More than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths will make a spectacularly British display at the largest spring garden in the world.
The 80-acre exhibition near the town of Lisse, south-west of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, known as Keukenhof, is described as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.
This year the theme is 'The United Kingdom - Land of Great Gardens'.
Rite of spring: Keukenhof, the world's largest flower garden, has opened for its 64th consecutive year of spectacular flower shows
Bloomin' lovely: The 80-acre exhibition near the town of Lisse in the Netherlands, is described as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world
Purple haze... and pink, and green: The garden was established in 1949 to present a flower exhibit where growers from all over the Netherlands and Europe could show off their hybrids - and to help the Dutch export industry. The Netherlands, known for its tulips, is the world's largest exporter of flowers
Tulips: More than seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths have been planted for the Keukenhof show this year
The Garden of Europe: The Keukenhof site plays host to flowers of many different varieties
Keukenhof - also known as the Garden of Europe - is the world's largest flower garden and has exhibited every spring for 64 years.
This year it was decided to dedicate the garden to the UK, raise attention to the significance Britain as a gardening nation and as an export market for flower bulbs.
The centrepiece of the flower show is a blossoming mosaic of blooms made up of 60,000 bulbs showing London's iconic landmarks Big Ben and Tower Bridge.
Paul Arkwright, British ambassador to the Netherlands, last October planted the last of the bulbs to complete the mosaic, which will measure 13 by 33 metres when budded.
The ambitious work is a co-production with Britain's world-famous Royal Horticultural Society.
'The United Kingdom - Land of Great Gardens': Britain has been chosen as the theme for this year and the centrepiece of the flower show is a blossoming mosaic of blooms made up of 60,000 bulbs showing London's iconic landmarks Big Ben and Tower Bridge. You'll have to visit to see it in its full glory
Tourist attracting: Some 70,000 British garden lovers are estimated to have passed through Keukenhof's gates last year
So much to see: The sprawling site also hosts an exhibition of statuary curated by Dutch artist Ansèl Sandberg
Full of the joys of spring: Two women leap in the air amid the fields of tulips at Keukenhof
Gardeners' world: In addition to over 32 hectares of flowers, the spring garden offers 30 inspiring flower shows, seven inspirational gardens and 100 works of art
Famous: Keukenhof has been the world's largest flower garden for over fifty years. It opened to the public on March 21 and continues for eight weeks
Floating along: Visitors can also tour the expansive fields of flowers by guided boat tour
From the air: Keukenhof, which means kitchen garden in Dutch, is situated on 15th century hunting grounds which also served as a source of herbs for a local castle
KEUKENHOF BY NUMBERS
Seven million bulbs planted for this year's show
70,000 British tourists visited the gardens last year
60,000 bulbs in the centrepiece mosaic of blooms showing Big Ben and Tower Bridge
100 artworks are dotted around the site
80 acres of flowers are open to the public
64 years the show has been running for
30 inspiring shows will showcase flowers
The Juliana Pavilion will house the exhibition 'My Great Garden', showing the various aspects of British gardening and landscaping. Pictures, light, sound and setting will result in a striking experience, organisers say.
Some 70,000 British tourists are estimated to have passed through Keukenhof's gates last year.
In addition to over 32 hectares of flowers, the spring garden offers 30 inspiring flower shows, seven amazing inspirational gardens and 100 wonderful works of art curated by Dutch artist Ansèl Sandberg.
Keukenhof, which means kitchen garden in Dutch, is situated on 15th century hunting grounds which also served as a source of herbs for Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut's castle.
The garden was established in 1949 to present a flower exhibit where growers from all over the Netherlands and Europe could show off their hybrids – and help the Dutch export industry.
The Netherlands, known for its tulips, is the world's largest exporter of flowers.
Keukenhof has been the world's largest flower garden for over fifty years. It opened to the public on March 21 and continues for eight weeks.