A photographer gained exclusive access to the world's most beautiful garden even though it's closed

Talia LakritzApr 30, 2020, 03:19 IST

Keukenhof flower gardens.Courtesy of Albert Dros

Keukenhof park in the Netherlands hosts a world-famous tulip festival every spring, but is closed due to social distancing.
Landscape photographer Albert Dros gained access to Keukenhof to photograph the empty park in bloom.
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Dutch landscape photographer Albert Dros had only been to Keukenhof's world-famous flower gardens once before. He preferred to photograph flowers in less crowded settings, working with local farmers on the Dutch countryside.

When Keukenhof closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Dros received special permission to visit the gardens and photograph the empty fields of flowers in bloom.

Here are 15 photos that show what Keukenhof looks like without its hundreds of thousands of visitors.

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"Now that the park is closed this year, I hope to show the beauty of our flower garden to the people sitting at home," he said.

Lanes of colorful tulips. Courtesy of Albert Dros

He hopes that his photos bring the joy of the Keukenhof gardens to everyone in need of a pick-me-up.

Tulips in the shape of a tulip. Courtesy of Albert Dros

He also noticed the park's attention to detail in paths and flower layouts in a new way.

Paths snake through the gardens. Courtesy of Albert Dros

Drone photos usually aren't allowed in the crowded park, but Dros took advantage of the empty fields to capture some aerial shots.

A drone photo of the park. Courtesy of Albert Dros

Dros told Insider walking around the empty park was "surreal."

Hyacinths at Keukenhof. Courtesy of Albert Dros

"It's just beautiful as a whole, but it's also the little details," he said. "The paths, the swirls of flowers, the swans around the fountain. The whole thing is just magical."

Bridges across the river that runs through the park. Courtesy of Albert Dros

"It's just beautiful as a whole, but it's also the little details," he said. "The paths, the swirls of flowers, the swans around the fountain. The whole thing is just magical."

He ate lunch in Keukenhof's Lake Garden, one of his favorite spots.

The Lake Garden at Keukenhof. Courtesy of Albert Dros

Keukenhof's cherry blossoms were also in bloom.

Cherry blossoms in bloom. Courtesy of Albert Dros

He visited the park's famous "blue river" of grape hyacinths.

Grape hyacinths at Keukenhof. Courtesy of Albert Dros

He stopped by the characteristic Keukenhof windmill surrounded by tulips.

The windmill at Keukenhof. Courtesy of Albert Dros

Keukenhof gave him permission to visit the empty park and photograph its perfectly curated flower gardens.

The flower hill at Keukenhof. Courtesy of Albert Dros

Dros has always wanted to photograph the Keukenhof flower gardens without the thousands of tourists that visit each year — a task that would have been impossible before the coronavirus pandemic.

Walkways lined with flowers at Keukenhof. Courtesy of Albert Dros

Dros has always wanted to photograph the Keukenhof flower gardens without the thousands of tourists that visit each year — a task that would have been impossible before the coronavirus pandemic.

"I've enjoyed flowers ever since I was a little kid," he said. "I used to be in the garden with my grandma and always loved gardening. Now I just love colors. You can see it in the style of my photography. It's very colorful in general."

Flowers at Keukenhof. Courtesy of Albert Dros

"I've enjoyed flowers ever since I was a little kid," he said. "I used to be in the garden with my grandma and always loved gardening. Now I just love colors. You can see it in the style of my photography. It's very colorful in general."

He particularly enjoys taking pictures of Dutch flower fields.

Flower fields. Courtesy of Albert Dros

Albert Dros is a landscape photographer from the Netherlands.

Tulips in the Netherlands. Courtesy of Albert Dros

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A photographer gained exclusive access to the world's most beautiful garden even though it's closed

"Now that the park is closed this year, I hope to show the beauty of our flower garden to the people sitting at home," he said.

He hopes that his photos bring the joy of the Keukenhof gardens to everyone in need of a pick-me-up.

He also noticed the park's attention to detail in paths and flower layouts in a new way.

Drone photos usually aren't allowed in the crowded park, but Dros took advantage of the empty fields to capture some aerial shots.

Dros told Insider walking around the empty park was "surreal."

"It's just beautiful as a whole, but it's also the little details," he said. "The paths, the swirls of flowers, the swans around the fountain. The whole thing is just magical."

He ate lunch in Keukenhof's Lake Garden, one of his favorite spots.

Keukenhof's cherry blossoms were also in bloom.

He visited the park's famous "blue river" of grape hyacinths.

He stopped by the characteristic Keukenhof windmill surrounded by tulips.

Keukenhof gave him permission to visit the empty park and photograph its perfectly curated flower gardens.

Dros has always wanted to photograph the Keukenhof flower gardens without the thousands of tourists that visit each year — a task that would have been impossible before the coronavirus pandemic.

"I've enjoyed flowers ever since I was a little kid," he said. "I used to be in the garden with my grandma and always loved gardening. Now I just love colors. You can see it in the style of my photography. It's very colorful in general."

He particularly enjoys taking pictures of Dutch flower fields.

Albert Dros is a landscape photographer from the Netherlands.