Enjoying the late summer among the dahlias

Weather permitting, you can enjoy the late summer among the dahlias in Voorhout at the Tulperij and at Keukenhof Castle. Dahlias also play a major role during the flower parades held in the autumn in Zundert and Sint Jansklooster. Both parades are Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Netherlands. Have you seen many dahlias in real life and on stamps?

Keukenhof Castle (Lisse)

Keukenhof Castle in Lisse was originally built in 1642 as a Neoclassical country house by Adriaen Maertensz. Block, a former commander of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the Moluccas. It is unclear whether he also lived there. Later owners included the anatomist Professor Willem Röell and the art connoisseur Johan Steengracht van Oostcapelle, who saved the castle from ruin in 1809.

From mid-July to early October 2025, visitors to Keukenhof Castle can enjoy beautiful dahlias from growers in the Bulb Region. In the castle garden and the Frederik's Court There are about 550 different varieties of dahlias. Be sure to stop by to enjoy this overwhelming display of color!

Diagonally opposite the castle lies the walled garden Frederiks Hof, containing the Swiss playhouse. The name Frederiks Hof comes from a young boy from one of the noble families who lived at the castle. The few documents found about him tell the story of a highly gifted boy who suffered from a mental disorder. In 1850, the foundation stone was laid for a playhouse where Frederik could retreat with a governess when the hustle and bustle became too much for him. During his youth, he spent time in peace among the flowers and plants in the garden. In paintings in the castle, he can be seen together with his mother; a dreamy-looking little boy. After completing his law studies, it would become his residence, where he could stay in peace, suffering from schizophrenia. Frederiks Hof has been fully restored and is used for various activities.    

Dahlia

Dahlia is a genus of plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae). The genus comprises about ten species, which occur in the wild from Mexico to Colombia. The original dahlias are glabrous, upright, perennial herbs with elongated, tuberous roots. The leaves vary greatly from species to species. Originally, the tubers were cultivated for consumption, until people neglected to harvest them and the plants began to flower. The edible tubers thus became ornamental plants. The cultivated dahlias as we know them are almost without exception hybrids. Dahlias were introduced to the Netherlands in 1872. There are at least 20.000 varieties.

Dahlias are widely used for dahlia parades in the Netherlands and other countries. The Netherlands hosts over twenty dahlia parades that use the flowers to cover and color the underlying floats. The dahlia is particularly well-suited for this purpose because it is a strong flower that is easy to cultivate and comes in a wide variety of colors. However, not all dahlias are suitable for parade floats. The suitable varieties are compact and consistent in color, falling under the categories of pompom, star, or cactus dahlias. Many parade venues grow their own dahlias on fields maintained by volunteers. The Zundert Flower Parade is the largest dahlia parade in the world. In Zundert, there are many hectares of dahlia fields used exclusively for the parade. Besides Zundert, the largest dahlia parades in the Netherlands are those of Beltrum, Lichtenvoorde, Sint Jansklooster, Valkenswaard, and Vollenhove. The Loenhout Flower Parade is the largest flower parade in Belgium.

Corso sites recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Netherlands: Lichtenvoorde, Sint Jansklooster, Valkenswaard, Vollenhove, Zundert.

Where the idea to use dahlias at Dutch flower parades comes from is unknown, but the reason may well be pragmatic: the dahlia is both suitable and available. The dahlia is a flower that was very popular at the time (and is again today!) and adorned many farmyards. Dahlias are cheap and hardy. It is often called the poor man's rose. Dahlias come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, and dahlia flowers can be picked from the plant without penalty during the flowering season (from late July through September). New flowers appear on the plant within a few days. The availability of the dahlia is therefore ample.

Of the hundreds of dahlia varieties available, dozens are highly suitable for use as ground covers. The suitable varieties are sturdy, consistent in color, compact, and not too large. To this day, the dahlia proves to be ideal when field yields fall short due to unfavorable weather conditions. The alternatives used in such cases, such as begonias, fall far short of the dahlia. Naturally, in the early years of the various flower parades, the dahlia was not yet cultivated specifically for the parade. The float builders scoured the surrounding area on foot or by bicycle to pick dahlias on farms. Trucks were also driven to the Bulb Region to collect dahlias from commercial growers in Lisse, Sassenheim, Hillegom, and Aalsmeer. The ties with the dahlia growers from the Bulb Region continue to this day.

Nowadays, all major flower parades grow their own dahlias. Just like the construction of the floats, the maintenance of the dahlia fields is carried out by volunteers. The fields supply dahlias for the respective parade, but because flowers can be picked from the dahlia fields throughout the entire season, a lively trade takes place. Parades that do not take place simultaneously supply flowers to each other. In addition, dahlias are sold to many smaller parades and to all kinds of events that require dahlias for floral displays, mosaics, etc.  

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Keukenhof Castle dahlia garden: https://kasteelkeukenhof.nl/nl/evenementen/dahliatuin/ De Tulperij (Voorhout) has partnered with the CNB in ​​Lisse for their famous dahlia show garden. The CNB and some 20 growers from the Duin- en Bollenstreek and surrounding area have planted more than 600 varieties of dahlias with us, and it is open to visitors. You can feast your eyes. There are diverse types of dahlias and so many colors and shapes. So come by and marvel at the splendor of colors at De Tulperij. The show garden is open every day from August 8 to October 10, 2025, from 09:30 to 17:00. See the info from De Tulperij: https://detulperij.nl/dahlia-showtuin-pluktuin-excursie-horeca/dahlia-excursie-pluktuin-bollenverkoop-workshops/