The world-famous Keukenhof in Lisse is undeniable in its beauty, but it is firmly a tourist hotspot. While it certainly deserves its accolades, the dense crowds position it squarely in the “tourist trap” category. Having visited a few times, its short, spring-only opening window makes it feel more like a temporary show garden than a natural space.
Fortunately, the Netherlands boasts numerous stunning gardens that are open for much longer stretches of the year. Since transitioning into early retirement, I have promised myself the time to explore these lovely hidden gems. Last year, as one of my farewell gestures to the city before relocating to North Brabant, I visited the Botanische Tuinen Universiteit Utrecht. This year, I finally made the long-awaited day trip to Bloemenpark Appeltern in Gelderland.
🌸 Quick Facts: Bloemenpark Appeltern
To help you plan your next weekday escape, here are the essential details for the 2026 season:
- Operating Season: March 14 to November 1, 2026. (approximately the same every year with maybe a few days variance)
- Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00 to 17:30.
- Ticket Prices: Approximately €18.95 at the gate for adults (13+), with discounts available online (around €17.95). Children aged 0–12 enter for free.
- Parking Fee: Approximately €5.00 per vehicle.
- Amenities: Wheelchair accessible paths, dog-friendly (on a leash), on-site restaurants, and a seasonal plant market.
🧳 Crucial Traveller Tip: Drive If You Can! Because Bloemenpark Appeltern is tucked away in the serene, rural heart of Gelderland, its remote location means travelling by car is highly recommended. Driving gives you direct, stress-free access straight to the entrance gates and lets you set your own pace for the day. Opting for public transport instead will require navigating multiple train and regional bus transfers, including a specialised on-demand shuttle, which significantly adds to your travel time and hassle.
Drawing Inspiration for the Home Garden
Spanning 22 hectares and showcasing over 200 model gardens, the park acts as a living catalogue for residential, commercial, and park-like landscapes. It is the ultimate destination to gather ideas for designing or improving your home borders. I, for one, was in desperate need of that creative spark!
These displays are real model gardens providing exceptional visual interest all the way from spring to autumn. Because the different flowers and plants bloom each season—with some beautifully transitioning as the months change—the landscape is constantly evolving. It would be a fantastic idea to visit again in the spring or even later in the autumn, as I am certain each month provides its own distinct, spectacular show.
Lately, I have been rethinking my own garden layout. While my current borders put on a magnificent show throughout summer and autumn, I want to establish true four-season interest. To practice succession planting, I recently began introducing spring-blooming varieties, starting with a layer of purple and white flowers, Allium (Globemaster and Nigrum) and Anemones (Coronaria Mr. Fokker) in the side border. Quite pleased so far.
I am also eager to incorporate more ornamental grasses. Grasses truly are the unsung heroes of the garden border. They are exceptionally hardy, low-maintenance, and bring an irreplaceable lushness and volume to the landscape. When the breeze catches them, their fluid movement breathes life into the yard, shifting the entire garden from static to active. They act as subtle wow factors that go far beyond what you just see visually—they truly help you feel the place and connect deeply with the overall atmosphere.
A Wonderland of Design
Stepping into the park felt exactly like being a child lost in a massive candy shop. The sheer volume of visual stimuli was beautifully overwhelming—I barely knew where to look first! Because the gorgeous example gardens just kept on coming, I gave up on a strict itinerary and simply wandered from one display to the next.
Importantly, these model gardens do not only showcase the plants, trees, and flowers. They also feature a vast array of structural materials and garden fixtures, including greenhouses, natural swimming pools, benches, intricate walkway patterns, comfortable lounge and table sets, artistic sculptures, full-scale garden houses, and soothing fountains. It brilliantly allows any interested future garden owner to envision these layouts as seamless, extended living spaces. The park actively invites you to examine the structural materials closely and even connects you directly with the artists, designers, and vendors behind them.
While every corner offered something beautiful, I found myself repeatedly drawn to two specific aesthetics:
- Modern Minimalist Designs: Gardens featuring clean architectural lines, structured hardscaping, and highly deliberate plant choices.
- Naturalistic (Prairie) Planting: Sweeping, textured matrices of robust perennials and shifting ornamental grasses that mirror wild landscapes.
Before heading out, I made sure to grab a few free magazines at one of the garden kiosks for some inspirational reading at home. I capped off the visit with a delightful lunch on the terrace, enjoying a serene view of the water—an exceptional standard of hospitality that I fully expected from a park of this caliber.
Visiting on a weekday highlighted one of the absolute perks of early retirement. While most people were at work, I could easily avoid the chaotic weekend crowds, strolling past older couples at a completely unhurried pace. I left the park feeling deeply enthusiastic, completely inspired, and with a mind full of fresh design ideas just waiting to be executed.
📋 Things to Consider Before You Go
To make the absolute most of your day trip to Bloemenpark Appeltern, keep these practical travel tips in mind before you set out especially when visiting during the summer months:
- Pack for a long walking day: The park spans a massive 22 hectares with over 200 individual gardens. You will easily log several thousand steps across gravel, grass, and wooden boardwalks, so swap fashion for your most comfortable walking shoes.
- Bring sun protection and wear a hat: Because you are outdoors exploring a vast, wide-open garden, you will be fully exposed to the elements for hours. It is highly recommended to wear a hat and pack sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.
- Check the events calendar: The park regularly hosts garden-related events, programs, workshops, and shows throughout its opening season. On these specific days, the grounds get extra lively with special activities. If you want to catch one of these unique experiences—or if you prefer a quieter, more standard visit—it is highly recommended to check their official calendar of events online before planning your trip.
- Travel light and dine on the water: Skip hauling a heavy backpack or cooler. The park features three lovely restaurants with terraces, making it much easier to stroll unburdened and simply stop for a coffee and traditional Dutch apple pie (appelgebak) by the water.
- Use your camera as a notebook: Unlike historic botanical gardens, Appeltern is a modern lifestyle showroom. Every single model garden features an information plaque (QR code) listing exact plant varieties and materials. If you see a border layout or an ornamental grass you love, take a quick photo of the tag so you can recreate it at home.
- You can buy what you see: If a specific plant catches your eye, you don’t have to wait to search for it online. There is a fantastic seasonal plant market right by the exit where you can purchase many of the varieties showcased throughout the park.
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast: Because the model gardens are entirely outdoors, you are fully exposed to the elements. On exceptionally hot summer days, the park sometimes shortens its operating hours under an official “Heat Protocol” (Warmteprotocol) for safety, so always double-check their website if a heatwave is forecast.
Happy Travels!
With love from Jo
Travel Period: June 2026
Bloemenpark Appeltern – Appeltern, West Maas en Waal (Gelderland), the Netherlands