Keukenhof garden, Lisse, Netherlands

Keukenhof, often called the “Garden of Europe,” is one of the world’s most famous spring flower gardens. Located in Lisse, in the province of South Holland, Netherlands, it lies in the heart of the Dutch Bollenstreek (bulb-growing region).

The estate was once the kitchen garden of the 15th-century Countess Jacoba of Bavaria, which gave it its name, and the flower park was opened by local bulb growers in 1950. The garden covers approximately 32 hectares of landscaped grounds. Each year about 7 million flower bulbs are planted, including some 800 varieties of tulips, along with hyacinths, daffodils and many other spring flowers. The grounds include several themed gardens, art installations, ponds, walking paths, and tree-lined vistas, and indoor pavilions named after members of the Dutch royal family host changing flower shows.

Opening Season & Visiting Hours

Keukenhof is only open to the public for about eight weeks each year, typically during spring, from mid-March to mid-May.

In 2027 the garden is open from 18 March to 9 May, daily from 8:00 to 19:00 (last entry 18:15). Tickets must be booked online for a time slot: in 2026 an adult ticket cost about €21 and a child’s ticket (ages 4–17) about €9–10, with higher prices at the gate.

Because the season is short and the flower displays are designed to peak during that time, timing your visit well is important for seeing the garden at its most spectacular.

How to Get There

Keukenhof is about 35 km southwest of Amsterdam. During the season, special Keukenhof buses run from Amsterdam RAI, Schiphol Airport, Haarlem and Leiden, with combined bus and entry tickets. Parking at the garden costs about €9 when booked online.