Keukenhof

Imagine a big field painted with every color you can think of. There are bright reds, sunny yellows, deep purples, and soft pinks, just like a giant paint box spilled all over the ground. You can smell sweet flowers in the air, and you can hear the happy buzz of busy bees flying from petal to petal. It feels like walking through a rainbow. I am Keukenhof, a garden full of surprises.

A long, long time ago, in the 1400s, I was a small kitchen garden for a kind countess named Jacoba. She grew yummy herbs and vegetables here for her castle's kitchen. That’s how I got my name, which means ‘Kitchen Garden’. Many years went by, and then, in the year 1949, some friends who loved flowers had a wonderful idea. They wanted to show everyone how beautiful their tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths were. They worked together and planted millions of little flower bulbs in my soil. Then, in the spring of 1950, I opened my gates for the very first time as a magical flower show for everyone to see.

Now, I am in a country called the Netherlands. Every spring, I wake up from my long winter sleep and wear my best dress of seven million flowers. Families come from all over the world to walk on my paths. They take pictures and giggle with delight when they see all my colors. I love sharing my flowers and making people feel happy. I am here to show you how a tiny little seed can grow into something so beautiful for the whole world to enjoy together.