How and The place to See the Well-known Tulips within the Netherlands

Annually, the Netherlands is blanketed by tulips in virtually each coloration, making it a once-in-a-lifetime vacation spot for flower fanatics. “You’d by no means guess there are such a lot of great species, they usually are available in all sizes and styles,” Willeke te Flierhaar, the advertising and marketing and communications director on the De Hortus Botanicus gardens, shares. 

Jacu Strauss, inventive director of Lore Group (which owns the Journey + Leisure reader-favorite resort Pulitzer Amsterdam), will get much more poetic about it: “Tulips—and delightful recent flowers normally—are synonymous with the Netherlands, so there’s nothing extra particular than visiting the nation when these are in peak bloom—it’s like Vermont in fall or D.C. throughout cherry blossom season. The climate can also be great throughout tulip season, so extra time will be spent outdoor exploring, having fun with an al fresco supper or night strolls.”

Seeing these tulips in full bloom does take just a little planning, however we have got you lined with skilled suggestions. This is easy methods to plot the proper journey to the Netherlands to see the tulips blooming this spring. 

When to See the Tulips

The official Netherlands tourism web site says that the standard tulip season begins in late March and is over by mid-Might, that means the tulips often peak round mid-April. As for this yr, Holland.com famous, “Over the previous months, planting circumstances have been favorable, permitting the bulbs to root properly. The climate forecast for the approaching month appears to be like promising, with reasonably chilly temperatures.” Keukenhof, arguably some of the well-known locations to see the tulips in Holland, will probably be open from March 20 to Might 11. There’s additionally an annual flower parade that is slated for April 12 this yr; the route is 26 miles lengthy and can finish in Haarlem.

In case you’re planning a visit this spring, Strauss suggests reserving instantly. “I’d all the time advocate reserving as quickly as potential,” he stated. “It’s a busy time for Amsterdam, so to make sure your choose of actions, the earlier, the higher.”

The place to See the Tulips

Keukenhof is the preferred spot to see the tulips within the spring. Annually, the backyard’s landscaping execs plant a whopping seven million bulbs, which must be within the floor earlier than Christmas to make sure they’ve hibernation interval and can bloom for spring. Nevertheless, it is a true year-round effort, because the workforce works all through the summer time and fall to work with growers to assemble sufficient bulbs and designers to place collectively the gorgeous patterns. The bulbs are additionally planted in layers, which permits for an extended blooming interval. The gardens host occasions all through the season like flower reveals and the Holland Heritage Days. Tickets begin at about $20 for adults. Keukenhof is positioned in Lisse, a couple of 40-minute drive from Amsterdam, and the best option to get to the backyard is by public transport (a bus), driving there in your personal automotive or taxi, or by reserving a guided tour from Amsterdam. 

Keukenhof is a part of the bigger Flower Strip, also called Bollenstreek, a 12-mile strip of tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths that stretch from Haarlem to Leiden. In line with Holland.com, one of the simplest ways to expertise it’s by bike, which is able to take you thru villages together with Sassenheim, Hillegom, Lisse, and Noordwijkerhout. You can additionally lease a two-seater all-electric car from Renzy.

One other option to see the tulips is by hopping on the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS, the Dutch nationwide railway firm) on its Haarlem-to-Leiden route. As Journey + Leisure beforehand reported, the journey passes by way of the city of Noordwijkerhout, a neighborhood well-known for its blooms. The city’s official web site famous, “You’ll be able to scent and see daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips all over the place.”

Vacationers are additionally welcome to go to De Tulperij, about 40 minutes outdoors town heart, which is without doubt one of the few working tulip farms that enables excursions. You’ll be able to even choose tulips to convey residence, or if you happen to’re touring in a gaggle, you’ll be able to arrange a guided tour to be taught every little thing there’s to learn about farming these famed flowers. 

And if you happen to’re in search of the proper Instagram spot, head proper to the Tulip Barn, a backyard containing greater than 200 kinds of tulips and a couple of million blooms that’s punctuated by Instagram-worthy props like tractors and a windmill. The barn additionally has a greenhouse and a small cafe, which is ideal for a relaxation after taking all these snaps, together with a playground and youngsters’s space, making it preferrred for the complete household.

After all, there are many locations to see the well-known Dutch blooms in Amsterdam, too. “Clearly the skin backyard of Hortus Amsterdam—we now have tulip exhibitions yearly,” te Flierhaar stated when requested the place folks ought to go to see the tulips. “We attempt to have as many particular species as potential, and they’re on present in large pots across the backyard, and there’s a beautiful little tulip subject close to our rock backyard too.” 

There’s additionally Vondelpark, Erasmus Park, and in case of rain, there’s the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, which showcases the nation’s historical past with the flowers.

There’s another option to see the tulips that is particularly attractive to those that love a thrill: a helicopter journey. Vacationers can e book a helicopter flight over the flower fields on both Saturday, April 12, or Sunday, April 13, or the next weekend on Saturday, April 19, or Sunday, April 20 for about $175 per particular person.

Suggestions for Visiting

There are many methods to trace the blooms earlier than and through your journey. “We all the time publish updates in regards to the tulips on our web site and social media,” te Flierhaar shared. “So keep tuned for that by way of dehortus.nl/en or observe us on Instagram @hortusamsterdam.” You may also observe the blooms by way of this 2025 Flower Forecast, which The Tulip Pageant updates all through the season.

Irrespective of the place or if you go, it’s important to be respectful of the blooms, standing beside them and by no means on them, to allow them to convey pleasure to different vacationers all through this season and the subsequent. “When you end up standing beside a brilliantly coloured flower subject, it may be all too tempting to cost in amongst the flowers. Resist the urge,” the Noordwijk city web site reads. “The flowers and bulbs are fragile, and in case you have any plant ailments in your sneakers, you danger taking them in with you. This is able to be a pity for nature but in addition a significant loss for the growers. So benefit from the view, however please present respect for the flowers and grower: don’t enter the fields with out the grower’s categorical consent.” 

So do not contact the fragile blooms, however do take 1,000,000 photographs and recollections with you if you go.