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Amsterdam’s tulip fever is about to hit its peak, and this year, the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens are preparing a blooming spectacle unlike any before. As the gates swing open on March 21, 2024, visitors will step into a living canvas of color—7 million flowers painting the 79-acre park in hypnotic waves of crimson, gold, and violet. But this isn’t just another spring in the Dutch countryside.
For the first time in its 75-year history, Keukenhof is dedicating an entire pavilion to rare and endangered tulip species, some teetering on the brink of extinction. Botanists have spent years cultivating these fragile blooms, and now, for a limited time, the public can witness varieties that haven’t been seen in the wild for decades.
“This is like the Louvre suddenly putting its lost Da Vincis on display,” says head gardener Lotte van der Meer, brushing soil from her hands as she inspects a row of fiery-red ‘Queen of Night’ tulips. “Some of these bulbs are worth more than gold.”
Ironically, the same warming temperatures threatening Dutch bulb farms have created an unexpected advantage this year. An unusually mild winter has coaxed flowers into early, synchronized blooming—meaning visitors in mid-April may witness the rarest event in horticulture: all seven million flowers peaking at once.
“Normally, we stagger plantings to ensure constant color,” explains van der Meer. “But this year, nature is putting on its own show.”
With overtourism concerns growing, Keukenhof has introduced timed ticketing and extended its hours (7:30 AM–7:00 PM). Locals whisper that the magic hour is just before sunset, when the day-tripper buses leave and the light turns the petals translucent.
For those willing to venture beyond the main paths, a secret awaits: the flower mosaic workshop, where visitors can arrange their own tulip designs under the guidance of master growers. (Tip: Book weeks in advance—these slots vanish faster than stroopwafels at a flea market.)
Behind the rainbows of petals lies a sobering reality. Rising sea levels and salinating soil are squeezing the traditional bulb-growing region. Some farmers are experimenting with salt-resistant tulip hybrids, while others quietly relocate inland.
“Every year, we lose a little more land to the water,” admits a fourth-generation grower, who asked not to be named. “Come see these flowers while you can.”
As the Dutch say: "Een bloem is mooi omdat ze niet lang blijft." (A flower is beautiful because it does not last.)
