Flowers and Gardens
The Dutch in general really love their flowers, plants and gardens. Most people have lots of plants in pots and containers in their houses and buy a fresh bouquet of flowers every week. They find their house 'echt ongezellig' (really cheerless and bare) if there are no plants or flowers scattered around, so they adorn their rooms and windowsills with colourful flowers.
If they are lucky enough to have a (front and) back garden, they will most likely spend a lot of time, energy and money to make it into a haven of peace and quiet where they can relax, entertain and enjoy their trees, shrubs, plants, ponds and flowers and watch wildlife.
Blossom and Bulb routes
cycling along the bulb fields
The VVV Tourist Office in Noordwijk issues a cycling route, called "The Spring Cycling
Tour along the Bulbfields". From Noordwijk, you will cycle along the most wonderful
bulbfields and visit the village of Noordwijkerhout, which is home to a beautifully
restored medieval white church. During the tour, you will be able to visit Keukenhof
Gardens. On your way back to Noordwijk, you will pass by Voorhout. There, you can make a
stop at the world's largest flower panorama "Panorama Tulipland" and watch
landscape painter Leo Van den Ende, as he works on a life-size painting. Leo van den Ende
flowering bulb fields
During the spring, the flowers in the bulb fields between Haarlem and Sassenheim (near
Leiden) in the South Holland province are in bloom. The local tourist offices will be happy
to provide you with more information about special bulb routes in this area. Why don't you
rent a bicycle and cycle between bright red, yellow and purple-colored fields? The special
Flower Bulb Route can be purchased from the VVV (Tourist Information Office) in Lisse.
Along this route you'll also pass the Keukenhof Gardens. Take advantage of the opportunity
to visit! The route is ± 15 miles long. The best time to see the bulbs in bloom is around
mid-April (or a little earlier or later, depending on the weather).
blossoming beauty
Fruit trees in orchards have been grown along the Linge River in the province of Gelderland
for centuries. The Betuwe region is therefore also called the 'orchard of The Netherlands.' The
fruit trees are in bloom from mid-April to mid-May (or a little earlier or later, depending
on the weather). In the second half of May, the dazzling yellow rapeseed fields in the
provinces of Groningen and Flevoland are in full bloom. Flowering rhododendron bushes in
all hues of purple and pink can be found in the many parks and castle gardens of the
provinces of Utrecht and Gelderland in May and June.
Keukenhof
The Keukenhof in Lisse is the most exciting and colorful spring attraction in The Netherlands. In the last fifty years millions of visitors, both from The Netherlands and abroad, have discovered that springtime in the Keukenhof offers an exuberant feast for the eyes. Some 80 acres of winding paths, gurgling streams, placid ponds and more flowers than you have ever seen in one place at one time. There are tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowering bulbs, flowering shrubs, ancient trees and countless natural surprises. Furthermore there are ten ever-changing indoor exhibitions or flower parades, seven theme gardens, a corn mill, a sculpture trail and a special route for children.
history
The flower garden at Keukenhof was started in 1949 at the initiative of the mayor of Lisse,
in cooperation with several prominent flower bulb growers and exporters from the area
surrounding the village. The park that forms the basis of the current Keukenhof was
designed in 1840 by the horticultural architects Zochter, father and son. They also
designed the Vondelpark in Amsterdam and the park at the Palace Soestdijk. The beautiful
Beukenlaan (Beech Lane) with its majestic trees originates from this period. They are the
oldest trees present in the Keukenhof.
the name keukenhof
In the 15th century, the area where Keukenhof is now located consisted of woods and dunes.
The inhabitants of the Teylingen castle, the remains of which can still be seen, hunted
game in the woods. From 1401 to 1436 this estate belonged to the Countess of Holland,
Jacoba van Beieren. It was her court to sojourn, to hunt and to gather herbs for the
castle's kitchen. Hence the name Keukenhof, which means kitchen garden.
theme gardens
In the seven theme gardens, bulbs play a major role, as they - of course -do everywhere in the
Keukenhof. The theme gardens offer the opportunity for visitors to discover ideas for their
own gardens at home. Each garden has its own character determined by its design. A special
garden is devoted to each of the following themes: color, fragrance, Renaissance, abstract
style, water and borders.
Castle Gardens
Near the end of the 17th century, French and Italian-inspired gardens featured ornamental
lakes, geometrically designed symmetrical groves and walkways with statues and urns. These
gardens were all the rage among wealthy Dutch property owners.
Palace Het Loo
The Loo Palace, located in the woods surrounding Apeldoorn in the heart of The Netherlands, was the
favorite summer residence of the Stadholders and Royal Family of the Netherlands from 1686
to 1975. Since 1984 the palace has served as a museum after a spectacular restoration of
the buildings and the gardens, returning them to their original seventeenth century state.
The spring and summer planting of the baroque garden parterres with pergolas, statues
and vases, fountains and cascades, in exactly the same Dutch fashion as it was in the
seventeenth century, is unique in Europe. The layout is based on contemporary accounts,
records, paintings and drawings, and archaeological evidence. However some evidence of
Louis Napoleon's landscape garden remains in the form of the mature copper beeches
and tulip trees growing in the parterres around the King's Fountain. The accurate
reconstruction of this garden is a great contribution to our understanding of 17th century
gardening. The design reflects contemporary philosophical belief that a garden should be a
reflection of Paradise, in addition to showing a combination of French and Dutch
influences on layout and ornamentation.
Menkemaborg
The chateau gardens at Menkemaborg in the northern province of Groningen are a wonderful
example. The gardens enclose a gazebo, a maze, an apple orchard and a kitchen garden. These
gardens were designed after the original garden plan for the castle which dates from 1705.
Middachten and Weldam
Admire, too, the magnificent formal gardens at both Middachten and Weldam. These
17th-century castles are still home to the aristocratic Bentinck family. The Weldam Castle
Garden is a neo-baroque garden; a 17th-century-style garden laid out in the 19th
century. This beautiful garden boasts roses, rhododendrons and many annuals. A maze was
reconstructed in 1999. The Middachten Castle Garden is a stunning formal garden. It has
been divided into 'green rooms'. Do enjoy the castle's herb garden, the orangery, the
rose garden and the garden with summer annuals.
Warmelo
The gardens of Huize Warmelo in Diepenheim in the province of Overijssel are particularly
enchanting. The small castle itself is not open to the public, but the park is open in
summer. Warmelo enjoys renown for its azaleas, over 300 types of fuchsias, rhododendrons
and roses. The swamp garden, with its many indigenous water plants, is a lovely example of
a natural-style pond garden.
Twickel
Twickle Castle in the province of Overijssel is the largest private estate in The Netherlands. Both
the castle (not open to the public) and its gardens are a real visual treat for visitors.
Try to go and see this garden in springtime when the rhododendrons are in full bloom.
Arcen Castle gardens
The castle gardens in Arcen in the province of Limburg are the largest of the three Benelux
countries. Many people think it is also these are the most beautiful gardens. The
centuries-old, 32-hectare-large estate boasts five garden styles, laid out around the
monumental castle. The gardens cater to many moods. The romantic Rose Garden, the
mysterious Fir Wood, the Mediterranean Casa Verde, and the mystical Oriental Gardens. An
extra attraction is the Golf Garden. Young and old are welcome to play a game of golf here.
The attractive gardens that surround the links are the perfect place for an enjoyable walk.
Children are sure to like the water playground and the raft.
Flower Parades
Although the concept of a flower parade is certainly not limited to The Netherlands, you can easily
say that nowhere else in the world you see so many different floral processions passing
through the streets in so many different places. Each parade, called a "corso",
has its own history and is typically Dutch. Every single one is a feast for the eye,
drawing tourists from home and abroad.
'Bollenstreek' flower parade
The 'Bollenstreek' (bulb-growing area) Flower Parade is the first and biggest parade held
in The Netherlands every year, at the end of April. Fifty years ago, initiators of various small
parades in the villages of the Bollenstreek decided to join forces and organize one big
parade. It was to become the calling card of the flower bulb culture.
The Flower Parade winds through the bulb region from Noordwijk to Haarlem. In and around the Dutch bulb area you'll find a lot of interesting cities, like Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague and of course Amsterdam.
the floats
The floats are created with 1.5 million hyacinths and thousands of narcissus and other
flowers. In certain parts of the country, only dahlias are used to decorate the floats.
Hundreds of volunteers are busy for months making the floats as beautiful and striking as
possible. Spectacular flower parades throughout The Netherlands can be seen from April through
September.
Flower Auctions
The day starts early at the largest flower auctions in The Netherlands, FloraHolland in Aalsmeer.
FloraHolland is a veritable village of greenhouses. Aalsmeer is the 'flower
capital' of the country and home to the largest flower auction on earth. The complex covers
some 250 acres; the auction building alone takes up some 160 acres. Each day approximately
14 million flowers and 1 million potted plants are auctioned. That means 3 billion flowers
and 400 million plants annually from some 8,000 nurseries! The visitor's gallery allows
you to witness the intriguing procedures and speculate firsthand. Don't miss the five
auction halls where 13 auction clocks operate simultaneously.
computerization
The high level of computerization and the efficiency epitomized by FloraHolland have made
the cooperative Dutch system so profitable that even more than 1,500 foreign growers now
send their products to The Netherlands to be auctioned. More than 80% of all the flowers and plants
that are sold at the auctions is being exported all over the world.
Botanical Gardens
There are 17 botanical gardens throughout the country, with the most famous being Leiden's "Hortus Botanicus". It's The Netherlands' oldest (1590) botanical garden founded by Carolus Clusius, who in 1594 became the first to cultivate tulips in The Netherlands. It's a living museum with fine collections of orchids, ferns, passi-flora and trees. The Clusius Garden recreates the founder's original 16th-century design.
De Hortus Botanicus at Free University
Amsterdam has two excellent botanical gardens. De "Hortus Botanicus" is an indoor
and outdoor tropical and subtropical paradise, containing 6,000 different species of plants
including palm trees, cacti and herbs. The Hortus Botanicus of Amsterdam's "Vrije
Universiteit" features a Japanese bonsai collection and flesh-eating plants.
Haren's botanical gardens
In the northern province of Groningen, "Haren's Botanical Garden" offers you
theme gardens, color-coordinated gardens, a tropical glass house complex, and the 'Hidden
Ming Kingdom' in which historic China comes back to life in a recreation of a Ming
Dynasty garden.