Page 219 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

SOUTH HOLLAND  217

Flowering Bulbs
Flowers such as gladioli,
lilies, narcissi, hyacinths, irises,
crocuses and dahlias are mainly
grown in the Bollenstreek.
By far the most important,
though, is the tulip, which
originally came from Turkey
and was cultivated by Carolus
Clusius in 1593 for the first time
in the Netherlands.

“Aladdin” tulips

Colourful flowering bulbs in the shady Keukenhof
2 Lisse Environs
Just outside Lisse is Huys Dever,
Map B3. * 20,000. @ 50
(from Leiden & Haarlem) & 90 (from a fortified residential tower which
Noordwijk). n Heereweg 219 (0252- dates from the second half of the
417900). ∑ vvvlisse.nl 14th century. The permanent exhi-
“China Pink” tulips bition at the tower illustrates the
The best time to see Lisse is lives of the families who lived here.
at the end of April, when the
colourful Bloemen Corso P Huys Dever
(flower parade) takes place (see Heereweg 349a. Tel 0252-411430.
p36). A vibrant procession of Open 2–5pm Tue–Sun. Closed
floats passes from Noordwijk public hols. 8 by arrangement.
to Haarlem, where they are ∑ kasteeldever.nl
brightly illuminated at night
and can still be seen the next
“Tahiti” narcissi day. On the two days before the 3 Keukenhof
parade, you can see close-up Map B3. @ 854 (from Leiden Centraal
how the floats are decorated Station), 858 (from Schiphol airport).
in the Hobaho halls in Lisse. Tel 0252-465555. Open late Mar–mid-
The Museum De Zwarte Tulp May: daily. & 8am–6pm. 7 0
(black tulip museum) covers ∑ keukenhof.nl
the history of bulb growing
and illustrates the life cycle of Lying in a wooded park of 32 ha
bulbs. It also touches upon the (79 acres) close to Lisse, the
“Minnow” narcissi “tulipomania” in 1620–37 (see Keukenhof is one of the most
pp34–5), when investors pushed spectacular public gardens in the
up the demand for rare tulip world. It was set up in 1949 as a
bulbs to such an extent that showcase for bulb-growers and
they were worth their weight currently has around 6 million
in gold. bulbs planted in it. Fields are full
of dazzling narcissi, hyacinths and
 Bloemen Corso tulips in bloom from the end of
∑ bloemencorsobollenstreek.nl March to the end of May. You can
E Museum De Zwarte Tulp also see the white blossom of the
Heereweg 219. Tel 0252-417900. Japanese cherry tree in the park
Open Mar–Aug: 11am–5pm; Sep– early in the season and, later,
“Blue Jacket” hyacinths Feb: 1–5pm. Closed public hols. & the bright flowers of the azaleas
7 - ∑ museumdezwartetulp.nl and rhododendrons.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp397–8 and pp410–11

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