Lisse Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Lisse

Heereweg through Lisse

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in South Holland

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

16.05 km² (6.20 sq mi)

• Land

15.69 km² (6.06 sq mi)

• Water

0.36 km² (0.14 sq mi)

Elevation

1 m (3 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

22,400

• Density

1,428/km² (3,700/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Lissenaar, Lissenees or Lisser

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

2160–2163

Area code

0252

Lisse is a town and municipality in the province of South Holland. This area is in the western part of the Netherlands. Lisse is famous for its beautiful flower fields.

The municipality covers about 16.05 km² (6.20 sq mi) of land and water. In 2014, about 22,400 people lived there. The small community of De Engel is also part of Lisse.

History of Lisse
- Early Times
- How Lisse Grew
Lisse: The Flower Centre
Fun Things to See and Do
Sports in Lisse
Famous People from Lisse
Images for kids
See also

History of Lisse

Early Times

Topographic map of Lisse, 2015

The history of Lisse is much like its nearby towns, Hillegom and Sassenheim. Lisse officially celebrated its 800th birthday in 1998. This was based on a document from 1198 that first mentioned the town's name. However, people think a settlement might have been there even earlier, around the 10th century.

In the Middle Ages, Lisse was a very small place. By the year 1500, there were only about 50 houses. People faced a lot of hardship due to long wars. The villagers made a living from farming, raising animals, and digging up peat (a type of fuel).

How Lisse Grew

In the 1600s and 1700s, many rich merchants and nobles built large estates in Lisse. These estates had beautiful forests and gardens. Some famous ones included Keukenhof, Meerenburg, and Wildlust. They made the town look very grand.

But over time, almost all these estates were removed. This happened to make space for growing flower bulbs. The sandy soil around Lisse was perfect for flowers, especially with added fertilizer. People even dug up nearby dunes and cut down forests. This created more fields for the flower business. This change brought many jobs and wealth to the area.

Lisse: The Flower Centre

In the 20th century, the flower bulb business grew even more. This led to the creation of flower auctions and trading companies. Large farms and groups of growers also formed. Today, Lisse sends its beautiful bulb flowers to over 100 countries worldwide.

Lisse is in the middle of the "Dune and Bulb Region." This is Holland's main flower-growing area. Because of this, Lisse is a very popular place for tourists. Every spring, the fields around Lisse burst into colorful bloom. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to see them. Keukenhof, the only estate that remained, is now world-famous for its amazing flower displays.

Fun Things to See and Do

The most famous place to visit in Lisse is Keukenhof. It is only open in spring when the tulips and other flowers are blooming.

Every spring, a big flower parade called the Bollenstreek Bloemencorso goes through Lisse's main streets. It's a parade of floats decorated with flowers.
In August, a fantasy festival called Castlefest takes place. It is held in the gardens of Castle Keukenhof.

Other interesting places to visit include:

Huys Dever: This is a castle tower from the 14th century that has been restored.
Castle Keukenhof: This castle is part of the Keukenhof estate. You can visit it all year round.
Museum De Zwarte Tulp: Also known as the Black Tulip Museum. It shows the history of how the Dutch grew flower bulbs.

Sports in Lisse

Lisse is home to FC Lisse, a local football team. They play in the Zaterdag Topklasse league. In 2008, FC Lisse won the championship for their league season.

Famous People from Lisse

Abraham Rademaker (1677–1735), a Dutch painter and printmaker.
Joseph Smit (1836–1929), a Dutch artist who drew animals.
Wander Johannes de Haas (1878–1960), a Dutch physicist and mathematician. He is known for the Einstein–de Haas effect.
Jacob Veldhuyzen van Zanten (1927–1977), a Dutch aircraft captain.
Egbert van 't Oever (1927–2001), a Dutch speed skater who competed in the Olympics.
Adrianus Johannes Simonis (1931–2020), a cardinal and former Archbishop of Utrecht.
Jenny Arean (born 1942), a Dutch singer, actress, and comedian.
Harry Mens (born 1947), a Dutch real estate agent and TV presenter.
Bram Moolenaar (1961–2023), a Dutch computer programmer who created Vim.
Marco Vermey (born 1965), a Dutch former professional racing cyclist.
Hans Kroes (born 1965), a Dutch swimmer who competed in the Olympics.
Gert-Jan Segers (born 1969), a Dutch political scientist and politician.
Bastiaan Ragas (born 1971), a Dutch actor and singer.