Traipsing through the tulips in the Netherlands had always been a dream of mine. That's why—after having to cancel travel plans multiple times due to the pandemic and other issues—come hell or high water in spring 2023, I was determined to finally make it happen!
If visiting the tulip fields in the Netherlands is also on your bucket list, then read on to find out five of my top tips for the best possible floral adventure!
Tip #1: Consider Staying Outside of Amsterdam
I've been to Amsterdam multiple times. There's a direct flight to Europe from my home airport, so it's quite often my first stop on any European adventure.
At first, I assumed the city of Amsterdam would be the best place to stay for my Netherlands tulip tour. However, as I started making my plans, I realized that Amsterdam during tulip season is incredibly expensive—even more so than it is usually. Hotels also fill up really quickly, too. And honestly, since the tulips are located in the countryside, it's really better to stay at one of the smaller towns nearby rather than in the bustling capital city itself.
So, instead of forking out the big bucks for my lodging in the urban center of Amsterdam, I decided to look at nearby towns for alternatives.
I was really happy I did.
I opted to stay in the neighboring town of Haarlem which I found to be exactly like Amsterdam in terms of architecture, canals, and ambiance—yet, it has only a tiny fraction of the people! I fell in love with it as soon as I arrived.
It's an easy city to get to from Schiphol. Just hop on bus 181 or 356 and either of them will take you directly to the bus stop at Haarlem's central train station in about 40 minutes.
From there, it was a short 15 minute walk to a darling (and inexpensive) hostel that I found on Hostel World called the Hello I'm Local Boutique Hostel. This hostel turned out to be a fantastic choice. It was quaint, cozy, and perfectly suited for my tulip adventures since they rented bikes right there at the hostel—and as you'll see in my next tip, biking was my preferred mode of transport to tour the tulip fields!
Tip #2: Ride a Bike to the Tulip Fields
As soon as I arrived at my hostel, I dropped off my bags since it was too early to check in (and even left a bag of laundry to be washed for only 10 euro) and then rented one of their bikes and took off for the tulip fields in Lisse.
These are the closest tulip fields to the Haarlem/Amsterdam area and one of the most popular areas to visit. There are other areas of the Netherlands to see the color-striped farm fields, but this was the area that I chose to focus on for this trip!
It only took me about an hour to ride to the tulip fields from Haarlem and the entire ride was absolutely beautiful. Take note that if I would have taken the same bike ride from Amsterdam, it would have been almost twice as long! So, yes, Haarlem was a much better place to stay if you want to ride a bike to the tulip fields. And honestly, is there a better way to visit the tulip fields in the Netherlands than on two wheels? I argue that there isn't!
I still remember how amazing it was to see the flower fields for the first time. I actually smelled them before I saw them. Now, I know that tulips don't have a fragrance, but tulips aren't the only flowers in bloom in spring in the Netherlands. As I pedaled closer to the flower fields, the sweet perfume of hyacinths filled the air, carried on a gentle breeze. It was obvious that I had just entered flower country! I rounded the corner and a breathtaking sight unfolded before me: a sea of purple stretched out like a painter's masterpiece, the petals glistening in the sunlight.
I can still remember how brightly I smiled when I saw that field of flowers for the first time. All of those years of waiting to see this and here it was actually coming to fruition! It was so much more stunning that I could have ever imagined.
Once I encountered that first field, the rest of the bike ride along that road was filled with one field of colorful blooms after another. Each field stretched out in long rows painted a kaleidoscope of colors: pink, purple, red, yellow, orange, white, and green. It was honestly just unbelievable how beautiful it was!
To be honest, I don't feel like I would have had the same experience if I had been in a car instead of the bike. On the bike, I took my time and stopped wherever I felt like it. I didn't have to find a parking place. Instead, I could literally just pull over to the side of the bike path and snap my photos and then ride on. It was exactly the type of experience I was looking for in tulip country!
Tip #3: Go to Keukenhof
While tourist attractions may not always be everyone's cup of tea, Keukenhof stands as a remarkable exception. This is the most popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands during tulip season, and seriously it should not be missed.
After my full-day excursion biking along the tulip fields, I rested up and then took the city bus the next morning from Haarlem back to the same area near Lisse that I had been the day before. I wanted to get to the gardens promptly at opening to avoid the crowds. Because I did that, I was able to walk around the entire park and get some fantastic photos almost people-free. The lighting was also excellent in the early morning hours which allowed the richness of the flowers to shine through in the photos.
Since I was there early, I could also make the reservations for the canal cruise which usually fill up by later in the afternoon. As a pro tip, you make these reservations at the little ticket booth by the windmill! It's the only windmill inside Keukenhof, so you can't miss it. Once you go into the park, just head towards the right, circle around, and you'll run right into the windmill. Just pick up one of the free maps at the entrance and you'll be sure not to get lost.
So why did I love Keukenhof so much?
The place is a flower lover's paradise, that's why. It's 79 acres of manicured gardens, flower fields, canals, lakes, ponds, gift shops, and indoor flower displays. According to their official website, about 7 million tulips are planted in the gardens annually.
Before I arrived, I assumed I'd probably only want to stay a couple of hours at the park and then move on and do something else for the rest of the day. I was so wrong! As soon as I entered the front gate, I did not want to leave. I ended up staying for more than 8 hours and could have easily stayed for longer. It was so peaceful and beautiful and an absolutely wonderful way to spend a relaxing spring day in the Netherlands surrounded by some of the most stunning gardens I had ever seen!
You must absolutely include at least a full day in your trip for Keukenhof, and take the boat tour (canal cruise), it's totally worth it!
Tip #4: Go During Peak Tulip Season
It's difficult to know when tulip season will be at its peak since it all depends on the temperatures and how warm or cold the previous winter was.
According to information on other websites, tulip season is supposed to be from late March until mid-May. However, I personally would not risk going too early or too late. If you go too early, the fields will just be green with only the tulip leaves and no blooms. If you go too late, the fields might actually all be harvested and will thereby just be empty expanses of brown soil. After all, the whole point of growing the tulips is to sell the bulbs, so once the flowers have bloomed, they cut them, sell them and then harvest the bulbs for market.
I feel that it's probably safe to say that regardless of the year, if you plan your trip sometime during mid April, then there's a good chance you'll get there for peak season. I did a lot of research before my trip and this is when I went. I arrived on April 13 and left on April 15 and it was absolutely perfect! Seriously, every field was awash with color and Keukenhof was brilliant. Plus, the temperatures were ideal. I fully understand that I very much much got lucky with the weather as it could have been cold and rainy the entire time. But honestly, even if it had been rainy I think it still would have been beautiful. Have you ever tried capturing photos of flowers on a cloudy, rainy day? Surprisingly, they radiate a depth of color and vibrancy that's often muted in full sunlight.
So, when you're making your plans, just remember, peak season is in mid-April and plan accordingly!
Tip #5: Show Respect for the Blooming Fields
Remember to have respect for the flower fields and do not enter any without permission. As already stated, these are actual working farms, not tourist attractions! If you go out into these fields without permission, you take the chance of damaging these precious petals and destroying the farmer's livelihood. So, just don't do it! Believe me, no photo is worth the risk of trespassing on someone else's property!
Making Your Tulip Dream a Reality
Embarking on a springtime journey to the Netherlands ranks among the most memorable trips I've ever taken—and trust me, I've been on quite a few!
The success of this adventure largely stemmed from meticulous planning; knowing precisely when to visit, where to find the most breathtaking tulip displays, selecting ideal accommodations, navigating transportation options, and sidestepping the crowds.
As I reflect on my journey, I have absolutely no regrets and would eagerly return to the Netherlands during tulip season in a heartbeat and do it this exact same way again!
So, what about you....Are you ready to embark on your own tulip-filled escapade in the Netherlands?
Or perhaps you've amassed some invaluable insights from your own tulip trips that you've taken in the past?
Don't hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments below—I'd love to hear from you!
