#summerbudgettrip They say if you want to walk through a painting, come to the Netherlands in spring. I did—and found myself inside a living canvas of color, texture, and scent at Keukenhof, the world’s most famous tulip garden.
A Field Trip to Fantasy
Just a short ride from Amsterdam, the journey to Keukenhof is a pleasure in itself. The bus rolled past endless green fields, windmills turning slowly in the distance, and suddenly—rows upon rows of tulips. Red, yellow, purple, pink, white, striped, and nearly black, they stretched toward the horizon in perfect lines. Even before entering the garden, you’re already inside the dream.
Once through the gates, the scene opens like a fairytale. Keukenhof is no ordinary garden—it’s a 32-hectare floral wonderland with over 7 million blooming bulbs. You don’t “see” it. You wander it, like walking through a rainbow fallen to Earth.
Paths of Color and Calm
Some areas feel like wild forests sprinkled with flowers. Others are precise geometric beds of tulips and hyacinths, mirrored in calm ponds and framed by willow trees. Every corner is curated but never cold—it’s art, but it breathes.
I followed the winding paths, letting my senses lead. One moment I stood under a cherry tree in full blossom, petals falling like pink snow. The next, I was kneeling to smell the soft sweetness of pale orange tulips shaped like teacups.
There are pavilions too—featuring themed arrangements, orchid displays, and rare tulip hybrids that look like they came from another planet. Entry is about €20, but for what you experience, it feels like a gift.
