![Keukenhof (Image: Martien Uiterweerd )](/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Keukenhof.jpg)
Keukenhof (Image: Martien Uiterweerd )
The Dune and Bulb region of Holland is world famous for Keukenhof which is situated between Amsterdam and the Dutch capital The Hague. Keukenhof (The Garden of Europe) is the world largest flower garden with an annual growth of seven million flower bulbs on an area of 32 hectares.
![Keukenhof, The Garden of Europe Keukenhof, The Garden of Europe](/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/keukenhof-the-garden-of-europe.jpg)
The estate on which Keukenhof is a hunting area from the 15th century. This area was popular for the collection of Herbs for the kitchen (keuken) for Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut‘s castle. So the name Keukenhof is also derived from it. The garden was created on this historic area of Lisse in 1949 by the then-mayor of Lisse. The main purpose was to promote the unique Dutch flower industry and to invite the floral cultivators from all over Netherlands and Europe to come up and display their hybrids. So ultimately the small town of Holland, Lisse also became known to the world for Keukenhof. Keukenhof is open for the public every year in the last week of March to mid-May. The ideal time to visit is considered in April; however it also depends on the suitable weather conditions.
![Keukenhof Tulip Gardens Keukenhof Tulip Gardens](/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Keukenhof-Tulip-Gardens.jpg)
In the blooming season Keukenhof is filled with hundreds of thousands of blooming tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other spring bulbs. For whole nine weeks Keukenhof becomes the center of the interest for hundreds of growers, and breeders who exhibit their best foot forward to the a large numbers of visitors and tourists. In this annual floral exhibition of Keukenhof all these tremendous and awesome verities of tulips and other flowers are shown in various pavilions in a very artistic manner. The environment of Keukenhof is so inspirational and enriched with nature that it amuses the visitors of every age. This massive floral garden consists of 15 kilometers of footpaths.
![Tulip Flowers of Keukenhof Tulip Flowers of Keukenhof](/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/tulip-flowers-of-keukenhof.jpg)
The famous castle of Keukenhof is also adjacent to this park. Although Keukenhof is opened every year on its specific schedule yet the grounds of Castle Keukenhof are opened every time which are often used for conducting cultural festivals and musical events.
![Castle of Keukenhof Castle of Keukenhof](/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/castle-of-keukenhof.jpg)