The new home of Keukenhof’s orchid show
The Juliana Pavilion has entered a completely new chapter. Following a major renovation, it became the permanent home of Keukenhof’s spectacular orchid exhibition in 2026. For returning visitors this is an important change: for many years the orchid show was associated with the Beatrix Pavilion.
The move was not simply a change of building. The renovated Juliana Pavilion was designed around a broader visitor experience in which flowers, storytelling and hospitality come together.
Discover the world of orchids
Orchids are very different from the spring bulbs that dominate Keukenhof’s outdoor gardens. Their flowers range from delicate and understated to dramatic and architectural, with remarkable patterns, colours and structures.
The exhibition invites visitors to look at orchids in much more detail than they might at home or in a flower shop. Instead of seeing one plant on a windowsill, you can compare many varieties and understand how extraordinarily diverse this plant family is.
Five themes in the orchid exhibition
The renewed show was developed around five themes: habitats, cultivation and trade, culture, anatomy and seduction.
These themes turn the exhibition into more than a collection of attractive plants. They help explain where orchids come from, how they are cultivated, how their flowers are constructed and why pollination has produced such unusual forms.
Habitats
Orchids occur in many environments and have evolved highly specialised ways of surviving. The habitat theme gives context to the plants and encourages visitors to think about the natural world behind the display.
Cultivation and trade
The Netherlands is a major international centre for professional horticulture. Modern orchid production brings together breeding, specialist cultivation, logistics and international trade. This part of the exhibition connects the flowers with the industry behind them.
Anatomy and seduction
Look closely at the symmetry, central structures, patterns and shapes of individual flowers. Many orchid characteristics are linked to highly specialised relationships with pollinators. That makes the question “why does this flower look like this?” almost as interesting as “which one is the most beautiful?”
Why the Juliana Pavilion feels different
Outdoors, Keukenhof is often about scale: wide beds, long sightlines and masses of colour. Inside Juliana, the experience becomes more intimate. A single flower can be the focus of attention.
This makes the pavilion particularly rewarding for visitors interested in botany, floral design and close-up photography.
Photography tips for orchids
Try photographing one flower against a softer background, repeating blooms along a stem, unusual markings or the central structure of an orchid. Move slowly and look at the same plant from several angles; the most interesting composition is not always the first one you see.
The renewed Juliana Pavilion
The Juliana Pavilion has had several roles over the years, including historical exhibitions. Its transformation into the permanent orchid venue is therefore a significant new chapter. In the 2026 season, the new orchid show attracted more than half a million visitors, underlining how important the pavilion has become within the modern Keukenhof experience.
Juliana versus the other flower pavilions
The Willem-Alexander Pavilion is best for visitors who want to see huge numbers of tulips and other bulb flowers together. The Oranje Nassau Pavilion is known for changing professional flower shows. Juliana has the clearest specialist identity: orchids.
Together they demonstrate why Keukenhof should not be seen only as an outdoor tulip garden.
Why is it called the Juliana Pavilion?
The Juliana Pavilion has one of the clearest documented royal stories at Keukenhof. Queen Juliana was patron of the flower exhibition from its first public season in 1950 and visited Keukenhof many times.
In 1974, during Keukenhof’s 25th edition, Queen Juliana performed the official opening and inaugurated a new pavilion that was named in her honour. The building’s name therefore preserves a direct part of Keukenhof history.
Juliana was Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 to 1980 and was the mother of Beatrix and grandmother of King Willem-Alexander.
Food & drinks at the Juliana Pavilion
Orchid Foodbar
The Orchid Foodbar complements the orchid exhibition with Asian-inspired flavours and quick or substantial meal options.
- Asian-inspired sandwiches and wraps
- Green curry or tomato-lentil soup
- Poké-style bowl and katsu chicken salad
- Street-food choices such as bao bun and gyoza
- Signature dishes including vegan rendang and chicken tikka
- Drinks, coffee and sweet options
The restaurant is scheduled to open daily from 11:00 to 18:00. Where a coffee corner is available, it generally operates from 08:00 to 18:45. Keukenhof itself is open from 08:00 to 19:00 during the 2027 season, 18 March to 9 May.
Important for returning visitors: the orchid show moved from Beatrix to Juliana in 2026. Older guides may still point you to the former location.
Facilities at and around the pavilion
- Seating: indoor and outdoor seating is available.
- Takeaway: food or drinks to go are available, depending on the counter and time of day.
- Free Wi-Fi: available in Keukenhof’s pavilions.
- Cashless payments: restaurants accept debit and credit cards rather than cash.
- Allergen information: ask restaurant staff if you need help with ingredients or allergens.
- Baby facilities: Keukenhof restaurants have high chairs and staff can warm baby food; changing pads are available in ladies’ and men’s toilets around the park.
- Accessibility: Keukenhof’s main routes are paved and the pavilions form part of the accessible visitor route. Busy periods may require extra time.
- Toilets: use the Keukenhof map to find the closest toilet facilities to your current pavilion.
For the easiest route between pavilions, restaurants, toilets and other attractions, use our Keukenhof map and facilities guide.
Visiting in 2027
Keukenhof is scheduled to open from 18 March to 9 May 2027, daily from 08:00 to 19:00. The entrance closes at 18:15. Flower displays, menus and individual show programmes can change during the season, so use the pavilion as part of a flexible route rather than planning every minute in advance.
