In Amsterdam and beyond, tulips are everywhere — in fields, in history, and sometimes, in memories that reach across generations.

With tulips stretching in every direction and raindrops misting the air, my daughter, my grandchildren, and I shared a day that was both simple and unforgettable.

Today, I had the joy of visiting Keukenhof with my daughter and two young grandchildren, aged 6 and 3.  While the vibrant tulip displays were a feast for any visitor, the most memorable moments — just as I had hoped — came from seeing how these young minds took in the spectacle: their unfiltered awe, their wild imaginations, and their way of experiencing beauty without pretense.

It was a day that reminded me of the simple, powerful ways that wonder connects us — across generations, across cultures, across time.

And it left me thinking even more deeply — what is it about tulips that has captured the Dutch heart — and the world’s attention — for centuries?

A Brief History of Tulips in the Netherlands

Tulips are not native to the Netherlands.  They originally grew wild in Central Asia and were cultivated in the Ottoman Empire before arriving in Europe in the 16th century.  The Dutch quickly fell in love with them, finding their vivid colors and unique shapes irresistible.

The obsession grew so strong that it led to one of the world’s first recorded economic bubbles: Tulip Mania in the 1630s.
At the peak of this frenzy, a single tulip bulb could sell for more than the price of a house in Amsterdam.
When the bubble burst, fortunes were lost — but the cultural bond between the Dutch and tulips had already been sealed.

Tulips and the Dutch Economy Today

The Netherlands stands as the undisputed world leader in tulip production, cultivating approximately 6.5 billion tulip bulbs each year.  Of these, about 1.5 billion bulbs are exported globally, underscoring the country’s dominance in the tulip industry.

In fact, the Netherlands is responsible for approximately 70% of global tulip bulb production and 75% of global tulip exports.

Tulip farming occupies a central place in Dutch agriculture.  Flower bulb cultivation covers about 13,000 hectares of land — nearly half of the country’s land devoted to commercial flower production.

The broader Dutch floriculture sector — which includes cut flowers, bulbs, and live plants — generates about €5 billion annually, contributing roughly 0.5% to the Netherlands’ total GDP.  Tulips remain a vibrant symbol of the country’s economy, culture, and international identity.

Every spring, hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to the Netherlands to experience the tulip fields in full bloom.
Keukenhof alone draws over 1.4 million visitors during its short eight-week season — a living testament to the enduring magic of the Dutch tulip.

What Makes Tulips Special?

Beyond their striking beauty, tulips carry rich symbolism:

• Red tulips declare perfect love.
• White tulips suggest forgiveness.
• Purple tulips represent royalty and admiration.
• Yellow tulips once symbolized unrequited love, but today often symbolize cheerful sunshine and happiness.

A bouquet of tulips — especially red ones — has long been a declaration of love, but a gentler, more joyful one compared to the drama of roses.

They say, “I love you,” but also, “I delight in you.”

Keukenhof: The Garden of Europe

Known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is a masterpiece of floral artistry located in Lisse, just a short drive from Amsterdam.  Spread across 32 hectares (nearly 80 acres), it features more than 7 million flower bulbs planted by hand every year, showcasing over 800 varieties of tulips.

Keukenhof is open to the public for only eight precious weeks each spring — and today, when we visited during the third week of April, the gardens were at their spectacular peak.

It was, quite literally, a full house.  Despite cool temperatures, cloudy skies, and even a steady drizzle of rain — in other words, a perfect Dutch spring day — Keukenhof was absolutely packed.  Tickets were sold out, and we were grateful we had purchased ours in advance.

It was astonishing to see not only how many people came to experience the gardens, but where they came from — families and visitors from all over the Netherlands, Europe, and far corners of the world, walking the winding paths together, all drawn by the same simple magnet: the beauty of blooming tulips.

Keukenhof is more than just a garden.  It is a celebration of color, life, and renewal — and of the universal human instinct to seek out beauty, even when clouds gather overhead.

A Personal Connection

For me, this visit carries an extra layer of meaning.

Keukenhof sits in Lisse — the very town where Ellie Nieuwenhuis Kniffin, the wife of one of my dearest childhood friends, was born.

Ellie’s family emigrated from Lisse to the United States, bringing with them not just memories but a deep connection to the flower that would become their livelihood.  In Mount Airy, North Carolina, Ellie’s family built a thriving tulip business that grew from those Dutch roots.

Ellie married Clipper Kniffin, my close friend for over 70 years, and remained a bright, beloved presence until her passing just a year ago.  Before our trip, I spoke with Clipper and with Ellie’s sister, and both were touched to hear that we would be spending time in Ellie’s hometown — among the tulips she surely would have loved.

I like to think that if Ellie is watching from above, she would be smiling — seeing children running through fields of color, seeing her home remembered, celebrated, and alive in new ways.

Through the Eyes of a Child

Walking Keukenhof with a six-year-old and a three-year-old brought a joy and freshness I could not have found on my own.

To them, the towering rows of flowers were magical forests. The vibrant colors weren’t horticultural achievements — they were candy fields, birthday parties, secret fairy gardens.

They laughed, they ran, they pointed at the “funniest” flowers, and invented stories as they went — their wonder immediate, unfiltered, and real.

It reminded me:
We don’t all see the world the same way — and that’s not just okay, it’s beautiful.
Especially through the eyes of children, where awe comes without hesitation, and delight needs no permission.

Tomorrow, the tulips will still be blooming.
But today, I saw them differently — because I saw them with them.