One of the most iconic vistas of the Netherlands are the endless tulip fields in multitude of colours. Sometimes with a windmill at the horizon, to make the view even more Dutch. We will tell you when and where to see them!
Keep in mind that this spectacular view can be seen only in a limited time during the spring. As all flowers, tulips bloom within a specific timeframe, then they are cut and all you can see in the fields are rows of green stems (and some fallen flower leftovers). We have friends who visited Holland and saw only empty fields, so read on and plan well!
When to Visit the Tulip Fields in the Netherlands?
See tulip fields when they are in full bloom
The flowering time varies a bit every year due to the weather conditions. They will bloom more less from the last week of March until the end of April/beginning of May. You can see the most spectacular tulip garden in the world from 23 March until 14 May 2023.
Where Are the Tulip Fields in the Netherlands?
1. Lisse
Tulip fields in Lisse
The most recommended – and the most famous place to see the tulip fields is Lisse. That’s because apart from long rows of pretty colourful fields, Lisse has the greatest national flower treasure: the splendid Keukenhof gardens (details below).
1.1. Lisse By Bus
Tulip fields in the Netherlands – Lisse
The easiest solution is to take a bus 858 from Schiphol Airport (the Amsterdam airport). There are special deals for bus tickets combined with entrance ticket to Keukenhof gardens at discounted prices. You will find a detailed and always updated information on stops, routes, prices and timetables of the buses here.
It’s easy to find the bus at the station – it is painted all over with huge vividly coloured tulips ;)
1.2. Lisse By Bike
Bike trip among the tulip fields in Noordwijkerhout in the Netherlands
Lots of people rent a bike to live the real Dutch experience: riding a bike along flowering tulip fields :) The Dutch spring may be much more sunny than you expect, so on a serene day it’s really a great pleasure. Apart from that, bike is best also for taking pictures. That’s because you can stop wherever you want and avoid more crowded areas.
Taking a bike directly from Amsterdam may not be for everybody, but you can come to the area by bus and rent a bike already in Lisse or nearby areas. The price of rental starts at EUR 7.5 for half a day. We will soon add all the information on where to rent a bike, prices and the best Flower Routes.
1.3. Lisse By Car
Kevin, CEO of Euroviajar.com doing “field research” among the tulip fields in Lisse
Another option is renting a car, however the village roads along the fields are narrow and so a traffic jam of visitors stopping to photograph the fields forms up quite easily.
Lisse is between Amsterdam and The Hague. Take the A4 highway and exit in Nieuw-Vennep; or take A44 highway and take exit 3 in Lisse.
2. Keukenhof Gardens
The ultimate tulip mania experience awaits you in fascinating Keukenhof Gardens with 7 million bulbs of 800(!) varieties of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths! That’s something you can see only in the Netherlands! There are thematic compositions and patterns created by the flowers of different types and colours with centuries’ old tradition of the Dutch gardening.
It’s fascinating even for people not easily impressed by flowers (like men, for instance)! The gardens are huge and they include a museum of tulips, a 100-year-old windmill, several cafes, restaurants and flower and souvenir shops. In other words: it’s a truly enchanting place to spend half a day. Highly recommended.
Keukenhof Info
The entrance ticket is EUR 17 on-line or EUR 18 in the ticket office, but better buy a deal with a bus ticket (as explained above in the By Bus section).
The opening time this year: 23 March – 14 May 2023
1 h 30 mins by bus or train+bus from Amsterdam
Here are some good deals for organized trips to Keukenhof:
Hotels in near Keukenhof and tulip fields:
Stay for a night to fully enjoy the area – it’s totally worth it! We recommend the following hotels:
Hotel Restaurant & Casino De Nachtegaal
3. Duin en Bollenstreek – “Dune and Bulb Region”
Tulip Route in Bollenstreek – Dune and Bulb Region
Between the cities of Leiden, The Hague and Haarlem, there is a coastal stripe of particularly fertile lands famous for flower growing and sand dunes. It includes towns of Hillegom, Katwijk, Lisse, Noordwijk, Noordwijkerhout and Teylingen. Among these towns, the most famous ones are Lisse – described above – and Noordwijkerhout.
The best option is to go there by bike or rent a bike at spot. The routes close to Noordwijk and Noordwijkerhout are exceptionally beautiful with the coastal views, rural areas and – of course – long tulip fields.
Hotels near beach and tulip fields:
See the tulip fields from the air!
4. Tulpenroute – “Tulip Route” in Flevoland
Tulip sea in the Tulip Route in Flevoland
Until about 50 years ago, Flevoland province was covered by the sea. By building the polders – typical Dutch low fields of land enclosed by dikes – these areas were reclaimed from the sea. Nowadays, there are huge quantities of flowers grown on these particularly fertile rural terrains.
Tulpenroute – the Tulip Route – lets you visit the countryside around the towns of Dronten, Lelystad and Zeewolde along excellent bike routes.
Tulip Route Info
This year the theme of Tulpenroute Flevoland is the Dutch Golden Ag. It was the period in the 17th century when the commerce and stock exchange of tulips contributed greatly to the wealth of the Netherlands.
More information here.
Hotels in Lelystad near tulip fields:
5. Visit Tulip Farm & Windmills in North Holland
How about a Dutch lunch in the middle of a fragrant tulip field? -Photo by Tulip Tours Holland
If you want to visit an idyllic Dutch countryside not crowded by tourists, head to the pretty North Holland region. To make the most of your visit, take a tour with a friendly local tulip farmer from Tulip Tours Holland! Knowing everything about tulips, he will show you his own real tulip farm, explain how the bulbs are grown, and take you to one of the oldest windmills in the Netherlands.
Normally you can’t walk among the tulip rows. However, during a tour you will be allowed to do it, so that you can take all those perfect dreamy photos in the middle of the endless rows of flowers! During the trip, you can order a photoshoot with a professional photographer, resulting in photos like this one!
Like an impressionist painting… Photo by Tulip Tours Holland
For an authentic experience of tulip fields, I highly recommend Tulip Tours Holland with Mike Zwart. He will give you an entertaining tour in a bulb farm with 50 species of flowers, show you the prettiest tulip fields and a windmill and… invite you for a lunch among tulips! How nice is that?!
Here are the options of tours with Mike, starting from Amsterdam, or you can just visit a farm, arriving on your own:
- Dutch countryside tulip group tour from Amsterdam
- Private Tour: Tulip and Windmills from Amsterdam
- Visit a real Tulip farm
See the most iconic Dutch view! Photo by Tulip Tours Holland
6. Professional Photoshoot in Tulip Fields
A photo every woman dreams about… – copyright Celia from The Lightbox Tales
Only one thing can be better than seeing the sea of colours of the tulip fields: having spectacular photos among them. Forget selfies and blurry smartphone photos. Your memories will never fade away, if you let a professional photographer capture them for you.
Keep your precious memories forever – copyright Celia from The Lightbox Tales
There are many options: Women can express all their femininity in a beautiful dress in the middle of the flowers. Couples can have their romantic moments captured in this unforgettable location. And how about a super-original wedding session in the tulip fields? You can also have family photos or a session with your kids running through the fields.
You decide – and Celia from The Lightbox Tales – a professional photographer from Amsterdam – will turn your dreams into perfect pictures. She will meet you in Amsterdam and take care of you. She provides private transportation by car from Amsterdam to the tulip fields and back (for up to 4 people). She knows where the most beautiful tulip and hyacinth fields are. She will choose the best time and light. The photoshoots are completely private, you can feel free to try all the poses you want. Let her take the most splendid photos you’ve ever had.
Nothing enhances woman’s beauty more than flowers! Copyright Celia from The Lightbox Tales
There is one more reason for hiring a professional photographer. You actually can’t walk among the flower fields. It is strictly forbidden, as it may damage the fragile and precious flower bulbs. Celia, living in the Netherlands, has her own contacts and she has the permission to walk among the fields during her sessions. So if you want to have photos like the ones above – I highly recommend you to talk to Celia!
7. Tulip Festival in Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam with tulips in bloom for Amsterdam Tulip Festival
If you only visit Amsterdam and don’t have time or interest to go out of the city to see tulip fields, you can still admire the flower-symbol of the Netherlands in the capital. Throughout the month of April, in multiple locations the Tulip Festival is held. The (very nice!) idea is to plant one tulip for each citizen of Amsterdam, making it 850,000 tulips in total. Hence, you will find tulip arrangements and little tulip gardens and displays in 85 places around the city.
All the information including locations, map, photos etc. is available here.
Read where to buy tulip bulbs – The Floating Flower Market in Amsterdam
Euroviajar’s Tip: Tulips & Windmills
The windmill in Keukenhof is one of the very few to be seen among the hyacinth and tulip fields
You may see in the internet photos of tulip fields with several windmills – attention: they don’t exist! These are photoshopped photos of Zaanse Schans windmills combined with Keukenhof Gardens.
There are some windmills in less known places, surrounded by flower meadows. Three sure places where you can actually photograph a windmill with tulip fields are:
- Keukenhof gardens – its windmill is a historical building that you can visit inside, too. There are tulips planted in the area in front of the entrance to the windmill in the gardens. The wide tulip fields like on the photo above are located outside the gardens, behind a canal and trees. Therefore, you can take such a photo when you finish your visit in the gardens and approach the fields from the outside.
- Hoogeveense windmill (with cute small Lageveensemolen opposite to it) in Noordwijkerhout at Leidsevaart, 2211 VP Lisse.
- In Noord Holland region near Venhuizen, during a trip to a real tulip farm and one of the oldest Dutch windmills.
Read about The 15 Best Places to See in The Netherlands
Tulip Mania
Rare tulip species were worth a fortune during the Tulip Mania
Tulips – originally the wild flowers from the Asian mountains – were first brought to Europe in 1554 from Istanbul. Back then it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. From there, they were introduced in Vienna and subsequently brought to Amsterdam.
The beautiful exotic flower soon became the status symbol of the emerging class of rich Dutch merchants. Tulips became fashionable, desired and therefore increasingly expensive. Their preciousness is reflected on their frequent appearance on the paintings from that era.
22 Beautiful Photos That Will Make You Fall In Love With The Netherlands
Tulip Richness
In the period of the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, the price of a single bulb of a rare species (in particular the double-coloured striped ones) reached the amount ten times higher then the annual income of craftsmen. One of the oldest forms of the exchange market emerged around the tulip trade. By contracting a particularly precious tulip bulb, it was possible for people from different social classes to enrich from one day to another.
Tulip Mania is considered the first documented speculative bubble in history. A lot of fortunes were made, until one day in 1637 the bubble burst – and the market collapsed completely.
The curious history of Tulip Mania is very well depicted in the film entitled Tulip Fever (2017). It is exquisite visually, with the scenography resembling the classic Dutch paintings from this period. It will make you want even more to see the famous tulip fields in the Netherlands!
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Full immersion in the tulip fields
Do you have questions or suggestions about the tulip fields in the Netherlands? Don’t hesitate to write a comment!
34 thoughts on “Tulip Fields in the Netherlands – When & Where (2023)”
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Your post is very helpful. We were planning to go to the Netherlands at the end of May, but now I see it’s too late to see the tulips in bloom, so you’ve “saved” us! :-) Thanks for that.
Thank you for the feedback Susan, I’m very glad we’ve saved you :D Actually, as I mentioned in the article, it happened to our friends – they visited the Netherlands just a dozen of days too late and they were very disappointed, so it’s good to plan the period well. Now it’s already a beautiful blooming spring in the Netherlands with perfect weather, so come as soon as you can!
Thank you, Dear!
We are considering coming in 7-9 days from today (30.4-1.5) to see Keukenhof and Flevoland (the tulip festival). Unfortunately I cannot seem to find the information /update regarding tulip situation. I have looked everywhere online..
Could you please assist? What do you think, is it too late?
Thank you so much.
Lin
Hi Lin, usually you can find detailed information only in Dutch, so I’m glad to help :) I’ve asked for the current tulip situation in Flevoland just now. The last days have been very hot, so the tulips grew a lot in a short time. Now they are in maximum bloom, so most of the tulip fields will be topped (the heads of tulips will be cut off) THIS WEEK. Unfortunately in 7-9 days it may be just a bit too late to see the fields.
The good news is that Keukenhof will surely be in full bloom in that period, because it’s a garden, not a field, so tulips are left there to bloom for much longer. Hundreds of very varied species of tulips in Keukenhof are planted in a planned way so that they bloom in different periods. Keukenhof this year is opened till 19 May and you are guaranteed that within the time of garden opening there are perfect blooming tulips to be seen. Last year I was there in mid May and the photos of Keukenhof in the article are mine so you can see for yourself they were in full bloom. Moreover, from Keukenhof gardens, in the area of the windmill, you can see some tulip fields outside the gardens – hopefully there will still be some flowers on the fields, too.
Plan to visit tomorrow. Are the Tulips Top Cut already ?
Plan to visit Tulip Gardens Tomorrow. Are the tulips top cut already?
Hi Malathi, good news: I’ve checked just now – the Tulip Gardens in Keukenhof still have splendid blooming tulips and you definitely can visit them tomorrow. That’s the last moment, the Gardens are open only until Sunday 19 May. Better buy a skip-the-line ticket in advance on-line – the Gardens are crowded on the last weekend before closing the season.
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Thank you Christian! We’re glad to help :)
In Noordwijkerhout, Bollenstreek area, you can go on a tour to discover all the ins and outs of growing tulips in a typical Dutch setting. Every year growers feels very honoured that many visitors are enjoying their tulips fields. The last few years a lot of these visitors walked into the fields without permission. This can be very dangerous for the harvest, so do not do it please.
Tulips and other flowers mainly bloom during spring. March through May is therefore the best time to visit the Netherlands if you want to watch them in bloom. The world’s most beautiful spring park, the Keukenhof, is open during this time. The Keukenhof is open from the end of March to mid-May. This is the period when the flowers are in bloom.
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Hello!
This article was great help. I’m in Amsterdam today and tomorrow and was thinking I’d be able to see some tulips even though it’s the end of the season, but I see that for many the cutoff was May 15th! Are there any tulip fields in the Netherlands that are still blooming?? I’ll do anything to see them if I still can!
Hi Kaia, I’m so sorry you’ve missed the tulip season! It’s rather too late to see them anywhere by now :( On the bright side, now you have a reason to come back to the Netherlands!
What is the area known as the”ruffian” famed for its tulips so named?
I would like to work in the tulip fields next year
Hiya! Thanks for the article, really informative. We have recently moved to the South of Netherlands and cannot wait for tulip season. I am trying to look for the details of Celia as you have mentioned her work a few times, the links are going to an error page, do you have an updated link by any chance? Thanks!
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