Spring is in the Air: Daytrip to Keukenhof Tulip Garden

Spring is my favorite season and the perfect time for a Daytrip to Keukenhof Tulip Garden located in Lisse. Although I will miss the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington this year, I am closer to my favorite place in the Netherlands.

Keukenhof served as the “kitchen garden” of a Dutch Countess in the 15th century. It is also referred to as the Garden of Europe. Tulip Mania struck in the early 1630s and, at its peak, some rare bulbs were worth their weight in gold (and more expensive than housing in Amsterdam at the time).

Bollywood fans will recognize the tulips fields as the backdrop of the hit song from Silsila.

I love flower gardens, especially bulb gardens that re-bloom every year. Perhaps it’s because my mom wanted to name me after her favorite flower, the Dahlia (also a perennial bulb).

The Mogul Gardens at the Rastri Pati Bhavan in Delhi feature Dahlias, but I digress.

Catching the different types of blooms at their peak can be tricky if you are planning an international trip. Peak season is between March and May, but can vary depending on weather conditions.

My first visit to the Netherlands and the gardens was years back when I was studying abroad in France and had plenty of time to explore at a leisurely pace.

Once I had a normal day job, the best I could do was squeeze in a half day tour during a weekend in Amsterdam. I booked a day tour through Expedia with a convenient pick-up and drop-off location close to the central train station.

Using public transport is also easy and inexpensive. Directions are available on the Keukenhof website, which also provides the latest information on park opening times based on the expected bloom dates.

Keukenhof boasts almost 80 acres of tulip fields, lakes, gardens, and windmills. In case it rains, there are still plenty of indoor exhibits including a history of Tulip Mania.

The greenhouses are bursting with blooms. One of the greenhouses was being prepared for a destination wedding reception during my last visit. Can you imagine what a fabulous backdrop this garden would make for a wedding?