Visiting the Tulip Fields in the Netherlands
During the months of April and May, the region of South Holland, and many other areas in The Netherlands turn into one colorful field of flowers. Many people will think of Tulips when they think of the Netherlands, and whilst most flower fields are indeed Tulips, there are also some other flowers blooming during this time of year. If you are looking for a fun weekend break or sunny sunday activity, visiting the tulips is a great option.
Where to Stay
If you plan on staying in the South Holland region, know that these months is peak season for this area, hence the prices will be higher. If you are willing to lower expenses, consider booking an airbnb or hostel in the region. We stayed at an Airbnb in Leiden which I have linked here.
Find a Place to Stay on Booking.com
How to Get around?
Having a car will be a bonus for this region. Not necessarily to explore the tulips themselves, but to get around from region to region. However, it is possible to do this by public transport as well. If you want to explore the area by train, check out the NS Website for up to date information on the schedule. I also highly recommend getting a bike to see the tulips bloom.
We rented city bikes (standard 7 gear) from a nearby camping ground for 10EUR per bike/ per day.
If you are traveling internationally, and would like to rent a car, check out sixt.nl
Where to Go?
Like mentioned before, there are many areas to go to and see the Tulip fields. My personal favorite is the province of South Holland. In particular the region around Leiden and Lisse is filled with flower fields. On the map below you can see some highlighted cities where you can bike around. Click here for a 35KM bike route which you can follow whilst exploring the area.
What to Look out For?
Visiting the Tulip fields has become a bit controversial the last few years. Many farmers enjoy respectful tourists and want to show them their beautiful fields, but once those tourists start lacking respect, it can quickly become ugly. You have to know that these tulip fields are their main source of income throughout the year. This is why you will see many fields closed off to the public by a fence or some other form of restricted access. Please always be respectful when exploring this area. Always ask for permission and do not enter without it. If an area is clearly closed off it means the farmers do not want you to enter the fields.
Most of our photos are taken in front of the fields rather than in between the lines of tulips. The ones that are inside the flower fields, we got permission from the farmer to take those pictures. Never pluck flowers without asking + paying for them. We saw they were priced somewhere around the 2EUR mark, which really isn’t much, so just pay!
Places Worth Visiting:
If you are a bit afraid of entering fields, not sure what the permissions are, here are some places that will be worth visiting and welcome tourists with open arms. The crowds will most likely be higher at these spots rather than random fields, but at least you will know you have permission to walk & take pictures there.
Tulip Barn
The Tulip Barn is a tulip garden with 100+ different types of tulips. You can visit here and take your picture perfect instagram photos as they have many different attributes set up throughout the fields. It also ensures that you get to be inside the fields without ruining anything.
Tulperij
If you’d like to pick your own flowers & visit a tulip farm, the Tulperij is the perfect spot. They also organize excursions to learn more about the tulips and have an adorable store where you can find the perfect souvenir for your trip.
Bloemencorso + Lichtjes corso
Each year there is a massive event called “Bloemencorso” or “Flower Parade” in English. This parade showcases trucks and cars who have turned flowers into impressive sculptures. The night before the parade there is also a light show (Lichtjes Corso) which is a unique experience as well.
Watch the video below to see what the parade was like.
Keukenhof
Keukenhof is on of the largest flower fields in the Netherlands, it is open for a 2,5 month long period each year whenever the flowers are blooming. Due to a high volume of tourists, Keukenhof has become a bit of a tourist trap where you pay a high ticket price for overcrowded fields. However, if you manage to get there yourself (without a tourbus) you will most likely get the place a lot less crowded during the morning hours of 8-9am.
It is absolutely beautiful inside Keukenhof, and if you have limited time, I would still recommend going there, however if you have the option to just explore outside & rent bikes, then do this instead!
Things to do in the neighborhood
If you want to stay a bit longer in the Netherlands, there are plenty of fun things to do in the area during these months. Here are some must do activities near the Tulip Fields.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the Capital of the Netherlands is located in the nearby province of North Holland. There are plenty of day trips to the Tulip Fields from Amsterdam, so if you’ve never been, this could be a good homebase too.
Kingsday
In April, there is one of the biggest dutch national holidays called Kingsday (Koningsdag) where the whole country turns orange and celebrates the Royal Family. There is usually a lot of drinking involved, so if this isn’t your scene I would avoid the cities on Kingsday.
Kinderdijk
We combined or Tulips Trip with a trip to Kinderdijk, a Unesco World Heritage Site with 19 traditional windmills. Which are another iconic image when thinking of the Netherlands. The city of Kinderdijk is quite small, and you could see the site in about an hour if you do the free tour, and about 2-3 hours if you do the paid tour.
Rotterdam
The second biggest city in the Netherlands is called Rotterdam. It is located not far from the Tulip Fields (a bit more south) and is a perfect city break that is just a bit uniquer than Amsterdam. There are many historical sites, as well as unique buildings and shopping which you can do in Rotterdam.
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