What Will I See On A Dutch Bulb Fields River Cruise?
07 June 2021
Cobalt rivers of grape hyacinths unfurl through this floral Never, Neverland; filled to bursting with millions of bulbs and wonderfully bright pops of colour. Daffodils bob their heads in the breeze and shady, come-hither walkways entice you to stroll around the world’s largest ever bulb-flower garden.
Keukenhof, in a nutshell, is paradise. It feels like stepping into a sonnet inspired by the tulip. And there are a whopping seven million of them slumbering within almost 80 technicolour acres!
This is a garden-lover’s giddy daydream and genuinely what we’d imagine the Elysian Fields to look like. You think we’re exaggerating? See it for yourself during our Dutch Bulbfields Cruise in April 2022.
The History of Keukenhof Gardens
The word Keukenhof translates as ‘kitchen court’ or ‘kitchen garden’ and that is exactly how this colourful wonderland began; back in the 15th century, the Countess Jacqueline of Bavaria gathered fruit and vegetables for the nearby castle. Much later, in 1949 to be precise, the mayor of the local town, Lisse, gathered together 20 of the very best bulb growers and came up with the idea to use the estate as a way to showcase spring-flowering bulbs, and so began the beginning of Keukenhof as a tourist attraction. It opened in 1950 and received almost a quarter of a million visitors. These days (around 70 years later), over a million people make the petal pilgrimage to the stunning gardens.
The Sights
Waves of hyacinths, shores of daffodils and patchworks of tulips make up the gardens to create a real carnival of colour, but with so many acres to explore, where do we begin?! Be sure to get yourself a map at the entrance which will reveal the annual exhibitions that are running during your visit.
There are a variety of different styles of gardens that snake around a number of Pavilions (all named after the Dutch Royal Family). Don’t miss the indoor flower gardens, the daily flower arranging demonstrations, the array of art sculptures and the fascinating exhibition dedicated to the origins of the Dutch tulip. Across the east side of the park lies the striking Keukenhof Windmill, which makes for a fabulous photo opportunity - especially with the rainbow kaleidoscope of commercial bulb fields that surround Keukenhof Gardens in the background. The stripy rows of tulips that gather near the garden’s pond are some of the most spectacular in this floral fantasia too.
The Experience
Keukenhof Gardens is a bucket list staple, and as it is only open for eight weeks each year (between mid-March and mid-May) we recommend planning ahead. The gardens have been closed for two years because of the pandemic, so it’s safe to say that there is a lot of pent up demand for people to get their flower fix in 2022!
To catch the blooms looking at their best, we would always suggest visiting in April, and luckily for you, our break departs on April 22nd! Obviously the tulips are the main attraction; a true ode to spring! However, if you do tire of strolling (and taking dozens of beautiful photographs), then there are plenty of cafés to enjoy a well-deserved cuppa and the souvenir shops are a must-visit too.
So, are you ready to visit the shrine of spring flowering-bulbs? Our Dutch Bulbfields Cruise is the perfectly relaxing escape that includes three nights on the MV Prinses Christina with full board, ports of call at Vianen, Hoorn and Amsterdam, along with the highlight of the break: our excursion to Keukenhof Gardens.