Even if you don’t consider yourself particularly into flowers, it’s difficult not to be taken aback by the sheer, dazzling scale of Keukenhof. The Netherlands’ largest and most famous flower festival is pure tulip mania: its displays contain hundreds of varieties of the bulbs, with a whopping seven million blooms overall.
Keukenhof’s 2024 edition kicked off on March 21 and will last all the way through to May 12. During that time all the gardens are open to the public, who can expect the displays to transform on a weekly basis. And while, obviously, there’re be plenty of tulips (this is the Netherlands, after all), also on display are irises, lilies, daffodils, orchids, hyacinths and much more.
In other words, this place is an unforgettable assault on both eyes and nostrils. It’s all set in the grounds of a seventeenth-century castle in the town of Lisse, around half an hour from The Hague, Haarlem, Leiden and Amsterdam, and 2024 is its 75th year!
But there’s much more to do at Keukenhof than just gaze at gorgeous flowers. Throughout the gardens, you’ll find loads of themed pavilions, as well as plenty of opportunities for tours (on bike and on foot), boating and picnics.
Fancy a visit? You can buy tickets for Keukenhof 2024 online here.
More on Netherlands travel
Spring is the ideal time for a Netherlands trip, and not only for tulips. Celebrations for King’s Day will take over the streets of Amsterdam in April, while Dutch cities will be at their prettiest. Canalside brunch, anyone?
Did you see that this popular travel destination is doubling its entry fee this year?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for the latest travel news and the best stuff happening across the world.