Keukenhof

Keukenhof is known as the Garden of Europe and is the showcase for the Dutch flower industry.
About 100 companies participate in the annual spring show that serves as a living catalog. About
7 million bulbs are planted each year on the 32 hectare large park. The exhibition lasts eight weeks.
In 2015 it is between March 20 and May 17. We spent five hours in the park at the end April.

The official map, handed out for free to visitors, shows the extent of the garden. We visited on a Dutch
holiday together with many tourists and thousands of Dutch nationals taking advantage of the day off.

The bulbs are planted to create patterns of color and shape.

This “flow of tulips” towards the artificial lake is close to the Wilhelmina Pavilion.

Van Gogh portrayed with tulips, next to the Oranje Nassau Pavilion.

Inside Oranje Nassau with several Van Gogh inspired displays. Visitors could become part of a scene.

Orchids inside the Beatrix Pavilion.

Inside the Juliana Pavilion, an exhibition named Tulpomania with information about tulips.

Postcards and wooden tulips for sale at the Willem-Alexander Pavilion.

Bulbs are sold in ready made collections of 15 each of nine types, or one can chose individual types from
catalogs like these. The bulbs are shipped to any country in the world and will arrive in time for planting
at the end of October. The sales shop is in a small building just west of the Willem-Alexander Pavilion.

Examples of flowers in the catalog. The shop where you can order bulbs is in the back right side of the picture.

Most plantings are in open landscape, but one small “park in the park” is found close to the Oranje Nassau Pavilion.

Tourists come from around the world, here a group from China dressed for the occasion.

Some displays by bulb producers are indoors, like these in the Willem-Alexander Pavilion.

The color impact is emphasized by planting bulbs in a precise design.

Close to the Juliana/Tulpomania Pavilion.

Close to the north entrance.

Outside the Wilhelmina Pavilion. The sculpture is covered with bottle tops.

Close to the main entrance.

Outside the Juliana/Tulpomania Pavilion.

Between the north entrance and the Wilhelmina Pavilion.

Close to the building where you can order bulbs, seen back left.

The bridge close to Wilhelmina Pavilion.

Some displays have a large mix of flowers that bloom at different times during the show.

This is Fritillaria imperialis, in the lily family. It comes in reds and yellows and stands tall among other bulbs.

By planting bulbs that develop at different times, new flowers were coming while others were in full bloom.
This extends the period when you can see the exhibition at Keukenhof, and makes it worth a return visit.

Although tulips make the most striking displays, other spring bulbs were featured.

The edges of these petals seem a bit shriveled, perhaps due to the dry warm weather?

Fields outside Keukenhof, on the other side of the canal. It looks like a carpet on the map.

One of several tulip fields close to Keukenhof, picture taken from the road.

A tulip field on our way back from Keukenhof. Tulips, an old brick building and a Dutch flag. This is Holland!