Lisse

Lisse is a town in the north of the province of South Holland in the Bollenstreek region. The place is located on an excavated old dune row, which is rich in lime and has a good structure. It is therefore often used for growing flower bulbs. The castle park “De Keukenhof” is located near Lisse. At first sight a bit of a strange name for a castle, but on closer view it makes sense. The gardens at this castle provided food for the nearby Castle Teylingen, which is now no more than a ruin but used to be it a strong fortress. The park around Keukenhof has now become a flower garden known as The Keukenhof Gardens and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every spring.

Lisse also houses Museum De Zwarte Tulp (The black Tulip) that covers the history of the cultivation and life cycle of flower bulbs. The Bulb Frenzy (1620-1632) when investors drove up the demand for special tulip bulbs and they became very expensive is also explained in the museum.

An important landmark is the old keep of Castle Dever dating back to the fourteenth century. The keep houses a permanent exposition about the families who have been living there.

From Lisse it’s a small distance to travel to the cities of Leiden and Haarlem.