Set amid tulip fields just outside Amsterdam, the world-famous Keukenhof gardens opened in the spring, welcoming camera-wielding guests to its increasingly selfie-friendly grounds.
On a sunny day, the paths, park benches and cafes are filled with tourists taking photos and selfies with one of the most famous products of the Netherlands – the tulip.
It was precisely these photos, posted on social media, that caught the attention of Austrian lawyer Daniel Magnus.
“Whenever you see photographs taken by an influencer, you do something with them,” Mr. Magnus told The Associated Press.
“You get new experiences from new places, traditions, people, etc. You want to be there too.”
Mr Magnus had just finished taking his own photos on a small boat set up in one of the park's canals so visitors could take their own Instagram shots.
Staff plant and care for seven million flower bulbs to ensure visitors from around the world can enjoy a vibrant spectacle during the garden's just eight weeks of opening.
In recent years, the garden has increasingly catered to the public's demand for social media content and created spaces where guests are encouraged to pose.
Selfie spots include floral arches, pink velvet sofas and another Dutch classic: giant wooden clogs.
Keukenhof Park's own social media channels offer recommendations for the best spots, and the Dutch tourist board even offers tips on how to take the perfect tulip selfie.
“Bring your image to life and position the subject of the photo slightly off-center. This will make your photo more dynamic,” says the Dutch Tourist and Convention Board.
The more than one million expected visitors to the Keukenhof gardens need little persuasion to take photos among the tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and a host of other flowers.
Flowers are carefully planted by hand on manicured lawns by a small army of gardeners.
“There's always something blooming there. I think that's why everyone is happy. There's always something to look at,” gardener Patrick van Dijk told the AP.
But not everyone is happy with tourists taking photos.
Some growers have erected signs and fences to prevent upstarts from trampling tulips in nearby fields.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
