No trip to The Netherlands would be complete without a visit to Keukenof.
This was my second visit having included it two years previously in our tour of Western Europe. Last time I had been in total awe and left entranced with it’s beauty, amazed at the imagination of the gardeners and inspired to go home and revolutionise my own garden:
https://amidlifeadventure.org/2023/05/12/keukenhof-beauty-imagination-and-inspiration/
Arriving at Keukenof:
We arrived this time, having taken a train from Utrecht to Schipol and then, after a few wrong turns, found the “tulip” bus which took us to the location. Tickets can be purchased online in advance with a choice of places to pick up the bus.
Arriving early is always a good idea, you definitely get to see a good section of the gardens before the crowds start to build up and more to the point you don’t have to queue to show your ticket and enter.
Last time we visited it was early May whereas we were coming six weeks earlier this time and there was a slight concern that we would not have such a good time. I’m going to be honest and say there were quite a few flower beds not yet in bloom so I would opt to come late April/early May if I returned a third time. However despite it being early in the season I still had a fabulous time.
Starting Out Exploring:
Armed with the useful little pocket map and my trusty iPhone to shamelessly click away at every beautiful opportunity, we followed the same route as last time, heading away from the entrance along the path diagonally right, passing but not entering the Oranje Nassau on our left.
I will include quite a few photographs from our visit as Keukenof is truly astounding and to be frank in this situation “a picture often speaks a thousand words”.
The view to the right at Oranje Nassau is one such case in point with a conical avenue of evergreen trees, smartly trimmed, reflecting in the narrow expanse of water as it stretches to the fountain beyond.
Stopping at the fountain is another “must do”. I do love a water feature! From this photo we branched off right and followed the path to our destination.The morning Spring light isn’t quite fully developed and the trees beyond the fountain look dark and moody.
Just beyond the fountain is a great viewpoint out across the blossoming tulip and flower fields.
There are several more viewpoints on our right as we make our way up the gardens towards the windmill. It’s worth stopping even if only to catch the baby moorhens and other wildlife paddling in the stream that separates the main gardens from the fields beyond.
The Windmill:
The gardeners, here at Keukenof, are so clever. They devise great ways to beautify every area not just focusing upon flower beds but also planting in wooded areas and popping the odd unique plant pot along your route.
When you see the first of these that stops you in your tracks your inspiration bubble starts to simmer and alongside many photos taken as reminder of my visit I will click away at these types of installations purely for my “Potential Gardening Ideas” folder on my Mac at home!
Just before the windmill is a glass building, that looks a bit like a large greenhouse, where you can grab a coffee and cake etc. The above display was outside this building and they tend to create something magical here every year. We’ve not actually sampled their food as on both occasions it has been in the process of opening when we have reached it.
Just by the windmill though there is a wooden kiosk where we have stopped on both visits to perk ourselves up with coffee and a morning pastry.
The “Whisper Boat” departs near here as well. Most visitors buy their tickets in advance in order to secure a ride along the waterways and into the fields of flowers.
Taking a photo of the windmill reflecting in the waterway was a must for me!
As was recording a video of the vertical bells, which stand to the left of the windmill, chiming the hour.
Beatrix:
Keukenof has several indoor display areas and, in leaving the windmill behind, we head off to view the first of these -Beatrix. Once again we cross over a waterway giving us a lovely view of the trees reflecting in the water and the various bridges beyond.
I felt it was important to include this photo so that future visitors understand that Keukenof isn’t solely about borders of tulips and flower beds, there is so much more to it than that. They really work with the nature already within the grounds.
Just before arriving at the indoor display area we passed some beautiful trees showing off their blossom.
Beatrix which is named after the former Queen of the Netherlands is an indoor display area known for showcasing a variety of orchids and other tropical plants in a climate-controlled environment. As an avid lover of orchids I soon lose myself amongst the spectacular displays and in examining my photos afterwards struggle to pick the best ones to include in this post.
Let’s begin with orchids as this is the main purpose of this show area.
I still haven’t repotted my orchids at home and arranged them in these type of displays despite buying large pots, orchid compost and straw for the purpose!
This area also showcases ideas for how to design areas within your home using your plants to make everything a bit more interesting.
I wonder if the designers of these displays actually take these ideas home with them or do the ideas come from their homes?
Willem-Alexander:
Leaving Beatrix behind we turn right and walk down the pathway amidst an avenue of trees and flowering borders. Beautiful displays of flowers blooming in all their glory greet us.
Then just opposite the second entrance to the park we bear left heading to Willem-Alexander, another indoor display area. Our route takes us through a slightly wooded area where the gardeners have once again used their imagination to create some wonderful displays that sit quite nicely amongst the foliage.
Branching left we follow the path towards the small shop. Ensuring there is something for every age group this area is dedicated to Dutch childrens’ characters.
And just prior to entering the next display area there is a cute little bridge crossing over another stream.
This year the Willem-Alexandrer building show cases what feels like hundreds of new varieties of tulips. My phone is red hot in my hand. With a Spring flower display to work on this winter to give my garden an all round burst of colour and interest, I need to ensure I snap the names of the flowers I like the most. Having waded through a ton of such photos here are a couple of my favourites.
The ones below made me think of Christmas candy canes!
And these wonderful yellow tulips brought lemon curd to mind!
In the centre of the building is the below water feature:
And there was the odd display to give the “Instagrammers” something to post on line!
The Lake:
We leave this display building by the rear exit, opposite where we had come in, and take the path opposite heading back out into the grounds and down towards the lake. The path takes us once again over and alongside various water features. The lake, itself, is quite a feature of Keukenof with it’s central spray fountain, modern sculptures and of course flower beds that meander alongside the natural curve of the lake:
And once again in trying to ensure everyone is catered for they have designed this “stepping stone” game for people to not only enjoy but, of course, to photograph themselves and post on their Instagram account! If the queue to take part is anything to go by, Keukenof has hit its intended audience.
Oranje Nassan:
Having crossed the bridge over the lake we go left and follow the right hand pathway as it meanders around the woods and then across the bridge into the Oranje Nassan building. This features an ode to the last 75 years of Keukenof and traces the history from its humble beginnings to the present day.
It was finally time to head back to the entrance and so I’ll leave you with these final two photos:- A peaceful woodland scene and the dandelion because Keukenof is not all about flowers. It is about so much more -tranquility, serenity and nature in all its glory!
This post forms part of a series based upon a recent trip we took to The Netherlands. Please feel free to read my previous posts from this series and contact me should you want any more information.
A Midlife Adventure 