Keukenhof Animal Meadow: the “Petting Zoo” Explained

What is the Keukenhof Animal Meadow?

The Animal Meadow is one of Keukenhof's dedicated family facilities. A day at Keukenhof naturally involves a lot of walking, flowers, photography and pavilion visits. For children, an animal stop creates a completely different moment in the day and can help break up a long route through the gardens.

Keukenhof itself highlights the Animal Meadow alongside the playgrounds, maze, scavenger hunt and stepping stones as part of the park's children's programme. That makes it especially useful for families who want their visit to feel like more than a flower exhibition.

The official English name is Animal Meadow. You may also come across the terms animal pasture, petting zoo, dierenweide or kinderboerderij when reading about Keukenhof. They all refer to the family animal area, but “petting zoo” can create the wrong expectation because visitors are not allowed inside the meadow.

Can you pet or feed the animals?

This is useful to know before promising young children a “petting zoo”. A better way to describe the stop is: an animal meadow where you can see animals up close from the visitor side of the enclosure.

Keukenhof does not publish a guaranteed species list for the 2027 meadow on its current visitor page. Because animals can change from season to season, we recommend treating the animals you see on the day as part of the experience rather than travelling to Keukenhof for one specific species.

Is the Animal Meadow good for young children?

Yes, especially as a short break between garden areas. Young children often enjoy having several different types of activity during a long attraction day. Flowers may be the main reason adults visit Keukenhof, while children can alternate between walking, looking at animals, playing, completing the scavenger hunt and stopping for something to eat.

The Animal Meadow works particularly well for toddlers and primary-school-age children because it does not require a long activity or fixed start time. You can simply include it when your route takes you nearby.

For families with very young children, the broader park is also practical: Keukenhof says the wide paved paths are suitable for strollers, restaurants have high chairs, staff in restaurants can warm baby food, and changing pads are available in both women's and men's toilets. Strollers are not available to rent inside the park, so bring your own if you need one.

How much time should you allow?

There is no official visit duration for the Animal Meadow. As a planning guide, many families can treat it as a 10–20 minute stop. Children who are fascinated by animals may naturally want longer, while others will be ready to continue after a few minutes.

The important point is not to schedule it too tightly. Keukenhof's average visit is around three hours, but families can easily need longer once playground time, toilet breaks, food and children's activities are included. If the playground and Animal Meadow are priorities, a relaxed visit of several hours is usually much more comfortable than trying to rush through the park.

Read our full guide to how long you need at Keukenhof for sample visit lengths.

Combine the Animal Meadow with the playground

The strongest family plan is not to visit the Animal Meadow on its own, but to combine it with Keukenhof's other children's activities. The park has a Miffy (Nijntje) playground for little ones and a separate playground for older children. Keukenhof describes the playground as a place to climb, slide and scramble.

That gives parents an easy rhythm: walk through the flower gardens, stop at the Animal Meadow, give children time in the playground, then continue to a pavilion or food stop. It can make a long spring day feel much more balanced.

Read the complete Keukenhof playground guide →

Other things to do at Keukenhof with children

Children can also use the stepping stones across the water. These small activities are valuable because they turn the visit into a sequence of discoveries instead of asking children to spend several uninterrupted hours looking at flowers.

Where is the Animal Meadow?

The easiest way to locate the Animal Meadow during your visit is to use the current Keukenhof map. Family facilities are marked on the park plan, and the map also helps you combine the animal stop with toilets, food, pavilions and the playground.

Open our Keukenhof map & facilities guide →

Opening dates and hours in 2027

The Animal Meadow's official page lists the same 2027 opening period and daily hours as Keukenhof. As with outdoor facilities, actual viewing conditions can be affected by weather, maintenance or operational decisions on the day.

Tips for visiting the Animal Meadow with children

• Do not oversell it as a hands-on petting zoo. Explain that you will be watching the animals rather than entering their enclosure.
• Use it as a break in the garden route. It works best between longer flower or pavilion sections.
• Combine it with the playground. Children can then move from a quiet animal stop to more active climbing and play.
• Bring your own stroller. Keukenhof says strollers cannot be rented in the park.
• Plan toilet and food stops. Use the park map and our Keukenhof food guide rather than waiting until children are already tired or hungry.
• Avoid scooters and skates. Keukenhof asks visitors not to bring them because the park can be busy.
• Allow extra time on busy days. Family activities, queues and walking with young children can make a visit longer than the three-hour average.

Is the Animal Meadow worth adding to your route?

For adults visiting only for tulips and photography, it is optional. For families with children, it is one of the easiest extra stops to include because it requires no separate booking and gives children something completely different to look at.

The best expectation is a pleasant family viewing area, not a destination farm attraction. If you build it into a route with the playground, maze, food and flower gardens, it helps make Keukenhof a more varied family day.

Frequently asked questions