Keukenhof River Cruises

About Keukenhof 

Keukenhof lies around 20 miles southwest of Amsterdam, less than 10 miles south of Haarlem and only 15 minutes by bus from the town of Lisse. It's nothing less than the biggest flower garden in Europe and second largest in the world and lovers of all things green and growing couldn’t do much better than to see the gardens for themselves. 

The Keukenhof Gardens don’t just embody the floral heritage of Holland, though – visitors also have the pick of the park’s English, Japanese, natural and historical gardens. As you would imagine, the historical gardens show off the fruits of many vintage bulbs, while the natural garden incorporates a water garden which contributes to its truly authentic feel. Though some parts were designed earlier, the gardens were established in 1949 and came about as a way to exhibit flowers from across the Netherlands and the rest of Europe, particularly to promote Holland’s flower export industry after the Second World War. 

Exploring Keukenhof 

The park offers a broad range of events from the floral to the choral, as well as festival-style shows that typically exhibit Dutch folklore and birds of prey. Past the pavilions and landscaped gardens is a great selection of restaurants and coffee shops, some of which offer fantastic views of the surrounding countryside as well as the gardens themselves. 

Keukenhof tips 

If you're looking to get your garden in enviable shape for the next spring, Keukenhof is the perfect place to pick up some tulip bulbs of the highest pedigree, with a huge choice of varieties typically available to buy at the gardens.