It is springtime and there is a lot of organic activity going on under the ground at Keukenhof in Lisse, south Holland.

The exhibitions and events in the park interrelate a host of Dutch items in the field of culture and the arts

Around seven million flowering bulbs have been planted during the past months to provide the traditional colourful splendour of the Keukenhof International Flower Exhibition, opening today.

Poland – Heart of Europe is the theme for this year’s event. Highlights include the exhibition Surprising Poland, the flowering bulb mosaic of Frederic Chopin and a special theme route.

The Chopin mosaic, which measures around 12 metres by 20 metres, features white with red, purple and orange flowers.

Apart from the composer’s flowery portrait, the gardens will also honour Poland by naming a new variety of tulip for its first lady, Anna Komorowska.

Last year, around 900,000 visitors passed through the gates of Keukenhof.

Keukenhof was originally the herb garden (“keuken” means kitchen in Dutch) of the Countess of Holland, Jacoba van Beyeren (1401-1436). In 1840, horticultural architects Zocher, a father and son, designed the park that forms the basis of the current Keukenhof.

They also designed the noted Vondelpark in Amsterdam.

Keukenhof is now the showcase of the Dutch horticultural industry, with the emphasis on flowering bulbs. The exhibitions and events in the park interrelate a host of Dutch items in the field of culture and the arts.

This afternoon, Ms Komorowska will open the exhibition, accompanied by Princess Margriet of the Netherlands.

The gardens will be open to the public as from tomorrow until May 20.

Tourists in the Netherlands can easily reach Lisse which lies about 34 kilometres from Amsterdam. A special Keukenhof Express bus line operating from Schiphol airport can whisk visitors to the gardens in 35 minutes.