Keukenhof Off The Beaten Path

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In Keukenhof park you will see a lot of sculptures and art everywhere. The art is for sale.
The website below is in Dutch and English. Prices are also mentioned there.

I did not make many photos of art at Keukenhof. But you can see what's currently on display at the website below.

In Keukenhof park are also a few stalls with ceramics where you can browse and buy.

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Oh, I haven't told you about Castle Keukenhof yet.
It was built in the 17th century by a man who made his fortune in the VOC, the world's first international company called Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie ('United East Indian Company’) which made money out of colonialism and trade in Indonesia.
This guy, Adriaen Maertenszoon Block, expanded his property slowly but surely.
Because the castle and estate Keukenduin (kitchen dune, the name existed well before Block built his castle) has been in private hands for so very long, there are still many style rooms and a large collection of portraits and paintings.

The castle is straight across from the Wilhelmina entrance of Keukenhof. In front of the castle is the Parking for touring cars.

Information 2008
Opening hours each Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon from 1 May 2008 until 31 October 2008
Guided tours start at 13.30 hrs. Guided tour of the estate starts at 15.00 hrs.
Reservations are a must.

Entrance: € 6,- per person
Children up to 12 yrs: free
Groups: 20 persons or more € 4,- per person
Combination ticket for both tours: € 8,-

Unfortunately the castle is not suited for people with walking disabilities.

Or maybe better, there should be no off path. To respect the hard labour of the garden engineers please respect the lanes, especially made for you and many other visitors, hundred of thousands every season.
But unfortunally there are some individuals, groups walking on the greens, just to get a nice picture as souvenir.

Before you arrive at the Keukenhof, you have to pass the little town of Lisse with its many colourful flower fields. This is already a first opportunity for making lovely pics.
I didn't visit the town but from far it looked nice.

Off one side of the gardens, just some meters beyond its edge are fields where they grow the tulips commercially. When we went at the end of April, most of the flowers were already gone, but there were still some remaining. The coloured patches, regardless, were still beautiful and vibrant.

Leiden is one of the most scenic historic Dutch towns, with canals, ould churches and 16th century buildings. The famous painter Rembrant van Rijn was born here. Leiden is located only 40 km south of Amsterdam, on the same distance from Schiphol Airport as Amsterdam, but in the other direction. The university town has many pricewothy restaurants and cafes and is much more relaxed and cheaper than Amsterdam.

The second week of April would be best.
Then you will have the change to see most flowers in bloom. But all depends on the weather....
See the website: http://www.keukenhof.nl/index.php?LAN_ID=2

Not only in the Keukenhof you can find flowers in the Netherlands. There is a large flower area in the northpart of Noord-Holland and also in de Noordoostpolder (mainy tulips).
Travel Organization Holland has some special flower tours in springtime. www.holland-is.com

Enjoy!

In the Keukenhof there are some temporary exhibitions. One of them; the orchids (until may 20, 2005.) For a list of actual exhibitions, you can look at the Keukenhof website.