Spread over 90 acres, the Keukenhof Gardens feature an estimated
seven million flowering plants from every known type of tulip to lilacs to daffodils
to hyacinths. The gardens are divided by miles of walking paths and water features
and are surrounded by miles and miles of tulip fields.
Keukenhof was established in 1949 on the site of 15th
century hunting grounds near the estate of Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut where
herbs were harvested for use in the estate’s kitchen (which is the source of the
name “Keuken” = kitchen and “hof” = court/courtyard/garden.)
The Keukenhof gardens are an annual experience which lasts only
six weeks, open from late March to early May. As the tourism brochure says, Keukenhof
is so much more than a beautiful collection of flowers (although it certainly is
that!) Despite the lack of takers in our crew, the park features boat rides, photography
workshops, a petting farm, live music, and wallet-busting shopping.
A View from the Windmill!
Keukenhof is a must! (I can hear Nicolas: A must? What does this
term mean?) When I told Jess we were going to a tulip garden where we would walk
for hours on end, he was less than enthusiastic. Ask him now.
Ask him now!
As I have told you before, the weather in Holland is less reliable
than a roulette wheel. Actually, it is a pretty good bet to think it might rain
or at least be less than sunny. Beautiful days with brilliant sunshine like the
day we visited Keukenhof are truly rare—but we got one!
One of only 7,000, 000 flowers!
Undoubtedly, some people visit the Netherlands for the vice
available in places like Amsterdam. Perhaps some people forget that Holland is
so much more than that. I suspect that not so many knew it to begin with!
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