Visit Keukenhof Gardens – A Romantic Check Off My Wanderlist – Lisse, Netherlands

I have a confession to make, I’m a plant lover. My parents opened a greenhouse when I was five and I still work there each spring (when I’m in the country). My veins run plant-lady green and I love scoping out containers and gardens when we travel, mindlessly listing off the names of plants to Matt. When we visited the Netherlands last year, Matt took the reins planning our 5 days in the country. Little did I know, he not only remembered that tulips are my favorite flower, but he thought to arrange for us to visit Keukenhof Gardens: the largest garden in Europe and it’s filled with, you guessed it, tulips!

VISIT KEUKENHOF GARDENS – PRACTICAL INFO

⋙ WHEN TO VISIT KEUKENHOF GARDENS – Keukenhof Gardens is only open for a few months at a time each spring. Naturally, since it all revolves around the flowers blooming. In 2019, the opening dates will be March 21 – May 19. During this time it will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
⋙ COST TO VISIT KEUKENHOF GARDENS – Tickets for Keukenhof Gardens are €18 for adults (you can save €1 by purchasing in advance online) and €8 for kids from ages 4-17. 
⋙ GETTING TO KEUKENHOF GARDENS – Visiting Keukenhof Gardens is really easy thanks to their super easy transport system from both Amsterdam airport and Leiden Central bus station. Which is awesome because you can even combine tickets, if need be. If you drive yourself, you have to pay a €6 parking fee.

OUR VISIT TO KEUKENHOF GARDENS

 
As I mentioned before, this was a beautiful surprise check off my wanderlist that Matt made come true for me. We visited the Netherlands for a couple of big reasons, but somehow visiting Keukenhof Gardens escaped my radar. We were staying in The Hague with a friend, but I was dying to visit Amsterdam. So, on the day that we chose to go to Amsterdam, we had another stop on the agenda. Matt bought us tickets so I could see literally millions of tulips – my very favorite flower.

We arrived at Keukenhof just as the gates opened, which is the perfect time to visit. We were in the Netherlands right in the middle of April last year (4/16/18), which is the perfect time to visit Keukenhof Gardens. It was still cool, but it was late enough into the season that the tulips were blooming beautifully. Now, when I say Keukenhof Gardens, I mean gardens. These aren’t just rows of tulip fields, this is just shy of 80 acres of cultivated gardens, beds, ponds and more. It’s just simply stunning!
   

Along with the gardens, there are flower shops and greenhouses where they show off some truly spectacular varieties of tulips within Keukenhof Gardens. Here you can buy kitschy souvenirs, jewelry, artwork and even your very own tulip bulbs.
Although most people’s memory of Keukenhof would likely be the millions of tulips. While that’s true for me too, I think the memory that is most strongly tied with our visit to Keukenhof Gardens is the sweetness of my husband. I’m always so grateful that he treats my wanderlist as his to-do list. He’s just the best partner and husband a woman could ever ask for. Spending an entire morning surrounded by millions of tulips with him is just another example of that.

THERE’S MORE THAN JUST TULIPS

⋙ HYDRANGEAS + DAFFODILS TOO?! – There are many spring flowers other than tulips. And guess what? Keukenhof Gardens has those too! Although, not in the same quantity as the tulips all around, but they’re still just as beautiful and a warm welcome from winter months.
⋙ INSTA-WORTHY PROPS – There are so many darling props that will have you posing for the ‘gram. (I mean, as if the gardens themselves weren’t enough!) Everything from bikes to vespas to windmills, start snapping!
⋙ FOOD VENDORS AND RESTAURANTS – There are loads of adorable little vendors and “food trucks throughout Keukenhof Gardens as well as restaurants. So, you can truly spend an entire day exploring this park!
⋙ GUIDED TOURS, CYCLES + BOATS – You can take a guided tour for even more information about Keukenhof Gardens, you can cycle through the gardens and even take a boat ride through the garden’s canals! Now, that’s pretty dang magical!  

FOR THE LOVE OF WANDERLUST TIPS FOR KEUKENHOF GARDENS

⋙ GET THERE EARLY – Like I mentioned earlier in the post, we arrived early in the morning which meant we had the place essentially to ourselves. We only had to wait for photos without people a couple of times until we hit 11:30 or so. 
⋙ PACK A LUNCH – Although there are restaurants and food trucks, you’re also allowed to bring your own food and drinks in. Let me tell you, this is a pretty amazing spot for a picnic.
⋙ WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES – Whether you’re walking, biking or cycling, you’ll want some shoes that don’t kill your feet.

I think anyone who loves flowers, but especially tulips, should make the pilgrimage to this world-renowned garden. It’s not a stop you’ll soon forget.

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