Keukenhof is a Dutch botanical park located near the city of Lisse.
Considered one of the main attractions of the Netherlands, it is the largest bulbous flower park in the world and one of the most photographed places ever; Spread over an area of 32 hectares, it is only open to the public for two months, from early spring to mid-May.
In addition to 4.5 million tulips in 100 different varieties, there are a large number of daffodils, hyacinths and muscari, among others. There are also 2,500 trees of 87 different species in the park, a lake, canals and water tanks with fountains, a windmill and numerous sculptures that make it the richest park in the country.
Keukenhof History
The history of Keukenhof dates back to the 15th century. Countess Jacoba van Beieren harvested fruits and vegetables from Keukenduin for the kitchen of Teylingen Castle. Keukenhof Castle was built in 1641 and the estate grew to encompass an area of over 200 hectares.
Landscape architects Jan David Zocher and his son Louis Paul Zocher, who also designed Amsterdam's Vondelpark, redesigned the castle's gardens in 1857. That park, in the English landscape style, still forms the basis of Keukenhof.
In 1949, a group of 20 prominent growers and exporters of flowering bulbs came up with the idea of using the estate to display spring-flowering bulbs, marking the birth of Keukenhof as a spring park. The park opened its gates to the public in 1950 and was an immediate success, with 236,000 visitors in the first year alone, becoming an annual fixture and world-class attraction ever since.