The tulip is the most famous flower in the Netherlands. Indeed, the Netherlands is as well known for its tulip garden as it is for its cheese, clogs, and windmills. Even though the tulip is the most popular flower, it only blooms for a few weeks each year in April and May. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about missing out because you can still spend quality time in nature with dazzling flowers and plants all year! Here are the best Holland flowers gardens you can enjoy the beauty of the Netherlands:
Flowers, plants and gardens in the Netherlands
Despite its dense population, the Netherlands has an abundance of gardens and flower festivals that are ideal for a day out enjoying some typical Dutch scenery. If you’re bummed that you didn’t get to see the Keukenhof, arguably the most famous garden in the Netherlands, there are plenty of other gardens and flower-related attractions.
Keukenhof is the famous Garden in the Netherlands
You’ll have to wait until spring to see the breathtaking tulips, but it’ll be worth the wait! Keukenhof is the most well-known international flower show of Holland flowers garden. With a focus on flower bulbs, it’s no surprise that tulips, tulip bulbs, and the Keukenhof come to mind when people think of horticulture in the Netherlands.
Keukenhof, which translates as “kitchen garden,” has been around since the 15th century and spans 32 hectares. The park first opened its doors to the public in 1950 and was an instant success, attracting over 236.000 visitors in its first year. The Keukenhof now receives 800.000 visitors per year.
Since 1950, millions of bulbs have bloomed in the atmospheric outlay surrounding the pond, with its beautiful perspectives and centuries-old beech trees. Castlefest, a fantasy-themed costume celebration of all things medieval, is held in August on the grounds of Keukenhof.
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Open Garden Days
Your ticket to hidden Amsterdam is Open Garden Days. More than 30 private Amsterdam gardens are open to the public for three days in June.
The carefully chosen gardens are mini urban retreats, full of lush plants and flowers, impeccable taste and an eye for detail, and make the most of the outdoor spaces they occupy. More than 30 gardens are taking part in three special days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Amnesty International, Museum Van Loon, and Huis Marseille on Keizersgracht, or Cromhouthuis or Museum Willet-Holthuysen on Herengracht, are the five gardens where you can buy a ticket and begin your garden explorations. A summer in Amsterdam would be incomplete without visiting these hidden gardens!
Japanese Garden Clingendael in the Netherlands
Clingendael Japanese Garden is a historic site that was designated as a national monument in 2001. Its name means “valley between the dunes” and it is open to the public for free eight weeks of the year. It is located between The Hague and Wassenaar.
The Japanese Garden at Clingendael Estate is easily
It is distinguished by its gleaming red bridge and overhanging lush green trees, which are ablaze with colored blossoms in the spring. Some of the garden’s features, such as sculptures, were brought back from Japan by the estate’s owner in the early twentieth century.
Canal flower parade
It doesn’t get more Dutch than this: flower-adorned boats floating along South Holland’s canals and waterways! Every year in August, the Floating Flower Parade takes place, with over 50 boats decorated with chrysanthemums, sunflowers, orchids, dahlias, and other flowers passing through The Hague, Delft, and Vlaardingen. Some boats even have elaborate fruit and vegetable arrangements.
Top Famous Festivals In The Netherlands You Should Know
Aalsmeer, the flower capital of the world
Aalsmeer, a North Holland town 13 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam, has been dubbed the “Flower Capital of the World” because it hosts the world’s largest flower auction.
The Netherlands controls 50% of the global flower trade and an incredible 80% of the global bulb trade. Visitors can witness this world-renowned auction from a special viewing gallery at FloraHolland in Aalsmeer!
Over the last five years, the Aalsmeer Flower Festival has increased interest in the town. Every June, it is held in two locations: the Bloemenlust, which was formerly a flower auction venue and is now also known as “The Beach,” and the Aalsmeer Horticultural Museum.
Amsterdam Botanic Garden in the Netherlands
The botanic garden in Amsterdam, known in Latin as Hortus Botanicus, is a tranquil haven. You can visit at any time of year, and their glasshouses, also known as winter gardens, are ideal for a dose of tropical green warmth and glow!
The Amsterdam Botanic Garden, founded in 1638, is one of the world’s oldest! The Palm House is nothing short of breathtaking. The gardens are even open for longer in July and August!
Flower parades of the Bulb Region – Holland flowers garden
Every year in late April or early May, the Flower Parade of the Bulb Region travels from Noordwijk to Haarlem. The stunning flower sculptures are famous all over the world! Thousands of visitors flock to the Bulb Region (Bollenstreek) to take in this dazzling flower and bulb celebration. Other popular flower parades are held in Zundert, Rijnsburg, and Leersum.
The Bulb Region area encompasses Leiden, The Hague, and Haarlem, and its climate and soil have been ideal for bulb cultivation for centuries. These spectacular parades feature a stunning array of tulips and other flowers.
The most gorgeous tulip fields in the Netherlands, as told by locals
Open Holland flowers Gardens and Tulip Route on the North East Polder
Flevoland, to the east of North and South Holland, is famous for its tulip fields, having the country’s largest tulip field area. As a result, during the tulip season in April and May, there is a well-planned Tulip Route of the North East Polder that can be traveled by car or bicycle.
The land is more than four meters below sea level and was only recently reclaimed from the Zuiderzee. It has quickly become one of the most popular places to visit during tulip season.
Some beautiful gardens are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during tulip season, and you can still visit them the rest of the summer if you make an appointment in advance. Here are some lovely gardens to visit and include on your summer polder itinerary: Lipkje Schat Gardens, Pegasushof Gardens, Goldhoorn Gardens, and Stekkentuin Gardens are all worth a visit.
Dutch flowers, plants and gardens for any time of year
You can enjoy the beautiful flowers, plants, and gardens throughout the Netherlands at any time of year. Plan a visit to one of the Dutch open gardens this summer, go to the Amsterdam Botanic Gardens regardless of the weather, and start planning your celebration of the tulip season next spring!