A river cruise along Holland’s waterways is one of the best ways to see the spring garden spectacular at Keukenhof

Every year Keukenhof, in Lisse, south-west of Amsterdam, attracts 800,000 visitors from 100 countries who primarily come to see the swathes of tulips. Many visitors are cruise passengers who make the journey from ports including Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

Holland’s national flower actually only makes up half of the garden while hyacinths, daffodils and other spring bulbs bulk up the garden, particularly at the beginning of the season.

The bulbs are planted in three layers, known as lasagne, so grape hyacinths, crocus and tiny Tete-a-Tete daffodils bring the garden alive with carpets of colour before the blousier daffodils and hyacinths, then tulips, steal the show.

Keukenhof is the showcase for Holland’s 100 royal suppliers of spring bulbs and each year Keukenhof ’s designer creates a new garden in consultation with the suppliers to ensure the colours, height and flowering time of their bulbs will fit into his planting scheme. The bulbs are delivered in late summer and the 30 gardeners begin the careful planting – all by hand.

Crescent-shaped beds hug the park’s main lake and their reflection doubles the colour but it is the scent that really makes visitors heady and inside the giant pavilions, sweet perfume is even more intense – an almost knock-out blow as visitors enter.

Among the paintbox blocks of colourful tulips new varieties are showcased. A dazzling, inspiring display of hybrids fascinate even the most experienced gardener.

There’s an education pavilion and information centre for all levels of interest, as well as seven ‘Inspirational’ gardens for visitors wanting to learn more about recycling, attracting bees and insects to their gardens, kitchen gardens and more.

Despite the high-end horticulture, the 79-acre park is geared to all ages and its flat landscape makes for easy walkingand wheelchairs.

It is child-friendly and youngsters can join a treasure hunt, slide on the aerial runway, wear themselves out in the Miffy playground or visit the small farm area where the sheep, goats and turkeys all look very well fed.

If the children are still not exhausted, there’s a windmill to climb for views over the adjoining rainbow fields of cutting flowers and a ‘silent’ boat trip around the park. Bikes can also be hired to ride through the bulb-growing region.