was late last year, a hot spell in late April had damaged most of the blooms. This year I did not want to take any chances. I arrived on time and was greatly rewarded. ‘Visions and Voices of Spring’ made my stay unforgettable experience.
- Suggestion: Book your accomodation in advance, even rooms at a youth hostel were almost impossible to get.






