Keukenhof Gardens, also know as the Garden of Europe.
The beauty of spring has arrived in the Netherlands at the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. Situated between Amsterdam and The Hague in the Bulb region, the Park is said to have approximately 7 million flower bulbs all planted by hand. The bulbs are supplied by 91 Royal Warrant Holders.
Open yearly from March through May, it is the largest flower garden in the world with nearly 80 acres of magnificent blooms, in 1600 different varieties.
Castle Keukenhof
Where Keukenhof is situated now, was a hunting area in the 15th century. Herbs for the kitchen of the castle of Jacoba van Beieren, Countess of Hainaut were also collected here; hence the name Keukenhof (Kitchen Garden).
After the death of Countess Jacoba van Beieren, the Gardens were owned by Baron and baroness Van Pallandt, who invited landscape architects J.D. and L.P. Zocher, to design the garden around the castle. This design, in the English landscape style, has always been the basis of Keukenhof.
At the moment the estate belongs to a Foundation. On the initiative of the Lisse mayor of that time and a number of leading flower bulb growers and exporters, an open air flower exhibition was organized here for the first time in 1949.
Every year most of the grass (especially under the trees) is removed and about 7000 kilos of annual grass is sown. Not to be walked on!
For a slideshow of some of the flowers currently abloom, click here: KEUKENHOF
Also for pictures from other years, go here: Keukenhof Gardens
More about the Gardens, go here: https://keukenhof.nl/en/
