Keukenhof Flower Exhibition is holding a special anniversary exhibition to celebrate this famous flower park’s founding 75 years ago. The exhibition Keukenhof Turns 75 brings stories from the past to life with memorabilia, nostalgic items and video fragments. Visitors can learn what goes on behind the scenes at Keukenhof, from 1949 to the present day, and see what’s in store for the future. 

The first steps towards the creation of Keukenhof, the brainchild of a group of flower-bulb farmers and bulb-export firms looking for somewhere to display products from the floriculture industry, were made in 1949. Only a year later, the park opened its doors to visitors and was an immediate success: 236,000 people came to see the flower exhibition in that first year. Since then, the park has achieved global fame.

The original park was designed by Zocher in the English landscape style, with Keukenhof’s inspirational gardens and other styles being added later. Every year, 100 exhibitors send flower bulbs to be planted in the park, where 600 nurserymen tend the flowers and plants for the flower displays in the pavilions.

The exhibition is more than just an account of how this spring-themed park has evolved over the years; it also narrates the history of Keukenhof when it was a country estate with a castle of the same name. In addition, the exhibition reveals the origins of the tulip and tells the story of Jacqueline of Bavaria, the noble lady who symbolically represents Keukenhof. Visitors will be able to build a vivid image of the park’s history, thanks to the large variety of the objects, on loan or donated by private individuals and institutions, and the abundance of pictures and footage on display. The Groei&Bloei [Flourish&Flower] information team will be on hand in the pavilion, to help visitors with more details about the exhibition and to encourage them to brighten their gardens at home with flower bulbs.

This year, Keukenhof will be open to the public between 21 March and 12 May. While it is open, visitors can visit the anniversary exhibition in the park’s Juliana Pavilion.

Creation and graphic design by Wybe Klaverdijk, execution by Kloosterboer.

Keukenhof would like to thank everyone who has lent or donated items for the exhibition; Keukenhof is also extremely grateful to the photographers who have provided the images and videos as well as the archives for the retrieval of historic footage and pictures.