Situated in the South of Holland, sprawling across 32 hectares and drawing in thousands of tourists every year, the gardens of Keukenhof are a spectacle of over seven million flowers grown on 15th century hunting grounds. These legendary gardens are some of the largest in the world, and were officially established in 1949 by the mayor of Lisse.
Running through these vast expanses of gardens are small creeks, and ponds with fountains intersperse the landscape.
Outside the park, rolling fields of tulips blanket the grounds, growing in vibrant rows of pinks, oranges, yellows, and blues.
Inside, winding paths connect the various areas of the park, which is separated into six different main areas: Juliana/Tulpomania, Oranje Nassau, Willem-Alexander, the Mill, Beatrix, and Wilhelmina.
Throughout the year, Keukenhof also hosts 20 different different flower shows, featuring flowers from more than 500 growers from around the world.
During the months of spring, these Dutch gardens are like something out of a fantasy world; with breathtaking displays of tulips and lilies at every turn, viewing the gardens in full bloom is truly awe-inspiring. 2019 represents the 70th year of the parks opening, and after all of those years, an experience at the Keukenhof remains an experience unlike any other.
Erin Kurth is a student at the Michigan State University. They are ISA Featured Blogger and are researching abroad with EuroScholars in the Netherlands.