Thursday, October 5, saw Keukenhof's gardeners planting this season's first flower bulbs. That marks the start of preparations for this world-famous garden's 75th anniversary in 2024. Over the next three months, as many as seven million flower bulbs will be planted, one by one by hand. On March 21, 2024, the flower exhibition will reopen its gates to the public.
Keukenhof turns 75
Keukenhof began in 1949 as an initiative of a group of bulb growers and exporters. They wanted to showcase the Dutch ornamental horticulture sector. Since its opening in 1950, Keukenhof has become a worldwide attraction while remaining vital for the ornamental horticulture sector. One hundred flower bulb growers (exhibitors) display their best assortment of flower bulbs at Keukenhof.
One of these bulb growers has been involved since the very beginning. ''My great-grandfather and his brother are among those who founded Keukenhof. My grandfather even planted the very first flower bulbs. I belong to the company's 5th generation and consider it special that, this year, like my grandfather, I planted the first flower bulbs along with Sandra Bechtholt, Keukenhof's new general director,'' says Lisa Lefeber of J.W.A Lefeber.
Keukenhof is open from March 21 to May 12, 2024. Tickets are available from mid-October at www.keukenhof.nl.