Michael Abrams / S&S
From the platform of the old windmill, there is a great view of the flower garden and the tulip fields surrounding it. The popular flower show in Lisse is open March 24 to May 20 this year.
Michael Abrams / S&S Flowers bloom in front of the horse-and-rider statue at Keukenhof (“kitchen garden”) in Lisse, Netherlands. While this sculpture is permanent, different sculptures are displayed among other flower beds each year.
Michael Abrams / S&S Paved paths make for easy walking through the colorful gardens at Keukenhof.
Michael Abrams / S&S Red tulips stand out against blue grape hyacinths at Keukenhof.
Lori Ann Martin / Special to S&S From the simply beautiful to the very unusual, Keukenhof provides an extraordinary palette of color throughout its 80 acres.
Nothing says "spring" quite like the flowers of the season, and nothing says "flowers" quite like Keukenhof garden in Lisse, Netherlands, open for eight weeks beginning March 24.
All of the old favorites and some new surprises can be found within the 80 acres filled with more than 6 million bulbs, which each spring turn into blooming tulips, fragrant hyacinths and a variety of daffodils, just to name a few. They come in every color of the rainbow and spread along wide, paved paths.
Small brooks and fountains bubble quietly, while swans glide over the large lake at the center of the garden. Blooming trees hang over the walkways and rare white peacocks wander over the manicured lawn.
A small petting zoo holds sheep, baby pigs and unusual varieties of poultry. Elsewhere on the garden grounds are play areas and children’s activities so young ones can run off extra energy.
Outside the garden are large bulb fields with solid strips of color that can be seen from the veranda of the Keukenhof windmill.
Besides the outdoor extravaganza, there are 10 indoor exhibitions that change throughout the season, featuring flowers such as amaryllis, orchids, gerbera daisies and perennials.
Shops within the garden sell summer bulbs certified for different countries and provide ordering for spring bulbs that are mailed in time to be planted in the autumn.
The spring spectacular of Keukenhof began in 1949 as an initiative of the mayor of Lisse and several prominent bulb growers from the area. The area had been designed as a garden in 1840 on land belonging to the medieval estate of Slot Teylingen Castle. Vegetables for the castle were grown in the Kitchen Garden, from which Keukenhof gets its name.
With its extraordinary color palette, sweet intoxicating scents and carpet of spring flowers, Keukenhof is a sure place to shake off the gloom of winter.
Lori Ann Martin, a Navy lieutenant commander who had been stationed at Naval Hospital Rota, Spain, is now at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, N.C.
If you go...
When: Keukenhof is open 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 24 through May 20. Ticket offices close at 6 p.m.
Where: Keukenhof is on the outskirts of Lisse, Netherlands, between The Hague (Den Haag) and Amsterdam. From The Hague, take A-44 toward Amsterdam and turn off at Exit 3 Noordwijkerhout/Lisse, then take N-208 to Lisse. From Amsterdam, take A-4 toward The Hague, turn off at Exit 4 and take N-207 toward Lisse. At Lisse, there will be signs directing you to Keukenhof.
By train, travel to the Leiden Centraal railway station, and take bus No. 54 to Keukenhof.
Cost: Admission for adults is 12.50 euros (about $16.25); senior citizens (65 and older) 11.50 euros; children (4 to 11) 5.50 euros. Parking is 4 euros.
This article is provided courtesy of Stars & Stripes, which got its start as a newspaper for Union troops during the Civil War, and has been published continuously since 1942 in Europe and 1945 in the Pacific. Stripes reporters have been in the field with American soldiers, sailors and airmen in World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Bosnia and Kosovo, and are now on assignment in the Middle East. Stars & Stripes Website
