👍 My Top Places to see Tulips in the Netherlands (all info in one place)  (2024)

The Netherlands is famous for its beautiful tulip fields, which are in full bloom during the spring season. Every year, thousands of visitors and I flock to the countryside to witness the stunning colourful tulips stretching as far as the eye can see. If you are planning a tulip trip in the Netherlands during the spring season, then you simply cannot miss out on the chance to see these breathtaking tulip fields in person. In this blog post, I will guide you through my best places to see tulip fields in the Netherlands, so that you can create unforgettable memories. Let’s go!
🛈 Important: I recommend seeing tulip fields in the third part of April (end of April) – they are blooming fully but aren’t chopped yet by farmers.

Flevoland Tulip Route

This is my most favourite place to see tulips in the Netherlands. Flevoland is a province in the Netherlands that has the largest tulip area in NL but not everyone knows it. This relatively new province was created in the 20th century from reclaimed land and has since become a hub for agriculture, including the cultivation of tulips. In the springtime, the landscape of Flevoland is transformed into a sea of vibrant colours, with tulips of all varieties blooming across the vast fields. The tulip fields in Flevoland are not as well-known as those in other provinces but they offer a unique and breathtaking experience for everyone who ventures out to this lesser-known area (escape crowds!). The official organization – Tulip Route Flevoland.
👉Where: My mother-in-law is from that region, so she always guides us through the tulip fields. But for non-locals, there is a special tulip route created every year by the official organization Tulpenroute Flevoland (cooperation of tulip farms).
👉When: Tulpenroute Flevoland is from April 16th to May 7th, daily from 9.00 to 18.00.
👉Routes: You are free to go by bike, by car or hike. But the official Tulpenroute Flevoland organization offers three car routes: Dronten, Lelystad and Zeewolde. You can book a car ticket via Tulpenroute Flevoland and get a printed map at the location you booked, which will guide you through the area. Price is cheap.
👉Distance from Amsterdam: around 50 km from Amsterdam.
🛈 Advice: go by car because the area is large and you will see more. Alternatively, go by electric bike – more healthy! Enjoy!

Biking around Noordwijkerhout

Noordwijkerhout is a cool destination in the Netherlands for those seeking a tulip bike tour experience – an unforgettable way to experience the charm of the Netherlands during the spring season. Btw, Noordwijkerhout is a very little town decorated with flowers and tulips all over the place. Together with our friends, we rented bikes from a local bike shop (Rent-a-Bike van Dam) and they gave us the tulip route map for free.
👉Route: you get the tulip route map for free from the bike shop.
👉Price: around 13-15 Eur per day per bike.
Distance from Amsterdam: 45 km from Amsterdam
🛈 My Advice: 1) Rent an electric bike. I was happy but exhausted after biking the whole day on a normal bike. The tulip route is quite large there. 2) Reserve your bike in advance.

Tulip Farm De Tulperij

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We visit this place during the tulip season in spring, but also during the dahlia season in August. De Tulperij is located in Voorhout and is a family-owned tulip farm that offers a unique experience for visitors to explore and learn about the history and cultivation of tulips. The farm features a stunning display of tulips in bloom, with over 1,500 different varieties to admire. Visitors can take a guided tour of the fields, learn about the process of growing tulips, and even pick your own tulips to take home. In addition, De Tulperij also offers workshops on creating tulip bouquets and arrangements. And I love it because the women owners are very friendly there. And you can enjoy coffee/ tea with a cake in the tulip fields – what can be more amazing than this?
👉When: March 24 – May 14.
👉Entrance: free
👉To do there: 1) Walk yourself in the tulip gardens for free. 2) Family guided tour through tulips, daffodils and hyacinths for 3.95 Eur (reservation not needed). 3) Excursion with all the information for 6.95 Eur (reservation is here)
👉Location: De Tulperij, Oude Herenweg 16 B, 2215 RZ Voorhout.
40 km from Amsterdam, the province of South Holland.
👉Agenda with events and workshops: see their official website
🛈 My Advice: check opening times before your visit, some days they might close for a rest.

Bollenstreek area (Lisse) in South Holland

The Bollenstreek, also known as the Bulb Region, is a region in the Netherlands that is famous for its colourful tulip fields. Located in the south of Amsterdam, the Bollenstreek stretches from the coastal town of Noordwijk to the city of Haarlem.|
👉When: you can see tulips in bloom in this region from mid-April to early May.
👉How: You can explore the tulip fields by bike or car, or take a guided tour from various locations there.
👉Entrance: free if you don’t take a guided tour.
👉Locations: Some of the best places to see tulips include the fields around the towns of Lisse, Hillegom, and Noordwijkerhout, and Keukenhof Gardens, the largest flower garden in the world.
Live tulips map from the official area representative Bollenstreek.nl.
👉Cycle routes: route 1 (scroll down) & route 2.
👉Hiking routes: route 1 & route 2.
Distance from Amsterdam: 47 km from Amsterdam.
🛈 My Advice: Check the bloom time. Plan ahead. Respect the fields. Explore the area as there is more to the Bollenstreek than just tulip fields. Take some time to explore the charming towns, bike along the coast, or visit the local cheese shops and restaurants.

The Tulip Barn Farm

It is a small family-run tulip farm that offers visitors a unique and intimate tulip experience, with guided tours of the tulip fields and a fresh flower-picking experience. You can book tours and experiences online through the Tulip Barn website.
👉When: from April 7 till May 7.
👉Location: The Tulip Barn, 3e Loosterweg 130, 2182 CX Hillegom.
👉Distance from Amsterdam: 40 km from Amsterdam.
👉Price: 7.50 for entrance.
👉Their official web for more info.
🛈 My Advice: take public transport or a bicycle to get there! Simply take the train to Hillegom station, from there, it will take you about 15 – 20 minutes to walk.

Overcrowded but it is one of the most famous tulip destinations in the world for lazy people. If you do not have time to travel around tulips fields by car, bike or on foot – visit Keukenhof. It features a stunning display of over 7 million tulips in bloom, along with other flowers such as daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses.
👉When: 23 March – 15 May, from 8 am till 7.30 pm
👉Price: 19 Eur per ticket + Parking 6 Eur.
👉How to get there: by car. If you go by public transport bus, they offer combi tickets with pick up in Amsterdam RAI, Schiphol Airport, Haarlem and Leiden. See their official web.
👉Address: Stationsweg 166a, 2161 AM Lisse
Distance from Amsterdam: 46 km from Amsterdam.
👉Four Bike routes around Keukenhof.
🛈My Advice: There is beautiful Keukenhof Castle nearby the flower park – walk a bit more and visit it – it’s free and worth it.

Spring Flower Parades (Bloemencorso)

This one I never miss! Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, also known as the Bollenstreek Flower Parade, is an annual parade held in the Netherlands that showcases the region’s famous tulips and other spring flowers. It is one of the largest flower parades in the world and is a must-see event for anyone visiting the Netherlands during the tulip season.
Giang flower constructions, marching bands and other performers are going through a 42 km route – from Noordwijk to Haarlem, passing through several towns in the Bollenstreek region along the way.
👉When: On Saturday 22nd April 2023, the Bloemencorso flower parade will travel from Noordwijk to Haarlem.
👉Route and locations: can be found here
👉Entrance: free; you just have to know when and where the parade will pass.
👉You also can:
-Experience the parade from one of their seated grandstands (tickets here).
-Watch how the flower constructions are decorated in The Klinkenberg tennis hall in Sassenheim from Wednesday 19th to Friday morning 21st April (tickets here).
-View the Corso with lights at night. On April 21 at 9 p.m., they illuminate the floats with thousands of lamps as they drive through the charming village of Noordwijkerhout (official info here).
🛈My Advice: Come early to secure your spot, it might be crowded.

Agenda Flower Parade on 22nd April:

9.15 hrs Noordwijk (Leaves Koningin Wilhelminaboulevard)
11.11 hrs Voorhout (roundabout Jacoba van Beierenlaan)
11.57 hrs. Grandstand Sassenheim
14.00 hrs Sassenheim (departs from the Hoofdstraat after the lunch break)
14.28 hrs Grandstand Tulperij
15.22 hrs Lisse town centre
15.44 hrs Lisse Keukenhof
17.00 hrs Hillegom town centre
18.00 hrs Bennebroek (19.00 – departs from the Linneaueshof)
20.30 hrs Heemstede
21.30 hrs Haarlem

Experience not to miss: Helicopter flight over tulip fields

I really enjoyed my first helicopter flight last year! Tulip fields from bird’s view are unique and so beautiful.
When: between April 8 – April 29.
Prices: The price depends on the time of flight. A flight of 10-30 min might cost 160Eur – 1500Eur.
Book tickets here
🛈 My Advice: book as early as possible: availability is limited.

Experience not to miss: Sleeping in the tulip fields

Wake up with a view of colourful tulip fields from your windows. Some of the remaining flower bulb sheds are transformed into B&Bs. I recommend flower bulb sheds in Noordwijkerhout. Here are some for you to book:
–De Groene Bollen Schuur
–B&B Blossom
–B&B Pergamo
🛈 My Advice: book half a year in advance. A receptionist advised me that they are booked 1 year in advance. Important: every year the tulips are planned in different places to give rest to the soil, so check with these B&Bs in advance if they have tulips this year.

Experience not to miss: Pick your own Flower Farms (pluktuinen)

In the Netherlands, there are several farms (pluktuinen) where you can pick your tulips straight from the ground during the spring season. Here are some of them:
–Hanneke’s Pluktuin (Flevoland). On Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat from 10 am – 4 pm. Address: Ellerweg 18, Biddinghuizen.
–Tulip Farm “Annemieke’s Pluktuin” in Hillegom (South Holland): This pluktuin is known for its beautiful fields of tulips and other flowers. Times: from 9 am till 4 pm.
–Tulip Farm “De Tulperij” in Voorhout (South Holland): In addition to tulip picking, this farm offers guided tours and other experiences to learn more about the tulip industry in the Netherlands.

Short History of Tulips

It started with a single tulip bulb from Turkey, called the Tulipan or turban in English (tulband in Dutch). Dutch merchants who sailed the world in the prosperous 17th century, trading spices and luxury products, brought the tulip bulb home to what was then called the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.
In the 17th century, tulips became so valuable that they were used as a form of currency in the Netherlands, leading to a period known as “Tulip Mania”, with ladies of the French court paying 300 guilders for a tulip worn in their décolletage. In around 1630 prices per tulip rose to the point that 6,000 guilders were paid for a single bulb. This rare bulb was a Semper Augustus tulip and in January 1637 its price reached 10,000

guilders, which was sufficient to “purchase one of the grandest homes on the most fashionable canal in Amsterdam, complete with a coach house and an 80-ft (25-m) garden.” In the winter of 1636-1637, the market witnessed a steep surge in prices, with single tulip bulbs selling for as much as ten times the annual earnings of skilled crafts workers. However, in February 1637, the market suddenly collapsed when buyers stopped showing up at bulb auctions, causing the trade in tulip bulbs to come to an abrupt halt. This resulted in many individuals losing their fortunes overnight. Nonetheless, tulips still remained popular among connoisseurs, and despite the slower pace and lower prices, the trade in bulbs continued.

FAQs: I answer your questions

• When is the best time to see tulips in bloom?
  The tulip season in the Netherlands typically runs from mid-March to mid-May, with the peak bloom period occurring in mid-April. However, the exact timing of the bloom can vary depending on weather conditions.

• Where are the best places to see tulip fields in the Netherlands?
  Some of the best places to see tulip fields in the Netherlands include Keukenhof Gardens, the Bollenstreek area (Lisse), Noordoostpolder, and the Tulip Route Flevoland.

• Where to find maps of tulip routes in the Netherlands?
  You can refer to the official website here.

• Can I walk among the tulip fields?
  While it may be tempting to walk among the tulip fields, it is important to remember that these are working farms. Stay on the designated paths and do not pick the flowers or damage the fields in any way.

• Are there any tours or guided experiences available?
  Yes, there are many tours and guided experiences available for visitors to the tulip fields in the Netherlands. These include bike tours, bus tours, and walking tours.

• How do I get to the tulip fields?
  The tulip fields in the Netherlands are easily accessible by car, train, or bus. Some areas also offer bike rentals for visitors who want to explore the fields on their own.

• Is there an entrance fee to see the tulip fields?
  While some attractions such as Keukenhof Gardens do charge an entrance fee, many tulip fields in the Netherlands are free to visit.

• What happens to the tulips after they bloom?
  After the tulips have bloomed, the flowers are typically harvested and the bulbs are replanted or sold for export.

• What other flowers can be seen in the Netherlands during the tulip season?
  In addition to tulips, visitors to the Netherlands during tulip season can also see other flowers such as daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses.
  -Daffodils bloom from Mid March till Mid-April
  -Hyacinths bloom end of March to the end of April
  -Tulips bloom from mid-April to early May

Consequences of Walking in the Tulip Fields

🔹 Damage to the flowers: Bacterias brought by shoes to the fields can cause damage to the flowers and the bulbs, which affects the growth and beauty of the tulips in the future.
🔹Safety concerns: without proper footwear, muddy tulip fields can be dangerous. You may also accidentally step on a sharp object or a broken bulb, which can cause injury.
🔹Protection of private property: Many tulip fields are privately owned, and walking on them without permission is considered trespassing.
🔹Environmental impact: Tulip fields are part of delicate ecosystems, and walking on them can cause soil erosion, disrupt the habitats of insects and animals, and damage the natural balance of the ecosystem.
I know it is difficult, so be reasonable!

My top places to see tulip fields, The Netherlands
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