tulip fields amsterdam tour

9 Best Tulip Tours From Amsterdam To See Tulip Fields in 2024

There are many ways to get the ultimate experience Amsterdam, so I sum up all the best tulip trip from Amsterdam!

Table of Contents

Best Tulip Tours In Amsterdam

The best place to visit famous tulips is not in Amsterdam but in Lisse.

It is not easy to get there if you take public transportation, but don’t worry, the tulip garden Keukenhof has worked with some travel companies offering tours to catch the beautiful flowers!

Top-Rated Tulip Day Tour From Amsterdam

Join a day tour that includes tulips, windmills, and more!

Day Trip From Amsterdam To The Tulip Garden, Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans, Cheese Factory, And Windmills

Want a quality day trip to famous Keukenhof, visit the historical windmills, see the famous views, and join the clogs wooden shoe workshop in Zaanse Schans in a small group?

This affordable small guided tour has a maximum of 16 guests. It comprises a windmill, a cheese factory, Clogs Wooden Shoe, and a tulip garden Keukenhof.

The meet-up point is a 5-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station. First, you visit Zaanse Schans, where the guide explains the area’s history, and you have time to take photos with the nice view and join the Clogs Wooden Shoe workshop.

The next stop is to visit the cheese factory, so you know the history of Gouda cheese and try the different kinds of local cheeses, then head to the windmills. Afterward, you visit Keukenhof to end your day.

You can see beautiful cities and famous attractions at an affordable price in one day!

Keukenhof Tulips Garden & Giethoorn Day Tour From Amsterdam

If you want a day trip to experience the authentic Dutch village after Keukenhof, sign up for this tour!

The tour begins at IBIS Amsterdam Centre, less than a 5-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station.

Besides Keukenhof, the tour takes you to the renowned Dutch village, Giethoorn, known as the “Venice of North.” Public transportation takes around 2 hours from Amsterdam to Giethoorn, so it is very time-efficient to join a tour.

You have two hours to explore Giethoorn, including a 1-hour guided boat tour. The boat trip was the best experience in Giethoorn; you can imagine yourself living there while taking the boat trip.

Day Trip Excursion To Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans And Volendam

If you want a smaller guided tour, this tour is for you.

This guided private trip only consists of 8 guests at maximum. You will get the attention and support you need from the guide.

This tour starts from This is Holland, where you can take the 3-minute free ferry from Amsterdam Central Station. First, you visit and take nice pictures at Keukenhof, then head to Zaanse Schans, where you can see eight historic windmills, taste the locally-made cheese, and try on some classic wooden clogs!

The last stop is at Volendam, the old local fishing village village. You can try local food, like Smoked Eel, Stroll through the Historic Village, and experience the fish village vibe.

Join the tour if you want to visit different cities in one day!

Day Trip From Amsterdam To See Tulips At Keukenhof, Tulip Farm visit, And Windmill Cruise

Want a day tour that spends more time with the tulips? Get an insider look at the tulip business life? Pick this tour!

The meeting place is near This Is Holland, 3 minutes away by free ferry from Amsterdam Central Station.

Your day trip starts at the tulip farm, De Tulperij, where you can understand the tulip industry and the tulip stories in the Netherlands.

At De Tulperij, you will take many pictures at the bulb fields. Besides, the third-generation tulip farmers, Mr. Daan and Mrs. Anja, guide you through the tulip areas to learn everything about how these flowers are grown and the behind-the-scenes of the tulip industry.

Next, you will be guided to the Keukenhof and take a relaxing boat trip to see spectacular views of the passing scenery, including beautiful bulb fields, traditional windmills, and authentic Dutch villages.

This is the best tour to get all the ins and outs of the tulip season!

One-Day Excursion To Keukenhof, Tulip Fields, And Delft from Amsterdam

If you’ve been to Zaanse Schans and Volendam or would like to explore cities like Delft, hop on this tour.

Delft is another must-visit city known for iconic Delftware, and it is also where the famous artist Vermeer is from!

The private tulip tour departs at NH Hotel Amsterdam Barbizon Palace, less than a 5-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station to the garden, Keukenhof.

After visiting Keukenhof, you have 30 minutes to take pictures in the fields with the tulips. Afterward, it is time for Delft.

In Delft, you visit Delft Blue Pottery Factory for the workshop to learn about Dutch handcraft tradition . Also, you will have a chance to explore the city with a guided walking tour.

Delft is my favorite city besides Amsterdam. Delft is also a canal city but much more relaxing, so you can enjoy the local vibe here.

Helicopter Ride To See The Tulips Area

Want to have the tulip experience that you will never forget? Join this exclusive helicopter ride to see the Dutch tulips.

You will see the colorful tulip fields and much more than that!

This tour takes you into the sky to see the colorful flower fields, Dutch homes, towns, farms, windmills, and coastlines, and enjoy the unique sand dunes from above!

Discover the tulips and the Dutch sceneries with a helicopter flying experience!

Electric Vehicle Self-Guided Tour With GPS To See The Tulip Fields And The Beach

If you want more flexibility on your tulip trip, rent an electric car!

The car has a GPS guide, so you can explore the tulip fields and won’t get lost!

Perfect for travel solo, couple travel, or if you travel with your kid! As long as you have held a driver’s license for at least 3 years!

Cycling In The Iconic Tulip Fields Near Tulip Garden Keukenhof

Have you ever imagined taking pictures of yourself in the tulip field?

One of the best ways to do so is by joining a tulip bike tour, where a local travel guide shows you the best places to appreciate the tulips and take Instagram-worthy pictures or videos!

If you want to challenge yourself even more, join this small but affordable guided tour , where the guide takes you on a train and bike tour from Amsterdam to Keukenhof.

Landover Tulip Tour

If you want a more comfortable ride without a thrilling helicopter ride or cycling yourself, join the Landover Tulip tour!

In this 2.5-hour small guided tour, the expert guide takes you to the tulip fields on a jeep; you don’t need to do anything. The guide shows you to the fields, castle, and the De Tulperij tulip farm.

You will see more than just the flowers, but take a deep dive into the tulip industry at the tulip farm, De Tulperij.

Is Keukenhof Worth Visiting?

Yes, definitely.

You can see all kinds of tulips inside the tulip garden, the advanced gardening styles and other traditional performances. What I love about Keukenhof the most is that you can take many pictures in the garden.

If you have time, you can join some tulip field tours after visiting Keukenhof . Hence, you get the ultimate tulip experience in the Netherlands.

When Is The Best Time To Visit The Keukenhof Tulip Garden?

The tulip season is usually from mid-March to early May, depending on the weather.

You can always see lovely and blossom tulips inside the tulip garden, Keukenhof; for the tulip field near the tulip garden, the best time to visit the tulip field is in mid-April.

How Much Time Is Enough For Keukenhof?

You can decide how many hours you want to stay at Keukenhof, but for most people, you can see the best part of the garden within two hours; if you plan to see all the flowers in the park and enjoy your time there, it can take four hours.

I went there with some friends, it took us around three hours since my friends and I really enjoyed time at our own pace and also had lunch there.

Read my Keukenhof Garden Tips and things to do near Keukenhof , so you know to make your trip better!

Do You Need To Book Tulip Garden Keukenhof Tickets In Advance?

The tulip season attracts millions of tourists worldwide each year, so if you want to register your tickets early. If you are more interested in the tulip tours, reserving the spots beforehand is also recommended.

Besides the tulip tour, there are also some tickets you need to book in advance for the trip to Amsterdam in April .

How Do I Get The Ultimate Tulip Experience For My Trip In Amsterdam?

First, BOOK YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE!

There are millions of visitors each year to see the renowned Dutch tulips.

If your trip to Amsterdam is planned, book the tickets now so you won’t miss any fun tours and get your perfect tulip day!

I strongly recommend pre-book your tickets for upcoming Amsterdam trip in April .

Can I Bring The Tulip Bulbs Back To the US, UK, Or My Home Country?

Buying tulip bulbs at the airport is recommended since these bulbs usually have a certificate of inspection for the US/UK on the box. Please make sure you see the certification before paying.

Is It Needed To Stay Close To Keukenhof?

No. Keukenhof is in Lisse, but there’s no need to live close to it since it is very accessible by public transportation.

Suppose you want affordable accommodation with excellent access to public transportation. In that case, I recommend hotels in Amsterdam , like Hotel2stay , Meininger Hotel Sloterdijk , and Inntel Hotel .

Tulip Sightseeing Tours Near Amsterdam Conclusion

If you want to fully immerse yourself in Dutch tulips, join this tour , which includes visits to the tulip garden and the tulip farm on the same day. If you wish to combine your Keukenhof visit with the world-famous Giethoorn, check out this tour .

If you’ve planned your trip to Giethoorn but have yet to visit the famous windmill area, Zaanse Schans, and the Dutch fisherman’s village, Volendam, this tour is one of the most popular tours in the dutch tulip season. Reserve your spots before it’s sold out.

The Ultimate Guide to See the Tulip Fields in 2024

Last Updated: February 29, 2024
Events , To Do

For us, it’s a yearly tradition to visit Keukenhof because we’re Dutchies; we love tulips! Keukenhof is open from March 21st to May 12th . In addition to visiting Keukenhof, we’ve also curated a route along the tulip fields in the nearby area. We’ve listed transportation options and fun activities, such as a bike route and you can even take a helicopter ride over the tulip fields!

When is the Best Time to Visit Keukenhof?

The best time to visit Keukenhof is during the spring season, typically from mid-March to mid-May. However, the peak bloom of tulips in Keukenhof usually occurs in mid-April . Visiting during this period ensures you witness the stunning display of tulips in full bloom.

How Do I Get to Keukenhof from Amsterdam?

You can easily reach Keukenhof from Amsterdam by joining organized tours that offer transportation to and from Keukenhof. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes, providing a convenient and efficient way to access the gardens.

Another option is to take a direct bus from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol or go there by car.

Do I Need to Book in Advance?

We highly recommend booking in advance if you plan to visit Keukenhof. It’s extremely popular, given its limited availability for only a few weeks each year. Visitors from around the world come to experience its beauty.

The flower fields surrounding Keukenhof in small towns like Lisse, Hillegom and Noordwijk are free to visit and do not require a booking.

Can I visit Keukenhof and the Tulip Fields on a Day Trip?

Yes, it is entirely possible to visit Keukenhof and explore the tulip fields in a day trip. Many visitors choose to start their day at Keukenhof Gardens and then venture into the nearby tulip fields. Efficient planning and transportation options make it feasible to experience both attractions in one day.

Are There Guided Tours Available for Keukenhof and Tulip Fields?

Yes, there are various guided tours available for Keukenhof and the surrounding tulip fields. These tours often include transportation, an informative guide and sometimes exclusive access to certain areas. Joining a guided tour can enhance your experience and provide valuable insights into the region’s floral beauty.

We highly recommend the guided Keukenhof & Tulip Experience , which includes round-trip transportation from Amsterdam Central Station, entrance to Keukenhof, a guided tour of Keukenhof, admission to the Tulip Experience, as well as coffee and tea.

Couple on a guided tour at the Keukenhof

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1 million tulips, 700 varieties

Discover the magic of the tulip, show garden, immerse yourself in a sea of colours and step into our tulip heaven.

Enjoy our beautiful selfie/show garden that features a whopping 1 million tulips (700 different varieties).

Capture the ultimate photo amid the array of colours or from the special photo opportunity points. All the tulips are from our own nursery.

Blooming Update: the late-flowering tulips in our show garden are blooming. For current information on blooming, check our Instagram page .

Note: Keep in mind that our show garden blooms in phases and depends on nature. However, with 700 varieties in our show garden, our indoor tulip show and indoor picking garden, there are always tulips blooming!

Our Mission

Tulip Experience Amsterdam was established in late 2019, partly in response to growing tourism in the Flower Bulb Region and increasing pressure on the bulb fields (the production fields).

The Tulip Experience informs visitors about the hard work performed by bulb growers, providing the opportunity to take amazing photos without damaging the precious production fields in the Flower Bulb Region.

Where the History and Cultivation Process of the Tulip come to Life

Our museum takes you on a journey around the world.

From the tulip’s discovery in Kazakhstan around the year 1000 to its current status as a Dutch icon. You will learn everything about the tulip and can interactively explore the bulb cultivation cycle with the aid of new machines and historic objects (pre-1950).

You can also take an audio tour of our museum, which is available in 9 languages .

Indoor Picking Garden

Pick your own bunch of tulips.

You can pick your own bunch of tulips at the indoor picking garden (included in the ticket price), so you can take home a colourful memento of your visit!

But there is so much more to see and do at the Tulip Experience!

From a cinema and a farmers’ market to (art) exhibitions about the tulip and the Flower Bulb Region... experience it all at Tulip Experience Amsterdam!

Whether you crave a cup of coffee, a tasty lunch or simply want to sample typical Dutch treats. Our charming coffee corner 'De Witte Zwaan' has you covered, allowing you to enjoy your treat with a view of our enchanting show garden.

Score the cutest tulip souvenirs at our farmers’ market: from keychains and bags to mugs and magnets and from (hand made) local products to summer-flowering bulbs.

Watch a short film that brings the unique history of tulip cultivation before 1950 to life in our historic cinema!

Our adventurous scavenger hunt helps children discover the magical world of tulips, making a visit to the Tulip Experience, educational, as well as fun!

Explore our four beautiful art exhibitions including the ‘Bloemencorso Bollenstreek Collection', 'ninety-nine tulips', works by local artists as well as insights from Old Masters.

We have a spacious parking lot with 150 spaces for cars and 7 spaces for coaches or camper vans. Parking is free and only permitted during your visit. No reservation required.

Experiences from our guests

Experience it for yourself and tag #tulipexperienceamsterdam on Instagram!

Celebrate Easter at Tulip Experience Amsterdam! The Easter Bunny has hidden eggs among our 700 tulip varieties. How many can you find this weekend?

The Tulip Fairy will once again be bringing her magic to Tulip Experience Amsterdam this year. Take a photo with her and ask her anything you want to know about the fascinating tulip. An enchanting weekend!

Come and join in the fun this weekend; we have flowers and beautiful objects ready to be decorated in our show garden. Unleash your creativity!

Celebrate King's Day and kick off the May holidays at Tulip Experience Amsterdam! Discover our colourful tulips, enjoy the festivities and have a royal start to the holidays in our enchanting show garden.

The Tulip Fairy will enchant Tulip Experience Amsterdam again this weekend. Celebrate Liberation Day, then meet and take gorgeous photos with the Netherlands’ biggest icon!

Tulips and Mother's Day go perfectly together! During the final weekend of this season, every mother will receive a nice discount on their admission ticket.

Visit us at Tulip Experience Amsterdam!

Tulip Experience Amsterdam is a must-see Tulip attraction for anyone visiting the Netherlands. Book your tickets here for an unforgettable spring experience.

Our 2024 Guide to

Tulip fields near amsterdam.

In 2023 Barack Obama chose us to show him Dutch tulip fields and we can do the same for you in 2024. However, if you think no, I’ll see them on my own then you might want to read this guide!

Spoiler alert, though. You’ll need your own car. If you don’t have one and will be travelling to Keukenhof by bus, then you might want to check out our:

six American in a flower field outside of Amsterdam

About this guide to tulip fields

We’ve been doing tulip tours from Amsterdam since 2015. In that time we’ve met a lot of guests, and we’ve found that the range of knowledge they have of about Dutch tulips and tulip fields ranges quite considerably… Okay, that was a bit diplomatic. Most people don’t know that much, and that’s okay – you’re not from here.

We’ve put together this guide to help people get a better understanding of how they can see Dutch tulip fields when they come to Amsterdam. The internet is full of people selling you things and the tourism industry is no different. Of course, wed love you to come on one of tours, but regardless we think there is a need for an honest and hype-free guide. Also, it’s short and to-the-point.

Here it is. We’ve broken this guide down into a series of questions that a visitor might ask, starting at the most basic and getting more specific as we go. We hope you find it helpful.

Rory, Amsterdam Tulips Tour

When will the tulip fields be in bloom?

We can’t say for sure, but generally mid to late April, and usually the very early bit of May.

In an average year, tulips bloom in mid to late April. The fields stay in bloom for two to three weeks before the farmers cut them. Additionally, there are man different varieties of tulips and some bloom earlier or later. This means there is generally about a five week spread when you can see tulip fields in bloom.

However, bang in the middle of that five week spread is when you’ll see the greatest density. At the outer end of the window you have to really know where to look to find a field. If you have the benefit of planning your holiday, then targetting April 20 or the few days after it is the safest policy.

However , there are also hyacinth fields and these flowers bloom a couple of weeks earlier. Hyacinth fields are just as spectacular as tulip fields!

Are there tulip fields in Amsterdam?

No. There are no tulip fields in Amsterdam.

Luckily, the Netherlands is a very small country so you are not actually that far away from tulip fields, but won’t see any in the Amsterdam itself.

The area in and around Keukenhof / Lisse, circa 35km south-west of Amsterdam.
The Beemster, Alkmaar, & West-Friesland regions of Noord Holland (to the north of Amsterdam). Beemster is 35km away.
Flevoland, to the east of Amsterdam, circa 40km away.
There are other spots too, but these are the main ones and the ones closest to Amsterdam.

Okay, but there are tulip fields in Keukenhof, right?

Actually, no.

Many people assume that Keukenhof has tulip fields, but it doesn’t. It’s a set of beautifully manicured gardens, but no tulip fields. The gardens do look out onto one flower field, but you are at quite a remove from it and you have to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other visitors.

However, the area surrounding Keukenhof is full of tulip and hyacinth farms. It’s incredibly picturesque in Spring, however these are not accessible by foot. Neither are they sign-posted. If you’re the type who doesn’t mind venturing down a little backroad, and you have a car, then you’ll almost certainly happen upon some.

Does this mean I need to have a car to visit a tulip field?

Yes… (Or take one of our tours!).

Our Tulips Field from Keukenhof Tour was designed for people already travelling to Keukenhof by bus.

Our Keukenhof & Tulips Tour from Amsterdam incudes transport to Keukenhof and a tour of the surrounding flower field area.

Our Off-The-Beaten-Track Tour whisks you to the tulip fields north of Amsterdam and away from the crowds of Keukenhof.

In general, mass tourism hasn’t cuaght hold of tulip fields yet. We hope that it stays that way. There are likely a few other independent companies or individual guides who offer a similar service to us. If you find them on Get Your Guide or Viator please try to find their actual websites to book – those big companies take a rather large commission.

Okay, enough about your tours - I have a car and I'm going to Keukenhof anyway, how do I see tulip fields?

Ooh. Someone’s a bit touchy, but okay! It’s actually quite straightforward:

The flower field growing area around Keukenhof extends beyond the details provided here, but let’s keep it straightforward. Head to Keukenhof, then explore the backroads nearby. That might feel like a terrible plan and one ripe for an argument in the car, but it’s the only way to do it.

The specific fields rotate from year to year and they don’t all bloom at the same time. Plus, if we gave actual coordinates then that one field would get too busy and it would defeat the exercise.

However, the area is so dense with flower fields in April that if you veer down backroads you will stumble upon some. We do recommend staying west of the N208 as the concentration is higher on that side of the road.

For instance, if you’re at Keukenhof, input the nearby town of Hillegom into your navigator. Opt for the backroads instead of the N208 (the yellow road in the picture, the main connector). This is safer for stops, as backroads are more conducive than main roads.

Apply a similar approach for the neighboring towns of De Zilk, Vogelenzang, and Noordwijkerhout. Enjoy your scenic drive!

Also: don’t worry about getting lost when you travel down backroads! It’s a very small country, and you’re never too far from a bigger road. As long as you have GPS you’ll be fine.

Right, I have a car but I'd like to avoid the crowds of Keukenhof. Now what?

Travel north to the Beemster!

This where our Off-The-Beaten-Track Tour goes to. We can’t give you that route as it’s too much off the beaten track and you’d get lost! So simply, enter Middenbeemster into your navigator and take the main freeway.

Once you reach Middenbeemster, you should then enter the nearby towns of Noordbeemster and Westbeemster into your navigator (the Dutch aren’t overly exuberant with place names!) and then travel the backroads in between.

This roads of this region are actually laid out in a grid formation (it used be a lake and was drained by windmills in the 1600s), so the backroads are all straight.

You will find tulip fields along these roads.

There is also a nearby windmill which is open to the public so that is nice to add as a sightseeing stop: Noordervaart 2, 1636 VL Schermerhorn. Museummolen .

Other Northern Options For Tulip Fields

Yes, but it’s a bit more complicated!

Just like the area around Keukenhof, the area to the tulip fields area to the north of Amsterdam is (much) more extensive than the above text details. We mainly go to the Beemster and Keukenhof / Lisse, so we’re not as intimately familiar with how to find the flower fields in the following areas or towns. But in case you feel like Googling a bit more, the following can be good places to start: Anna Paulowna, Alkmaar, Zwaagdijk West and Zwaagdijk Oost.

What about Flevoland? (To the east)

Sure, but it’s not our forte so we won’t give specifics about how to find tulip fields there.

However, Flevoland is a new region -it was literally created in the 1950s and 60s. At the risk of offending its good citizens, in general we find it less interesting and historic than the Beemster and the region around Keukenhof. So, we’ve never been tempted to bring guests there. However, we imagine that its tulip fields (like the Beemster’s) are generally free of visitors.

What about bikes at Keukenhof? Will that do the trick?

A little bit.

You can rent bikes in the Keukenhof parking area to explore the surrounding area (you can’t actually bring them in to the Gardens). They will give a little map too with some routes plotted. These will get you to tulip and hyacinth fields. The one problem is that these are the fields closest to Keukenhof and everyone gets the same map.

Our Tulips Fields From Keukenhof Tour competes a little bit this service. Maybe you like a minivan tour or maybe you prefer to get some exercise. The bike costs e16 for the day or e11 for three hours. More info here.

Okay! I found a tulips field. Now what?

Congratulations. You’re about to enter private property.

Any tulips or hyacinths field you find is private property. They’re real working farms with an actual (and FYI – the crop is the tulip bulb, not the flower) agricultural product. Most farmers don’t mind visitors to their fields – they understand the attraction. However, some farmers in the Keukenhof region, put a barrier, fence, or gate up around their fields. This means you’re not welcome.

Please exercise common sense when entering a flower field. And if you don’t have common sense, then the following applies:

Stay at the very end of the field
Don’t walk in betweent the rows of tulips. Most people can’t help but walk a metre or three in. This will probably be tolerated, but no more than that!
Definitely don’t pick any flowers
Definitely don’t trample or stand on the flowers
If you don’t take 1.5 million photos for Instagram, then it didn’t happen!

What's all this about hyacinth fields?

This is the big secret of Dutch tulip season!

There are also lots of hyacinth fields in the Netherlands and they bloom a bit earlier than tulips. They are absolutely as spectacular as tulip fields – and well, this might be a heresy but one could argue that they are more spectacular as hyacinths have a much stronger scent: When you step into a field of hyacinths on a sunny Spring day, it’s like stepping into an aromatherapy bath!

This means that if you’re in Amsterdam in early April and you’re a bit too early for tulips, you’re actually in time for hyacinths. And just in case you think, it’s hype from a tour business, here are some pictures of last year’s hyacinth field, which we visited early in the season:

4 tourists smiling in a flower field near Amsterdam

Amsterdamian is a lifestyle / photography blog focusing on Amsterdam and the Netherlands, expat life, nature, creative mojo, digital life and modern society trends. This is an invitation for you to join me in my journey, to get to know together the life, the people, the streets and all the hidden corners of this beautiful country — and then some more.

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Visit the Dutch Tulip Fields: a Complete Guide

Posted on Mar 15, 2021 by Dana Marin

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Tulips: the iconic flowers of the Netherlands , fascinated people since they were first introduced in the country, somewhere around the 16th century, and are still attracting millions of people nowadays, from all over the world. The Dutch tulip fields are a dream for every flower lover and every spring , during the tulip season, these fields are inundated with people trying to capture that beauty on camera and retina.

In the flower language, tulips symbolise perfect or deep love. Red tulips meaning is eternal love and passion. Pink tulips symbolise happiness and confidence. Purple tulips are a symbol of royalty. Yellow tulips symbolise cheerful thoughts. White tulips symbolise forgiveness (any Fringe series fans out there?).

Tulips are the third most popular flower in the world, with roses coming in first and chrysanthemums coming in second. And the Netherlands is the larger producer and exporter of tulips, so how could I not write an article about them?

Summary of this article:

1. Brief history of tulip mania and tulips in the Netherlands .

2. Where to see the tulips fields in the Netherlands?

3. How to get to the tulip fields?

4. Best time to see the tulip fields .

5. Tulip themed events and places in the Netherlands .

6. Tulips in Amsterdam .

Brief history of tulip mania and tulips in the Netherlands

Growing up, I was fascinated by our tulip garden. There were few types of tulips there, mainly the common yellow and red varieties that grew in every garden in our town. But we had a few bulbs of black tulips (which were actually a dark burgundy), and they were amazing and exotic, with a velvety texture and such a different colour. Even though tulips were not my favourite flowers (most probably because their lack of perfume), I admired their elegance and considered them like some kind of untouchable beauties that dominated the garden during their blooming season.

Only later I found out that there are over 3000 tulip varieties in the world and some of them so interesting that the yellow and red tulips from our garden suddenly seemed very humble in comparison. Some tulip varieties even have a wonderful scent, like the rosy green Tulipa Groenland.

When I first visited Keukenhof Park , I was mesmerised by the multitude of colours and shapes. How can a single flower have so many versions? I didn’t know where to look first: at the striped tulips, the purple or the ivory ones, the parrot tulips, the ice-cream-resembling ones? It was then when I understood why tulip mania ever took up. The tulips cast a spell on you the moment you set eyes on their beauty.

The tulip mania was a unique phenomenon that happened in the Netherlands when the tulip bulbs were first introduced in the country around 1593. Maybe you didn’t know, but tulips have not always adorned the gardens and fields of Europe. Tulip bulbs, together with other vegetables like potatoes and tomatoes, came to Europe in the 16th century (according to Wikipedia ). It is believed that the one who introduced the tulip to the Netherlands was the botanist Carolus Clusius, who established the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands – Hortus Botanicus – at the Leiden University and planted a few bulbs there. Differing from the flowers growing in Europe at that moment, through their intense colour, tulips quickly gained popularity and, because of their rarity, became a luxury item. The price of tulip bulbs skyrocketed. Wealthy people commissioned paintings of their most precious items in the household: tulips in the vase.

The most precious tulip was Semper Augustus , prized for its colour strikes, and it’s easy to understand why, when you see the paintings. But little did they know that a flower virus , which in time weakened the bulbs, caused those strikes. Because of this virus, Semper Augustus tulip doesn’t exist anymore.

During the tulip mania many people became rich from the tulip bulb trading, and many lost fortunes as well, when the speculative bubble burst. However, the tulip bulbs remained an important item in the Dutch economy and that’s why nowadays, every spring, the fields are covered in colourful blankets of flowers.

Few people know that those never-ending flower fields are not cultivated for their beautiful flowers , but for the bulbs. This is the reason why you can see the flowers left in the fields till when they are almost fading: they will never be sold as romantic bouquets in the shops. The farmers will cut the tulips when they reach the maximum bloom so that the plant can concentrate all the energy into the bulbs lying under the ground, which then will be sold and live their lives as colourful tulips all over the world.

There are about one million flowers on a hectare, and the bulb farmers are very busy during the blooming season, checking the flowers’ health every two weeks. It’s very important to spot any bulb that was affected by the tulip virus.

Where to see the tulips fields in the Netherlands?

There are tulip fields in different areas in the country, but some are more popular and therefore inundated by tourists every spring. The biggest concentration of bulb fields is found in the upper northern part of Noord Holland, roughly between Den Oever, Den Helder, Schagen and Medemblik. And while this article is about tulips, we need to mention here that there are also other types of flowers covering the Dutch fields. The season starts with crocuses and hyacinths, daffodils, followed by tulips, then peonies and allium, dahlias and canna in the summer.

Important note: entering the tulip fields is not permitted , because you can carry dangerous diseases for the bulbs. You are welcome to cycle, drive or walk next to the fields, but not enter the fields.

That is very hard to do, I know! Almost every person, when seeing the magnificent flower field in front of them, just wants to jump and swim in those tulip waves. The selfie temptation is very hard to resist, and having your Insta husband snapping just a few photos of you swirling among the petals seems harmless enough. Most of the photos you see on social media were taken while trespassing. Some farmers had to place fences at the entrance to their flower fields to avoid people entering and stamping on the flowers. So be polite when you visit the flower fields!

There are farms where you are allowed to enter and even have a photoshoot in the tulip fields , like De Tulperij and Fam Flower Farm , but if you visit a random field, is always best to check for permission before entering. Also, you can book a photographer that has a special agreement with the farmers for photo sessions in the tulips.

Tulip fields routes:

The most popular place to see the tulips (and the easiest to get to from Amsterdam) is the Bollenstreek (“Bulb region”). This area is located approximately between Leiden , Lisse and Haarlem . The fields of Lisse are right outside the Keukenhof park, so you can come here by bus or an organised tour, and see the neat displays of flowers from the park, and then head towards the surrounding fields to see the tulip crops. If you want to see the Bollenstreek fields by bike, you can rent a bike in Keukenhof or in Leiden (if you don’t want to visit the park). To plan your trip, you can use this map of the tulip fields in the Bollenstreek area . The map includes pictures of the different locations, updated every week from March to May so you can see what to expect when you get there, picture-worthy spots or hotels along the way (should you want to spend the night among the flower fields).
Flevoland is another area where tulip fields can be found, in the municipalities of Dronten, Lelystad, Zeewolde and Almere.
The area between Alkmaar, Heiloo and Egmond aan Zee . This is where I’ve seen them last year, and they were amazing!
Near Schagen and Schagerbrug , on the route to Sint Maartenszee – you can find the map here .
West Friesland . This area lies between Hoorn , Enkhuizen and Medemblik.

You can find more offbeat ways to explore the famous tulip fields here and here .

How to get to the tulip fields

There are many guided tours you can book if you don’t want to plan the trip yourself or if you worry about not finding the best fields. There are bike guides, electric cars tours, TukTuk flower tours and even helicopter tours to see the fields from above. You can look them up on Google and check if and how they operate during the Corona regulations.

If you want to plan the trip yourself, you can choose a region by using the maps I listed above and then decide on the transportation. You can either go there by car or scooter, or travel by train to a starting point (for example Leiden, Hoorn, Heiloo) and then cycle along the fields . You can bring your own bike in the train or rent a bike at the trains station. There are proper bike paths along all the routes (but pay attention to the possible scooter, tractor or horse riders) and they are safe to cycle even if you go alone. Bring water and something to nibble on along the way because it might be a while until you find a restaurant.

Best time to see the tulip fields

Tulips are classified as early and mid-season and they bloom in the Netherlands in late March and last till the first half of May, but the main blooming period is April . That’s when you can see the tulip fields in Holland at their best and also the best time to visit Keukenhof garden.

Tulip themed events and places in the Netherlands

The flower season culminates with a festive flower parade: Bloemencorso Bollenstreek (Bulb Flower Parade). The parade starts in Noordwijk and rides for 40 km till Haarlem, where it stops for one day in the main square. It’s an impressive view, if you can squeeze through the crowds. This year, unfortunately, the parade is again canceled because of Corona.
Keukenhof . This park, one of the most beautiful flower parks in Europe , attracts millions of visitors every year (at least it did, before Corona, and I’m sure it will, again, after we’re done with the pandemic). You’ll find some bloggers who recommend skipping the park and go see the tulips in the fields. Even though I understand their recommendation, I don’t agree with them. If a place is crowded, it doesn’t mean it’s less beautiful, and Keukenhof is impressive. Keukenhof is not about wild flowers; but, on the other hand, neither are the tulip fields (they are as neat as they come). Keukenhof park is all about carefully designed flower gardens, about showing off Dutch flower artistry, about tulips and many other flowers (e.g. there are orchids and lilies pavilions).
Museum de Zwarte Tulp . In Lisse you can visit Museum de Zwarte Tulp (the Black tulip museum) to learn about the history of the Bulb District and the origins and the development of bulb culture.
Tulip gardens where you can pick your own tulips (or other flowers, depending on the season). To mention just a few: TulpenPluktuin Drenthe, Annemieke’s Pluktuin near Haarlem, Hanneke’s Pluktuin in Flevoland, De Pluktuin Noorwijkerhout .

Tulips in Amsterdam

Are there tulip fields in Amsterdam? A question often asked by tourists. The answer is: I wish they were, but NO. However, even if there are no tulip fields in Amsterdam, you can still celebrate and enjoy tulips in the city. This opportunity is brought by a few events and places:

National Tulip Day . For one day, in January, a beautiful tulip garden appears in Dam Square over night. People can walk in this garden and pick their own tulips, for free.
The Tulip Festival held in April. Locations where you can see the flowers: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Vondelpark, Rembrandtplein and EYE Filmmuseum. The goal of the festival is to eventually have one tulip for every Amsterdammer — amounting to 800,000 tulips in the city alone.
Tulip Museum . Located in the pretty Jordaan neighbourhood, this museum brings homage to the most iconic of the Dutch flowers.
The floating Flower Market . It might be kitsch and touristy, but it’s a good place to buy bulbs and tulips, nonetheless.

And, of course, you can buy a tulip bouquet at every flower shop in the city.

NOTE: Because of Covid-19, some of the events above were canceled in 2020 and might be cancelled in 2021. While the tulip fields will still be blooming, make sure you keep your distance when you go visiting.

Now that you have all the info you need about the Dutch tulip fields, all you can do is plan your visit. If you don’t live in the Netherlands, then you will have to wait for next year, when the international travel will hopefully be possible again. No worries, I will leave you with more pictures to admire in the meantime.

Stay tuned for more and follow Amsterdamian on Instagram and Facebook for daily stories about life in the Netherlands. Please share this post if you liked it! Check out my photo book: Amsterdam Through the Seasons ! For prints and other cute objects, visit our store on Society6 .

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The most beautiful spring garden in the world!

Keukenhof is open from march 21 through may 12, tickets 2024, practical information.

Entrance ticket adult: € 19,50 (ticket office € 23.00)
Entrance ticket child 4-17 years: € 9,00 (0 to 3 years free)
Parking car or motor: € 8,00

21 mrt. 2024 - 12 mei 2024

Anthurium and orchid show

Flowershow in the Beatrix pavilion

Various flower and plant shows

Colorful flower and plant show in the Willem-Alexander pavilion

25 apr. 2024 - 30 apr. 2024

Gerbera, Lisianthus and Callashow

Flowershow in the Oranje Nassau pavilion

Keukenhof Concert

A journey through 75 years of music!

Keukenhof news

26 apr. 2024

Latest flower report

26 mrt. 2024

Anniversary Exhibition Keukenhof Turns 75

22 mrt. 2024

Keukenhof celebrates its 75th anniversary

21 mrt. 2024

Princess Margriet opens Keukenhof’s Symphony of Colours anniversary concert

Tulip Festival Amsterdam

Enjoy the tulips in Holland

Sightseeing the tulip fields in Holland with a private tour

How to discover the tulip fields and Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam without crowded tourist buses and long queues? With a private tour you will enjoy the highlights in a luxurious way and even get some great local tips for your private guide . You can decide what you want to see and what you don’t, and you will be picked up and brought back to your hotel .

Private VIP Tours & Tickets

If you visit Holland, you probably want to see the highlights. These highlights are of course popular and therefore very crowded. Still, it is possible to visit the highlights and avoid the crowds as much as possible.

Stress-Free Start: Your private chauffeur picks you up at your location.
Keukenhof Beauty: 5 hours to explore the stunning gardens.
Tailored to You: Customize your experience as you wish.

Private Tours to the tulip fields and Keukenhof Gardens

The best way to visit Keukenhof from Amsterdam is by booking a private tour guide which picks you up at your hotel and brings you the Keukenhof Gardens, lets you see the best flower fields and can tell you more about the tulips in Holland.

Price and availability

The price of a private tour is per group. So it doesn’t matter if you travel alone, as a couple or with your family. Please note that these prices do not include Keukenhof tickets . Tickets for the attractions you wish to visit must be purchased by yourself.

About This Site

Tulip Festival Amsterdam is all about the flower events in Holland . Read our tips for visiting Keukenhof Gardens , Flower Parade , Flower Farms , Amsterdam and our Flower reports about the growth of the flower fields.

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Tulip Route Netherlands: 3 road trips around the flower fields near Amsterdam

Written by Maartje

As spring is just around the corner, the Dutch are getting ready for their flower season, which will be dominated by the most brilliant flower and tulip fields. The renowned Keukenhof in Lisse is one of the Netherlands’ top destinations for seeing traditional tulip fields, but you can also discover tulip farms throughout the country (for free!). Not just in Lisse close to Amsterdam, but also in Flevoland or Goeree Overflakkee. The best part is that if you come during the month of April, you can view the fields for free while taking a fantastic tour of the Netherlands.

As Dutchies, we know exactly where to find those lovely tulip fields both near Amsterdam and farther away from the masses. We will tell you about the best flower routes in the Netherlands: the Tulip Route in Flevoland, a tulip road trip at Lisse near Amsterdam and a road trip itinerary on the island of Goeree Overflakkee close to Rotterdam.

Bollenroute Zuid-Holland Autoroute tulpenvelden Lisse

The tulips in the Netherlands

The tulip does not originate from the Netherlands, despite persistent legends to the contrary. The Netherlands is where the tulip originally got its special status and where it was subsequently refined into its present-day variety of multicolored flowers. How did the connection between the Netherlands and the tulip begin?

The tulip is originally from the Middle East . A Turkish ambassador once brought them to western Europe as a present and they were an instant hit in the Netherlands. Carolus Clusius, a botanist who lived in Leiden in the sixteenth century, amassed a large collection of tulips and developed the first systematic garden in Leiden. He had a wide network and helped to popularize the new colorful flower among the Dutch aristocracy.

The tulip mania which you have probably heard of happened during the 17th century. During this Golden Age, the Netherlands was very wealthy and the Dutch aristocracy transformed the Amsterdam canals into today’s beauty full of city palaces. The tulip was the new status symbol of the elite and in 1637 the price of a tulip reached the level of a canal house.

The most popular tulip during the tulip mania were the flowers with a striped pattern. We now know that these are actually sick tulips, but not caused by a disease that can be passed from one bulb to another. In the Netherlands, the goal of passing on these stripes to new tulip bulbs started the Dutch bulb cultivation. The Dutch became the world’s finest tulip experts . Tulips and tulip bulbs are still one of our country’s most valuable export commodities. The result are those lovely tulip fields in the Netherlands that should be on your spring bucketlist.

Tulpen | Tulips | Goeree-Overflakkee | Nederland | Netherlands | The Orange Backpack

Where to find the best tulip fields in the Netherlands

Did you know that tulips grow particularly well in our Dutch climate? A bulb needs a cold winter with chilly evenings in order to bloom in the spring. The farmers in the Netherlands mostly discovered excellent soil for their product behind the dunes of South Holland, between Leiden and Haarlem. That is where we still have the renowned Bulb Region , including the popular Keukenhof tulip park near Lisse.

In the 20th century, the tulip meadows spread from region to region in the Netherlands. As a result, every province in the country now has its own tulip fields. Especially the northern part of Noord-Holland and West-Friesland, but also the Noordoostpolder of Flevoland and the island of Goeree-Overflakkee near Rotterdam are home to the best tulip fields of the Netherlands, turning into a colorful landscape every spring.

Did you know that: tulip growers can’t utilize the same piece of land every year for their tulip cultivation? They must rotate their farmlands to prevent the soil from being exhausted. Because of this, it’s difficult to pinpoint the tulip fields in the Netherlands every year. But we know approximately where to go because the growers are confined to their own region and their own lands. Because most growers use the same soil type and are thus close to one another, finding the tulip fields is never really difficult though.

These are the best areas for tulip fields in the Netherlands:

The bulb region around Lisse, Noordwijkerhout and Hillegom, where you can also visit the popular tulip park of Keukenhof.
The island of Goeree Overflakkee near Rotterdam, around the villages Middelharnis, Oude- and Nieuwe-Tonge and Dirksland
Around Dwingo, Beilen and Hijken in Drenthe
The Noordoostpolder of Flevoland around Dronten, Lelystad and Zeewolde
In North Holland in the Kop van Holland, in the Beemster and in West Friesland
In Zeeland near Klein Mariekerke and Zonnemaire, and in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen near Clinge and Graauw

What is the best time to visit the tulip fields in the Netherlands?

The vibrant flower and tulip fields of the Netherlands are typically associated with spring. However, the entire timeline of the famous bulb fields extends far beyond early spring.

You can buy tulips all year, but those flowers are cultivated in greenhouses and they are different from the flowers growing in the fields. The fields of tulips that we adore in the Dutch landscape have a very distinct function than a lovely bouquet to bring home. The tulip farmers aren’t overly concerned with the beautiful flowers, since they’re only a by-product. The farmers are primarily interested in the bulbs! Growing bulbs is their main business and the tulip flowers are simply a by-product to create them. Because these tulips grow outdoors, the bloom period of the flowers tends to be short-lived and limited to early spring. The yearly timeline of these outdoor flower fields is therefore considerably different from the tulips growing in a greenhouse.

In October , the tulip bulbs are planted in the ground. They’re usually placed on a net so that they can be easily pulled out of the soil later when harvesting them. One tulip bulb creates many tulip bulbs over time. During the winter, little is done with the bulb fields. Weeds are being removed and extra fertilizer may be added, but it is mainly nature at work during the colder months.

Did you know that our National Tulip Day is in January? The tulip season – which actually starts much later in the year – is already kicked off in January with an ocean of (greenhouse-grown) tulips on Amsterdam’s Dam Square.

The first result is observed in March . The tulips begin to appear. You won’t see any flowers yet though, as the tulips start growing their green leaves first. The first tulips will be visible from the end of March, but the fields are not yet in full bloom. There may be several bulb fields near tulip fields that bloom a few weeks earlier and are much more interesting to visit in March though.

A great example is the Bulb Region south of Amsterdam where you can drive the Bulb Route along the tulip fields. This area also has daffodils (late March to mid-April), hyacinths (late March to late April) and dahlias (mid-August to mid-October). We could already enjoy several tulip fields as we drove this Bulb Route near Lisse at the end of March, and we loved seeing the beautiful fields dotted with yellow daffodils and vivid hyacinths. The flower area is much quieter during this time because most visitors only come for the tulips a bit later.

In early spring, the tulips are at their best! The exact timing of their bloom period is determined by the weather: the sunnier and warmer the spring, the sooner the tulips appear. The full bloom period for each tulip is not very lengthy, so the tulip season is relatively brief. The first tulips are visible from the end of March, but the majority of fields are at their best between mid-April and mid-May . So that’s when you should make a one-day roadtrip around the Netherlands by car to explore the best tulip fields

In mid-May, the tulips’ ‘heading’ begins. The flowers are taken off of the bulbs to ensure that all of the plant’s energy is focused on expanding the bulb rather than blooming. The bulbs are dug up in June. The main portion is sold as a product and the remainder is reused to return to the ground in October for another cycle. During this time, the bulbs are housed in a warm greenhouse.

How to find a rental car to visit the Dutch tulip fields?

The tulip fields in the Netherlands are best visited by car. This is because they are located in rural areas, and there is only limited public transportation directly to these areas. If you don’t have your own car available, you can easily rent one at a car rental company. There are rental car companies all over the Netherlands, especially at airports and/or in big cities like Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

It depends on the tulip fields you wish to visit, whether Amsterdam or Rotterdam would make sense as a starting point to rent your car. If the tulip fields are located close to Amsterdam, renting a car in Amsterdam is a good option. You can find excellent tulip fields and tulip car routes in the Bulb Region around Lisse or in the province of Flevoland, which are both close to Amsterdam.

If they are located closer to Rotterdam, renting a car in Rotterdam might be more convenient than in Amsterdam. Goeree Overflakkee is located just south of Rotterdam and has one of the best tulip routes in the Netherland. Also, the Bulb Region we already mentioned, is close to both Amsterdam and Rotterdam, as it is right in between the two.

Tip: our home town Rotterdam is one of the most underrated cities in Europe. We definitely recommend you to not only use it as a starting point for visiting the tulip fields, but to explore Rotterdam for two or three days .

The best tulip routes in the Netherlands: 3 scenic drives along the famous bulb fields in spring

We recommend three of the most popular bulb routes in the Netherlands’ tulip fields. They’re all a little different, as they have different locations (Flevoland’s Noordoostpolder, Lisse’s Bulb Region, and on South Holland’s island Goeree Overflakkee) and have different characters. One of the tulip routes is organized by a tulip organization, while the second takes you to the most famous fields, and the third bulb route takes you off the beaten path.

The first one is the tulip route in Flevoland which is a planned itinerary with a variety of activities along the way each year. The organisation usually provides more than one route to choose from. You can buy a ticket for the specific date, but you may also use our tulip route for the Noordoostpolder and visit the fields whenever you prefer.

The second and third options are not organized and you can drive them whenever you’d like, taking you to lovely tulip fields as well as picturesque towns. The Bulb Route is the most popular, as it is the most well-known area for tulip fields in the Netherlands. It might be a bit more crowded because of this, too. However, if you go in early spring, you’ll discover stunning fields of daffodils and hyacinths and not just tulips, while avoiding the crowds that usually flock to the area later. That’s why this self-drive itinerary isn’t just a great option between mid-April and mid-May, but also in early April.

Goeree Overflakkee is lesser-known as a tulip paradise, and this scenic route is one of the Netherlands’ hidden gems. The island is a beautiful place to visit and to enjoy the fulip fields without the crowds.

#1 The Tulip Route in Flevoland

Download route | Length: 88 kilometers | The Flevoland Noordoostpolder is home to a large number of tulip farmers. In fact, you can find the majority of the tulip fields and most tulip growers in this region. Even more than in the Bulb Region! The result? A never-ending sea of gorgeous flowers in early spring.

Every year in Flevoland, a (slightly different) Tulip Route is organized along the finest tulip fields of the province. Last year, there were three different car routes, a walking trail, and several cycling routes! The car itinerary is the best option. No matter how many tulip fields may be found in this area, they are scattered about. You might be disappointed by how few you’ll see if you have to cross that distance on foot or by bicycle.

At certain tulip farms, you are allowed to visit the fields or purchase tulips. You can tell from the flag flying above it. The tulip route in 2023 is open from April 15 to May 7. You can find up-to-date information on the Tulip Route Flevoland website . The itineraries used to be free, but you need a ticket for them in 2023. You can buy one online in their app and you’ll receive the exact itinerary and an audio tour.

If you don’t want to wait for that and don’t necessarily want to visit the farms with activities, you can also find a route map and gpx data for a tulip route in Flevoland on our blog.

#2 A scenic flower route at Goeree Overflakkee near Rotterdam

Download route | Length: 111 kilometers | Goeree-Overflakkee in South Holland has many tulip farms. We’ve been told that 10% of the Dutch tulips come from these fields! In the springtime, endless swaths of tulips in all hues stretch out across the Dutch landscape. Because this tulip region is considerably less known than the well-known Bulb Region, you’ll find fewer visitors here.

The island of Goeree-Overflakkee is located in the province of South Holland, approximately 50 minutes from Rotterdam by car. The fields are mostly found around the towns of Middelharnis, Oude- en Nieuwe-Tonge, and Dirksland. If you want to explore the area by bike, the bike rental in Middelharnis has a decent selection of (electric) rental bicycles. Two years ago, after renting an electric bicycle in Middelharnis, we simply cycled around the area and visited the fields. As there are so many of them, you’ll easily come across them.

Though cycling around the area is a lot of fun, we recommend you hop on a one-day road trip along the bulb fields of Goeree Overflakkee. You can drive this 105-kilometer bulb route, starting at the village of Stellendamand bringing you across the island of Goeree Overflakkee. Beautiful tulip fields will pass by, as well as charming villages, pleasant beaches and unique sights such as dune bunkers.

You can stop at the tulip fields along the route at various locations. As more and more visitors seem to discover this area, some farmers have opened their land up for you to get up close to them. Though it won’t get as crowded as the Bulb Region and the tulip park of Keukenhof.

#3 Tulip Road Trip near Amsterdam

Download route | Length: 62 kilometers | The Keukenhof tulip park near Lisse is a well-known attraction in the Netherlands when it comes to seeing tulips. But you don’t have to buy an expensive Keukenhof ticket to see the most gorgeous tulips in South Holland. There are a lot of bright bulb farms in the area around Lisse, Hillegom, and Noordwijkerhout, so you can also visit them by car on a one-day road trip!

During the Bulb Route in South Holland, you drive about 62 kilometers starting in Oegstgeest. Depending on how many photo stops you’ll make, it will take you around 3 hours to complete the trip. You’ll also see beautiful villages and seaside towns like Katwijk and Noordwijk during your drive. The route will pass some nature parks where you can make a stop for a lovely walk. And of course, you’ll have to make some stops at the fields to see the flowers from up close. All in all, make sure to plan in a full day to drive this scenic road trip itinerary.

The great thing about this specific tulip route is that it is not only limited to the tulip season between mid-April and mid-May. That is indeed the time when the tulip fields are at their best, but if you come a little earlier, the Bulb Region offers many other flower fields. From March on, other flower fields will be in bloom, and yellow daffodils and bright hyacinths will color the area. Some tulip fields are likely to be in bloom as well this early, but not as many as during the tulip season.

Tip: the farmers of the Bulb Region follow the bloom locations of a variety of bulb fields on this flower map , including weekly photo updates, from March through the end of the season. Not just the tulips, but also other flowers such as daffodils and hyacinths.

Read more: check out our extensive blog on this Amsterdam Tulip Road Trip .

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How to see the tulip fields near Amsterdam for free by a local

November 1, 2018 by Karen Turner 26 Comments

I’m obsessed with tulips and one of my favorite parts of living in the Netherlands is going to the tulip fields in Holland each year. I include tips for seeing the tulip fields near Amsterdam for free!

Although most people visit Keukenhof, it’s very easy to see the Dutch tulip fields without a tour or a bike. You can easily visit the fields on a budget, so read for tips on how to see the tulip fields in the Netherlands for free two different ways.

My advice on how to see the tulip fields in the fields: Skip Keukenhof. You can see the Dutch tulips for free TWO other ways . It’s 29 euros with transit from Amsterdam. If you’re into sculpted gardens, it’s great.

However, I think that it’s overpriced and crowded if you just want to see the tulips in the field. There’s plenty of guides to Keukenhof, however this guide for seeing the tulips in Holland brings you to the free Dutch tulip fields near Keukenhof. To read about more tulip fields in the Netherlands beyond Keukenhof, you can click for my complete guide to tulips in the Netherlands, including a tulip farm!

1 Check the Weather & Flower Forecast
2.1 Step 1: Go to Schiphol Airport by train and exit the airport
2.2 Step 2: Buy a one-way ticket to Keukenhof (the bus station)
2.3 Step 3: Get off at Keukenhof and walk until you see some beautiful Dutch fields
2.4 Step 4: Walk towards Hillegom Station
2.5 Step 5: Take the NS train from Hillegom back to Amsterdam Centraal
3.1 Option 2 (Step 2): Rent a Bike
3.2 Option 2 (Step 3): Exercise
4 Enhance Your Tulip Experience with These Amsterdam Tours
5 Have you visited the tulip fields anywhere in the world? Any plans to come to the Netherlands?

Check the Weather & Flower Forecast

You can check the weather a million times, but the weather changes quickly here. So much so that my friends only check it ten minutes before leaving and I have made a habit of wearing a raincoat as my normal coat. Weatherproof yourself and plan to be rained on no matter how much sunshine Buienradar.nl promises you.

The tulips bloom typically within a set period: late March to early May. It depends on the year, but you’re more likely to see tulips in bloom if it’s in April. There’s quite a few websites that will update in February/March on the season’s prediction for blooms for those planning ahead of time.

There is a way to check the flower forecast to find out WHEN and WHERE to go. There’s a website called bollenstreek.nl where you can check to see where flowers (not all are tulips) are in bloom within the past week.

You can just enjoy the photos OR zoom into a location to find out where you need to go. There’s not ONE single location and you can’t walk onto ALL of the fields, but it should give an idea of where is a good area to visit.

All of these fields are privately owned by farmers who sell these tulips commercially. I’ve been increasingly seeing signs prohibiting access to the fields as people destroy their tulips by taking photos. Do not pick the tulips! Please respect the signs as you don’t want to trample on any tulips as these are the farmers’ livelihoods! Don’t ruin this for everyone else.

Similarly, you are not allowed to fly a drone over the tulip fields without the permission of the farmers as drones are not allowed on private property in the Netherlands without permission. In some parts of the Netherlands, flying a drone is illegal due to the proximity to airports/helipads.

You have three main options to see the tulip fields in the Netherlands without going to Keukenhof by public transit:

Head to Leiden and rent a bike (if the weather is good)
Take a day trip from Amsterdam and take the 858 bus from Schiphol Airport towards Keukenhof. Instead of going to Keukenhof, you need to just walk about 30 minutes–and you’ll be in the fields.
Similarly, drive to Keukenhof and drive until you see the fields. 😉

Option 1: Take the bus to Keukenhof and walk to the tulip fields in the Netherlands near Keukenhof for free!

Beautiful Dutch tulip fields in bloom. You need to put seeing the Dutch tulips in the fields on your list of things to do in the Netherlands! #tulips #netherlands #amsterdam #travel

This past year, I went again to the field with new friends. This is the easiest option for those who are with a family and/or want to have a budget trip to the tulip fields.

Step 1: Go to Schiphol Airport by train and exit the airport

As you exit Schiphol airport, you’ll see a sign for buses. The Keukenhof bus (858 bus) is a bit further to the right (a 10 minute walk) from the Schiphol exit. During tulip season, there’s a friendly employee with a shirt that you can ask as well as signs showing tulips. Easy, I promise.

Step 2: Buy a one-way ticket to Keukenhof (the bus station)

A one-way ticket to Keukenhof by bus is 6 euros. There’s a booth where you can pay for the Keukenhof express bus as well as a line that you’ll need to wait in.

Be warned that the Keukenhof bus is crowded and far from ideal for those with young children. It’s best to leave first thing in the morning (think 8-9am). It will take some time to get there.

I recommend getting a one-way ticket on the Keukenhof bus as you’ll have less walking if you take the train back rather than the bus back since my route leaves you off next to a train station that brings you right back to Amsterdam Centraal. It also means that you see a cute typically Dutch town surrounded by tulips.

Step 3: Get off at Keukenhof and walk until you see some beautiful Dutch fields

It’s about 5km from Keukenhof to Hillegom. (You can download the map below showing the tulip walking route near Keukenhof where I took these photos). The road is a bit narrow, so watch for cars and bikes!

Photo of tulips in the Netherlands, see the tulips in the fields outside of Keukenhof for free!

We found our first field only fifteen minutes from Keukenhof, but the best ones were about a thirty minute walk. We went very slow as we had a blast just enjoying the fields.

Remember these are private commercial tulip fields and the farmers allow people in on the condition that they are respectful, so please don’t pick the tulips. Avoid stepping on any tulips.

Step 4: Walk towards Hillegom Station

Photo of Hillegom, a town near Keukenhof with many tulip fields to visit for free in the Netherlands!

We ended up stopping off for a coffee in Hillegom at the one of the many local cafes that we saw. It’s a cute typically Dutch town.

Step 5: Take the NS train from Hillegom back to Amsterdam Centraal

You can buy your ticket at the train station in the machine! You just need a one-way ticket to Amsterdam, which should cost about 5 euros. You might need to transfer in Haarlem for a train in Amsterdam, so it’s best to check google maps on how to get back.

Below, you’ll find a downloadable map for a free Dutch tulips walking route from Amsterdam.

Option 2: Take the Train to Leiden and rent a bike to cycle to the fields

Rapenburg canal in Leiden. Read about the best things to do in Leiden in this complete guide to Leiden in one day.

If the tulips are in bloom, it’s a very pretty train ride between Haarlem and Leiden. It’s possible to also bike from Haarlem, however the fields I visited were physically closer to Leiden (10 km) and I found a cheaper bike rental in Leiden .

Click for my guide to Haarlem. You can combine seeing the tulips with visiting Haarlem for one day if you take the train.

You can save money if you can buy a “ Dagkaart ” from a store, which means you get unlimited travel on a train for the day for a fixed price (usually 16 euros and under). People who don’t live in the Netherlands will be unable to buy one online, but if they’re being sold in Blokker, Hema, Albert Heijn, Etos, or Kruidvat, you can buy one in cash as long as they don’t sell out ( OP=OP! ).

*Just be aware that there are typically conditions about traveling after rush hour or only on a weekend and the valid dates, but it’s good to check with a clerk at the store about the specific conditions of your card before you buy it. The linked website shows day ticket deals on a monthly basis. Click for more budget train travel tips in the Netherlands!

Option 2 (Step 2): Rent a Bike

Do you live in the Netherlands? Use OVFiets, which is the public bike share program. It’s 10 euros a year to pay about 3 euros per 24 hour bike rental, but you will need a personal OVcard or a week to wait for it. You can rent two bikes with one subscription. It’s an amazing deal.

Just visiting? Sorry, OVFiets is NOT an option. I used EasyFiets in Leiden for my rental. It was 7.50 euros for the day with a 50 euro deposit for all three bikes after the guy decided we weren’t likely to steal the bikes. A pretty good deal for only a ten minute walk from the train station.

Option 2 (Step 3): Exercise

It depends on the field. The one I found was close to the one on the map, however it was about 25km round trip. This sounds really terrifying to non-bikers, but it was about 40 minutes each way.

Prone to getting lost? Download maps.me beforehand, drop a pin down on your preferred field(s), and follow the signage until you get to the nearest city to your fields. From there, let the map bring you the rest of the way.

A lot of the roads with the tulips are country roads, so watch out for cars/scooters/pedestrians. Not all fields will be accessible as some will have a ditch protecting people from walking onto them, so pick a field close to other blooming ones, just in case your first one fails (like mine). You’ll pass through some cute traditional Dutch towns worth enjoying with some traditional architecture.

Seeing fields of tulips in the Netherlands on your bucket list? Read insider tips for finding blooming flowers in Holland without a tour or visiting Keukenhof.

Enhance Your Tulip Experience with These Amsterdam Tours

While the tulip fields near Amsterdam offer a mesmerizing sight for free, there are other unique experiences in the city that you shouldn’t miss. As a local, I recommend exploring the Dutch countryside on an electric bike tour , where you can visit traditional farms, picturesque villages, and learn how local cheese is made from scratch. If you’re up for a different kind of adventure, embark on a self-guided Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game in the heart of Amsterdam. For those who love cycling, the Countryside Bike Tour offers a chance to explore fishing villages, country fields, and learn about the windmill industry of old Holland. Dive deeper into Amsterdam’s history with a guided tour of the Jordaan District , or discover the Port of Amsterdam with a 2-hour cruise. These tours provide a richer understanding of Amsterdam’s culture and heritage, making your visit even more memorable.

Dying tulips in the Netherlands. Seeing fields of tulips in the Netherlands on your bucket list? Read insider tips for finding blooming flowers in Holland without a tour or visiting Keukenhof.

Have you visited the tulip fields anywhere in the world? Any plans to come to the Netherlands?

Click for more locations of real tulip fields in the Netherlands, including fields that you can pick tulips in (for a fee).

Enjoyed this post about seeing the Dutch tulip fields? Share it on social media!

Tips on how to see the tulip fields in the Netherlands as a day trip from Amsterdam! Insider tips on how to see the Dutch tulips for free! #travel #netherlands #Amsterdam #tulips

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

May 3, 2016 at 7:56 am

OMG sweet! Seattle has the tulip festival up north and I’m not sure if it’s as grand as what you saw there, but it’s basically the same I guess. I should go visit this one for comparison 🙂

May 3, 2016 at 10:27 am

Great article with some good tips. I’m from Belgium and even for me this was helpful. I wanted to visit the fields this year but I guess I’m late 😉 Better luck next year and I will keep this tips in mind. Lovely photos too !!

April 19, 2017 at 10:40 pm

ahh I used to have Keukenhof so high on my bucket list until a Dutch friend told me how overrated and crowded it was. I’ve been to one tulip festival back home in BC and it was SO pretty, but really just full of people trying to get the perfect gram haha. I think I’d definitely do it your way if I make it to the Netherlands for tulip season. Thanks for the inspo! <3 Great guide as always.

January 19, 2018 at 6:01 am

Money saving and pleasure to eyes… Will surely try these options… Thanks for the info…

March 13, 2018 at 5:43 pm

Love your site, so full of great info. We are visiting the middle of May which may be to late for the tulip fields but keeping my fingers crossed. I read that these fields after tulip season are planted with other flower varieties, is this true? I live in CT and in Rhode Island a Dutchman married an American an started growing tulips, it’s called Wicked Tulip Farm. Each year they plant more and more bulbs and the fields are open to the public. Check out there web site, if they built a windmill you would swear you were in the Nertherlands. I’m using all your info to plan our trip, Thank You!!!

March 13, 2018 at 6:10 pm

Hi Linda, Thanks for reading and the kind words! Mid-may is a bit dicey and I think that it might be too late. I recommend checking Bloemen Radar and MAYBE there’s one field blooming a bit late, but most of the tulips will be gone by then unfortunately. Usually after the tulip season is over, you sometimes see other plants put there just to help with keeping the soil in good condition, but they’re not always flowers. One of the fields that I visited a bit late last year (first week of May) had some other varieties of flowers, but it’s not a guarantee. I’d recommend certainly trying.

The Rhode Island farm sounds amazing! I’ll have to mention it to my family.

I hope you have a great trip and you’ll see quite a few new posts coming out this week on the Netherlands. Please let me know if you have any further content that you’d love to see here. I try to make my content as helpful as possible and I’m always open to new ideas. 🙂

Best, Karen

March 29, 2018 at 5:42 pm

We’re there other travelers going down this path as well? I’m traveling solo and i don’t necessarily want to talk down a random pathway by myself. Also, I’m going two days after Keukenhof garden closes. Do you think there will be tulips left to see?

March 29, 2018 at 9:17 pm

Hi Darian, There will be locals and tourists taking photos along there, especially if you go on the weekend. You’ll be fine solo and the Netherlands is pretty safe, but I’m not sure there will be tulips remaining then…. Check Bloemenradar 1-2 days before you go. It’s been cold, so maybe you’ll get lucky.

January 6, 2019 at 5:45 pm

Your pictures are just amazing and I am dreaming about taking some like these, that’s I’m planning a trip to The Netherlands for the mid of April of this year and found the information in your article very useful! I hope I’ll be lucky enough to have great weather and no crowds. Where would you recommend going if traveling from Belgium?

March 18, 2019 at 2:40 pm

Karen, I’m an expat as well, currently working and living in the Middle East. I’ve managed to convince a friend of mine to run away to Amsterdam for a few days. Your site has been a great help in planning. We are looking forward to our April trip. Thank you for taking the time to put this out there for fellow wanderlusters.

March 23, 2019 at 8:58 am

Thank you so much for this information. I went to Lisse this past Wednesday, March 20 – a day before Keukenhof opened. It is still a bit early in the season but I saw red and yellow and purple…… Beautiful! Please be very careful on the roads because they are very narrow. Not much in Hillegom but it was an easy train back to Amsterdam. Crossed this off my bucket list 🙂

April 14, 2019 at 1:03 pm

Hi Karen, Your website is incredibly useful – thanks so much for sharing all this. I have a question though. Next week, my sister and I will visit the Netherlands – we will be staying in Rotterdam and from there we were thinking to take the bus/ train to Leiden, Lisse and Hillegom and to walk through the fields there, following some of the paths you suggested. However, I’ve heard that this year many of the farmers have closed down access to the fields due to the fact that tourists are not so careful with the flowers. Do you recommend we still go there, or should we take some of the guided tours available from Amsterdam? My sister is a blogger and photographer, and she wanted to have a close up opportunity to photograph the fields. We will be both on foot, as I can’t bike.

April 14, 2019 at 1:08 pm

Hi Adela, So glad to hear that. 🙂 I’d recommend looking up the FAM Flower Farm. You can pay for access and if your goal is to take this kind of photos, it might be the best option!

Kind regards, Karen

November 13, 2019 at 2:01 pm

I’m a planner and have been looking into our trip to Amsterdam in April. Your website has quite possibly given me more information than all the other websites I’ve read combined. Is it also possible/easy to take the train to Hillegom and walk from the station and back? We were thinking of combining a morning of tulips with an afternoon in Haarlem before heading back to our houseboat rental in Amsterdam. Thanks again for posting all of this amazing information.

November 15, 2019 at 10:13 am

Very glad to hear that Molly. It is very possible to do that, but I’d recommend taking the bus to Keukenhof from Amsterdam as I recommend in the blog, so you don’t need to backtrack. See the tulips then take the train from Hillegom to Haarlem. 🙂

November 15, 2019 at 10:14 am

I think that it’s a shorter walk doing Keukenhof -> Hillegom and you add 2km in if you start in Hillegom when I just checked

February 25, 2020 at 2:46 am

Hi. Anything new to add for those of us going in 2020 to Amersterdam specifically for tulip visit? Also, any favorite restaurants you would recommend for adventurous eaters? Specifically the Indonesian feast?

February 26, 2020 at 4:37 pm

If you check other posts of mine, you’ll find food recommendations! I have a food guide to Amsterdam and will be adding new posts within the next month. Blauw is well-known for rijsttafel. I will be updating this in about a month when I do a tour of the tulip fields 🙂

March 2, 2020 at 5:01 am

My husband & I will be in Amsterdam from 22 April 2020 to 28 April 2020. We want to spend one day in Lisse.- visit Keukenhof (it has been on my bucket list for a long time); visit a tulip farm & the tulip fields & then return to Amsterdam. Q1. Which is the closest tulip farm to Keukenhof ? What is the address of this FAM Flower Farm that you mentioned in your blog ? Can we walk & do all this ? Thank you, Karen.

March 2, 2020 at 12:05 pm

They do not post the address of FAM Flower Farm, but if you book a time slot with them, they will send it 🙂 They are trying to keep it off the internet to protect the flowers.

March 2, 2020 at 11:38 pm

Thank you for the info Karen. Do you have a list of tulip farms very close to the Keukenhof entrance, that we can walk to ? Is there a train/bus option to Hillegom from Lisse instead of walking all the way to the Hillegom station ? Thank you

April 22, 2023 at 9:35 pm

Hi, Thank you your information about Keukenhof. Just one point of note.. The Bus for Keukenhof from Schipol is on the Left as you exit the Airport and you walk along through the Concrete pillars following the signs. I had thought about doing the walk above but would have been very disappointed had I not visited Keukenhof; it is an excellent afternoon out. Thanks again.

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[…] car or scooter, or travel by train to a starting point (for example Leiden, Hoorn, Heiloo) and then cycle along the fields. You can bring your own bike in the train or rent a bike at the trains station. There are proper […]

How to experience Holland's tulip fields by bike

Mar 21, 2024 • 8 min read

Brian Healy on the best way to see the splendor of Holland’s tulips: on two wheels.

How could I say no to tulips?

My mother Joyce – an avid cyclist, gardener and aficionado of Dutch culture – had for years dreamed of a jaunt through the fields of South Holland ’s Bollenstreek (“bulb region”) in April, when the entire country is in bloom.

We put together an independent itinerary to see the best of this compact region by bike. Four days, two nights each in two cities, à la carte rentals by the day. Lunches at villages along the way, with plenty of snacks in our backpacks for on-the-go refueling. And – most of all – lots and lots of biking, perhaps 20 miles per day. While my mother and I both stay relatively fit, we’re not intense athletes – yet neither of us was worried about covering some distance on Holland’s ultra-flat terrain.

I set off expecting an idyllic yet somewhat kitschy tour of tourist-friendly Holland, that storybook place filled with windmills and pigtailed maidens in wooden shoes. What I got was a surprisingly athletic few days of pedaling, a priceless bonding experience and the mind-clearing exhilaration that comes from extended time on a bicycle.

Oh, and did I mention the tulips? I saw a lot of those, too.

Writer Brian Healy stands with his bike in a brick archway in Leiden

Tulip training

After testing our cycling chops during a few days on the streets of Amsterdam , we headed south on the 45-minute Intercity train ride (€12) to tulip country. From the windows of our double-decker carriage, we got a tantalizing glimpse of fields with rows of bright pink, orange, red and white forming almost kaleidoscopic patterns as the train zoomed by.

Our first destination: Leiden , a truly delightful city that has all the 17th-century buildings, glittering canals and atmospheric charm of the capital, without the throngs. (That is, if you don’t count the thousands of local university students who materialize for alfresco happy hour each night.) Without reserving ahead of time, we easily rented heavy bikes for two days by walking into a local cycling shop, then pedaled them around the small city to explore, run errands and do our best to pass for Dutch. As we continually pulled over to check Google Maps on our phones, we did not succeed.

A note about our kit: though my mother (who’s 30 years older than I am) takes her cycling much more seriously than I do, she left her high-tech gear at home. We stuck with civilian clothes and three-speed rentals for our trip, opting for solidity and style over sleekness. One arguably reckless way we tried to fit in? By forgoing helmets, which I didn’t see a single cyclist wearing our entire time in Holland.

Bicycles are parked in front of rows of tulips as people explore fields, Noordwijk, Holland, Netherlands

Bulbs shining bright

The next morning, we set out from Leiden toward Lisse, 10 miles away, where we had tickets to see the famous Keukenhof Gardens . On dedicated, fully separated bike paths, we passed parks and suburban residential areas as we left town, before coming to a series of industrial warehouses and freeway onramps. This is tulip country? I thought, with trepidation.

And then I smelled something glorious.

Past a football-field-sized shed, I saw an expanse of yellow and gold, preceded by an intoxicating fragrance arriving on the wind: jonquils, probably hundreds of thousands of them. I pedaled faster to get closer, before dismounting to breathe in the aroma and watch the blooms bounce in the breeze. (I also noticed a slight burn in my thigh muscles – talk about a multisensory experience...) Beyond, further stretches of magenta, scarlet and cream unfolded in the distance.

As we pedaled onward, we pulled over every so often to stop in fields, walking between the raised linear beds of tulips, admiring how the tidy color-blocked strips of flowers formed harmonious patterns both close-up and from afar. (As the trip unfolded, it turned out I had a much bigger appetite for these stops than my mother. She indulged me nonetheless. Love you, mom.)

This was tulip country.

Crowds admire the tulips at Keukenhof flower garden, Lisse, Holland, the Netherlands

Off to Keukenhof

We had to lock our bikes at the farthest end of the Keukenhof parking lot, most visitors preferring faster travel there in cars and tour buses. When we got to the entrance of this painstakingly landscaped park, a floral fantasyland awaited. (We had reserved our timed tickets – €19.50 each – months in advance, as the gardens, a Dutch national treasure, are only open for a few short weeks each year.)

Keukenhof is a showcase for Holland’s tulip industry, an agricultural powerhouse. Here, the growers display some seven million bulbs of over 800 varieties of tulips, including spectacular specimens with multicolored blossoms and delicate fringed edges – as well as the alluring “Queen of the Night.” This dark-indigo beauty is perhaps the closest breeders have gotten toward a truly black tulip, an obsession for centuries.

Having seen the stars up close, we wanted to zoom back out a bit. So we fled the crowds and returned to the country roads and between-field paths (all paved) that led through and around the Bollenstreek, where it’s said the proximity of the sea and slightly sandy soil make for the best tulip-growing conditions in the world. To my surprise, many fields had tulips that had begun to shed their petals, producing beguiling flurries of what looked like confetti. I later learned that the Bollenstreek’s crops are grown not to be cut by their stems, but to be harvested for their bulbs, which are then exported around the world. Those tulips that are pushing up in your window box right about now? They might very well have originated here.

Since many fields in the area lay fallow, and since each farm peaked at a different moment over a six-week period, we relied heavily on the indispensable Flower Map , which updates its notation of fields currently in bloom daily. Mapping out a path from one cluster of blossoms to the next – sometimes backtracking, always looking side to side as we tootled along – gave our days the feel of a real-time scavenger hunt, which only heightened the excitement.

The biggest pleasure of our tour came during these in-between moments, where we didn’t care how we got from point A to point B. Riding alongside canals past fastidiously neat rows of plantings (these farmers are Dutch, after all) provided a dazzlingly colored example of linear perspective. Even when the weather turned gusty and we strained our legs to keep up our pace, we felt joy, as the wind blew across our helmet-less heads and rays of sun broke through the fast-moving clouds. We exchanged smiles with passing cyclists, who were of all skill levels and ages.

Tulip mania is for everyone, it seems.

A float made of flowers in the form a dragon, part of the Bloemencorso (Flower Parade), Haarlem, Netherlands

Flowers on parade

The second-biggest pleasure might have been the Bloemencorso (Flower Parade), an annual extravaganza of grower-produced floats that makes its way across the length of the Bollenstreek over the course of one long afternoon – an event my mother had heard from friends was not to be missed. So after several more hours of exploring the fields (eager not to miss a minute of the spectacle, she had to gently guide me away from one photo op too many), we planted ourselves in tiny Hillegom to watch the proceedings. Awaiting the arrival of the parade, revelers thronged the village’s main drag, sipping beers and moving their bodies (sometimes, um, shakily) to ear-splitting pop tunes.

After police motorcycles cleared a path, the floats started rolling past: we saw horses made from purple hyacinth petals, an octopus of gold and burgundy patches, a dragon sprouting long-stemmed tulips from its sinewy back and many more original creations. In between them sashayed uniformed marching bands and countless volunteers in neon wigs and floral headdresses. People take this event seriously here.

After our two nights in Leiden, we had moved our base to the charming city of Haarlem (25 minutes north by train), where we spent two nights. The city is the terminus of the Bloemencorso, which made it easy for us to make a closer inspection of the floats, now parked throughout the town’s streets. It was also a delight to inspect the families marveling at the cartoon-like floral sculptures, and relive the magic of the parade through the children’s reactions.

Having pedaled 75 miles over four days and admired more tulips than most see in a lifetime, I gave my mom a congratulatory hug. She told me the trip had easily exceeded her expectations. I replied by suggesting we start recuperating by sitting down for a very long lunch.

From such moments, happy memories grow.

A man and woman pose in front of carefully planted rows of blooming tulips, Bollenstreek, Holland, the Netherlands

How to make it happen

Trains depart frequently from Amsterdam Schiphol airport to Leiden (20 minutes) and Haarlem (30 minutes, via Amsterdam Centraal). We rented bikes in central Leiden at Budget Bike (€15 each per day), then at Rent a Bike Haarlem , conveniently close to the train station (€22 per day). During peak periods such as spring, demand can run high, so I’d recommend reserving ahead of time or getting as early a start as possible.

This article was first published April 2023 and updated March 2024

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Home / What to do in Holland? / Cycling in the Bollenstreek / Cycling routes in the Bollenstreek / Tulip route: cycle tour along the tulip fields

Tulip route: cycle tour along the tulip fields

The Tulip Route is a 15-kilometre cycle route along the tulip fields near Keukenhof flower park and is fun for young and old to cycle. Of course you will pass many flower fields, but along the route you can also stop at many attractions, monuments and a tulip farm and show gardens, which can be combined for an ideal day out in the spring .

The Tulip Route can be cycled during the flower season from 21 March to 12 May 2024 .

About the Tulip Route

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Discover everything about the national symbol of the Netherlands, the tulip, during this fun bicycle route of about 15 kilometres. The route is only available during the flowering period of the tulip fields. Cycle the route and celebrate spring!

The Tulip Route takes you along the most beautiful tulip fields around Keukenhof and you will also pass historical locations such as Keukenhof Castle , the Keukenhof wood and ‘t Huys Dever . Also located along the route is Tulip farm De Tulperij where the audio tour gives you free access to the (family) walking route along the tulip fields. The cycle route was developed in cooperation with flowertour.nl .

The cycle route combines two Keukenhof cycle routes and shows you the most beautiful flower fields of the Netherlands. The route is easy to cycle by following the signs (blue and purple route).

The tulip fields only bloom for a few weeks of the year. On average, the flower fields start blooming at the end of March and last until the beginning of May. In the beginning, it is mainly narcissus that bloom, followed by hyacinths and then the tulips. Every week there is a flowering forecast .

During the Tulip Route, you can stop at no fewer than 14 places of interest . Hop off your bike and visit for example Keukenhof or a real tulip bulb farm. For more information about the stop locations, check out the flower tour website .

If you want to combine the tulip route with a flower attraction, please book your visit in advance.

Due to the relatively short distances , the tulip route is ideal for cycling with children. Besides the flower fields, there are many nice stop locations for children.

To make your adventure among the tulips even more fun, you can also rent a parent/child tandem at the bicycle rental location along the Tulip Route.

The Tulip Route is completely free to cycle. You can view and download the route below. Please note! If you want to combine the cycle route with a visit to Keukenhof or one of the other attractions, you can book here .

Route to Tuliproute starting point

The Tulip Route can be started from various points. Below we have indicated the best starting locations.

If you come to Lisse by car, you can start at three locations.

The best place to start the Tulip Route is at Keukenhof flower park. There is a large car park where you can buy a day ticket for just € 10.00. (Reserve your day ticket). ( Reserve your day ticket ) You can also hire bicycles and tandems at Keukenhof Bike Rental .

Would you like to cycle the Tulip Route with your own bike ? Park in the centre of Lisse on the Bondstraat. You can park here for free.

If you park somewhere else in the centre of Lisse, do not park in a blue zone. There you may only park for free for 2 hours.

Would you like to cycle the Tulip Route with a rental bike , tandem or rental scooter ? Then start at De Hertjes on the border of Lisse & Hillegom. Navigate to Veenenburgerlaan 73A in Hillegom. There is plenty of free parking space for customers of the bike rental. You can also rent an electric bicycle here.

Note | It is mandatory to reserve your rental bike in advance . Look here for the possibility.

If you come by public transport, start at Keukenhof Flower Park. From 24 March to 15 May 2022, special Keukenhof buses will be leaving from various NS Stations and bus stops in the area. So you can easily travel from Amsterdam, Haarlem, Schiphol Airport, Leiden, Noordwijk and Katwijk.

Please note: In 2022 it is compulsory to reserve a time slot for the Keukenhof buses .

Would you like to cycle to the start of the Tulip Route? Then use the cycle junction system to get to junction 9 1 in Lisse.

During the opening of Keukenhof, two guided bicycle tours depart daily from Hotel Lowietje in Lisse. For only € 45.00 (rental bike included) you will hear the story of the flowers from an enthusiastic local guide.

More information about the Keukenhof guided bike tour »

Along the Tulip Route there are many beautiful flower fields to admire. Via the Flower Map below, you can see exactly which fields are in bloom. This way, you can prepare yourself even better for a wonderful day in the spring!

Tips Bollenstreek

Come and enjoy between beach and city and discover Holland from the most beautiful holiday region of the Netherlands. View our tips below.

Breathe in the healthy sea air and enjoy the beach & dunes in the Netherlands
Enjoy the colorful flower fields in the Netherlands and Keukenhof Flower Park
Discover the real Netherlands in the polders & lakes area of the Netherlands
A day out to a city? You will find no fewer than eight historic Dutch cities around the Bollenstreek
A day out? Read our Tips for a Day Out ?
Take a look at one of the many museums in and around the Bollenstreek
Fancy an active day? Enjoy one of the cycling routes and walking routes .

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IMAGES

Guide To Visiting Keukenhof Tulip Gardens Amsterdam
Book Dutch Tulip Fields Tour In Amsterdam
Keukenhof Gardens and Tulip Fields Tour from Amsterdam
A bike ride along the tulip fields near Amsterdam Tulip Fields
Amsterdam Tulips How To See These Majestic Blooms in 2020
Amsterdam Spring Staycation

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Tulip Fields in Amsterdam 😍 #travel #amsterdam #tulipfestival

COMMENTS

9 Best Tulip Tours From Amsterdam To See Tulip Fields in 2024
The private tulip tour departs at NH Hotel Amsterdam Barbizon Palace, less than a 5-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station to the garden, Keukenhof. After visiting Keukenhof, you have 30 minutes to take pictures in the fields with the tulips. Afterward, it is time for Delft.
Tulip Tours Holland
Embark on a breathtaking journey through the Dutch tulip fields with our exclusive 6-hour tours. Departing from Amsterdam, we guide you through the picturesque landscapes of North Holland's vibrant tulip farms. Ideal for nature enthusiasts and photography aficionados. Book now for an unforgettable experience, available in English and Dutch.
Tulip Experience Amsterdam
Wim Pennings started the tulip nursery in 1951, and today, it is run by his son Simon. Tulip Experience Amsterdam is led by granddaughter Sylvia, with support from her parents Simon & Hetty. Even granddaughters Sophie, Lucy and Alice help out as well as great-granddaughters Lola and Frenkie! Read more about our mission.
Discover the tulip fields in Holland with these sightseeing tours
Experience it for yourself with the sightseeing Keukenhof boat tour. This tour takes 45 minutes and starts at the windmill in Keukenhof flower park. During the cruise, you will hear the story of the tulip fields in Holland via an audio tour. As the departure point is in Keukenhof Gardens, you will need a ticket for Keukenhof as well as a boat ...
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Where are the tulip fields in Amsterdam? Tulip fields outside Keukenhof. ... Tours from Amsterdam Price; Tulip Shuttle only : € 27.50: Book now: Tulip Shuttle + Keukenhof: € 42.50: Book now: Tulip Shuttle + Keukenhof + windmill cruise: € 52.50: Book now: Guided tour + Keukenhof + tulip farm visit:
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Since 2015 we've been bringing bringing people to see tulip and hyacinth fields near Amsterdam. Last year's clientele included Barack Obama! It was quite a privilege and you can read all about our presidential visit here. Our tours always feature a maximum of eight people. They're cliche-free and guests love the relaxed and friendly vibe.
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Bloemencorso is a breathtaking flower parade showcasing intricately decorated floats adorned with flowers. The parade is scheduled for April 20th, 2024, starting in Noordwijk and concluding its route in Haarlem. Along the way, the parade will make stops at tulip fields and Keukenhof.
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Tulip Experience Amsterdam was established in late 2019, partly in response to growing tourism in the Flower Bulb Region and increasing pressure on the bulb fields (the production fields). The Tulip Experience informs visitors about the hard work performed by bulb growers, providing the opportunity to take amazing photos without damaging the ...
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Amsterdam, Netherlands. Springtime private tour to Keukenhof, tulip fields and windmills. 12. from $275.50. Price varies by group size. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Private Tour to the Keukenhof. 4. from $282.49.
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In the flower field, our guide will tell you the story of Dutch tulips and, of course, you'll take as many photos as you like. Depending on traffic the tour takes 45 - 60 minutes, with about 20 of those being in the tulips or hyacinths field. Our tour departs from and returns to Keukenhof. If you're in the gardens before our tour, simply ...
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Our Keukenhof & Tulips Tour from Amsterdam incudes transport to Keukenhof and a tour of the surrounding flower field area. Our Off-The-Beaten-Track Tour whisks you to the tulip fields north of Amsterdam and away from the crowds of Keukenhof. In general, mass tourism hasn't cuaght hold of tulip fields yet. We hope that it stays that way.
Private Keukenhof Tulip Fields Tour From Amsterdam
The Keukenhof Gardens are easy, if time-consuming, to reach by public transit, but to capture the perfect tulip field vistas you need a private vehicle. This half-day tour delivers that in style, with door-to-door transfers in the comfort of your own Mercedes-Benz V-Class, S-Class, or E-Class, and onboard Wi-Fi too. Start by touring a tulip farm, then enjoy and explore at your own pace.
Exclusive Tulip Safari Tour with local guide
Exclusive Tulip Safari Tour. Explore the tulip fields with a local guide in a Land Rover Defender. Along the way, you will see and hear all about Holland's symbol, the tulip. You will go on safari exclusively with a small group (max. 8 people). Including local guide (English/Dutch) who knows where the best flower fields are blooming.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant beauty of Holland's tulip fields with
On our private tulip tours from Amsterdam, you will experience the prettiest, most vibrant flower fields. You will enjoy breathtaking, idyllic Dutch landscapes with historic windmills and pristine villages, nestled between fields of yellow, red, purple, white, and orange tulips. We know the best tulip fields away from the crowds!
Tulip Field with a Dutch Windmill Tour from Amsterdam
Keukenhof Entrance and Windmill Cruise from Amsterdam. 36. from $64.85. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam: Keukenhof Tulip Gardens and Giethoorn with Boat Tour. 60. from $162.40. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans Windmills Day Trip from Amsterdam.
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from. $97.64. 5. Journey through the Netherlands' "flower bulb region". Head west out of Amsterdam and into the Bollenstreek, or "flower-bulb region.". A small-group guided tour will take you along rural roads—lined by flower fields on both sides—that big tour buses just can't reach. TulipFields of Holland tour.
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The Dutch tulip fields are a dream for every flower lover and every spring, during the tulip season, these fields are inundated with people trying to capture that beauty on camera and retina. In the flower language, tulips symbolise perfect or deep love. Red tulips meaning is eternal love and passion. Pink tulips symbolise happiness and confidence.
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Full-Day Private Guided Countryside Tour from Amsterdam by Bike. 2. from $327.30. Price varies by group size. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam: Keukenhof Tulip Gardens and Giethoorn with Boat Tour. 59. from $162.56. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Welcome to Keukenhof
Keukenhof is open from March 21 through May 12. from 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., including Sundays and holidays.
Sightseeing the tulip fields in Holland with a private tour
Please note that these prices do not include Keukenhof tickets. Tickets for the attractions you wish to visit must be purchased by yourself. Private tour. Group price. Car (max. 4 persons) € 550.00. Book now. Bus (max. 8 persons) € 750.00.
Tulip Route Netherlands: 3 road trips around the flower fields near
Visit the Dutch tulip fields near Amsterdam for free on a one-day road trip by car. We'll give you 3 scenic tulip routes in the Netherlands! Netherlands February 2, 2022 March 9, 2023. ... The best part is that if you come during the month of April, you can view the fields for free while taking a fantastic tour of the Netherlands.
How to see the tulip fields near Amsterdam for free by a local
1 Check the Weather & Flower Forecast. 2 Option 1: Take the bus to Keukenhof and walk to the tulip fields in the Netherlands near Keukenhof for free! 2.1 Step 1: Go to Schiphol Airport by train and exit the airport. 2.2 Step 2: Buy a one-way ticket to Keukenhof (the bus station)
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Tulip training. After testing our cycling chops during a few days on the streets of Amsterdam, we headed south on the 45-minute Intercity train ride (€12) to tulip country. From the windows of our double-decker carriage, we got a tantalizing glimpse of fields with rows of bright pink, orange, red and white forming almost kaleidoscopic ...
Tulip route: cycle tour along the tulip fields
The Tulip Route is a 15-kilometre cycle route along the tulip fields near Keukenhof flower park and is fun for young and old to cycle. Of course you will pass many flower fields, but along the route you can also stop at many attractions, monuments and a tulip farm and show gardens, which can be combined for an ideal day out in the spring.
Amsterdam tulip fields! : r/travel
To answer your question: I haven't been back in a while, but from what I've found online the the tulip fields will definitely have been harvested by mid May, and most likely by the end of this month. De Tulperij, Keukenhof and Tulip Experience seem to close on the 12th of May. On a more pedantic note: the tulip fields aren't in Amsterdam.