Following winter’s cool slumber, seven million bulbs burst into riotous bloom, cascading into colorful ribbons that welcome tender souls from around the globe to a destination in the Netherlands known as the Garden of Europe.
Rooted in humble origins, Keukenhof—which translates to “kitchen garden”—is tucked in the charming Dutch town of Lisse. During the fifteenth century, Countess Jacoba van Beieren used the grounds for hunting and collecting herbs. Keukenhof Castle was built in 1641, and over time the estate expanded. During the mid-1800s, the gardens were reconfigured in the English style, shaping the park where 1,600 varieties of bulbs sprout each season.
Although the estate’s legacy stretches deep into the past, it was not until 1949 that a group of bulb growers and exporters organized a grand exhibition on the site. The following year, the botanical paradise opened to great acclaim.
Each year brings fresh designs to Keukenhof. An annual reimagining of the 79-acre park’s appearance allows suppliers to showcase their latest floral offerings and also provides visitors with ample ideas for their own backyards. Strategically planted so that flowers unfold in a successive wave for approximately eight weeks, clusters of crocuses and early daffodils arise first, nodding cheerfully beside spiky blue Muscari. These blossoms give way to a spectacular array of mid-season tulips in every imaginable hue and exotic fritillaria with their regal crowns. Late spring provides larger tulip varieties, lilies, iris, elegant alliums, and towering rhododendrons an opportunity to shine.
Text Audra Shalles
Photography Stephanie Welbourne Steele
To explore more of Keukenhof Garden, see “In Spring’s Embrace” in the March/April 2025 issue, available on newsstands and at victoriamag.com.
