The Ultimate Guide to Holland’s Tulip Season 2023

Spring is THE best time to visit the Netherlands. It’s tulip season! The tulip fields of the Netherlands are in full bloom and are just waiting to be explored. Keukenhof is the most-well known place to go, but we’ve put together an ultimate guide to Holland’s tulip fields to give you the best flower powered trip ideas this spring. Discover the best flower fields in Holland, Amsterdam, Lisse, and much more!

Find even more fun things to do in Holland in our Netherlands travel guide.

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When is the best time to see tulips in the Netherlands?

The tulip season in the Netherlands starts at the end of March and finishes around the middle of May. The tulips are at their absolute best in mid April. This is when the tulip fields are in full bloom.

Where is the best place to see tulips in Holland?

Wander through Keukenhof. It’s a gorgeous park with over 7 million tulip bulbs. It’s the most popular place to see tulips in Holland. Keukenhof itself is stunning and definitely worth a visit, but don’t forget about the surrounding tulip fields. Plus, there are places to see the spring flowers other than this place. You can find our top gardens and fields in Holland and the rest of the Netherlands below!

What are the best tulip fields to visit in the Netherlands?

Some of the best flower fields in the Netherlands can be found in Holland. Keukenhof is the most well-known, but there are other tulip fields that are definitely worth a visit this spring especially if you want to avoid the crowds at Keukenhof around mid-April.
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Keukenhof

Keukenhof is the place to be this spring season. At 32 hectares large and with 7 million tulip bulbs, Keukenhof is a tulip paradise. The best time to visit Keukenhof is in April when the flowers here are blooming. While the garden itself is stunning, you need to enjoy the journey too. The flower fields around Keukenhof are absolutely worth a look while you’re in Lisse for the spring.

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A simple and easy way to get to Keukenhof is booking your Full day entry ticket with pick-up and drop-off here. It makes for the best way to save time on your travels as well as going at whichever time suits you best. If you really want to make full authentic Dutch day out of it, pair the Keukenhof trip with a windmill cruise! In this two in one activity that you can reserve your spot here, you'll be able to see the best sights that the Netherlands truly has to offer.

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If you already have your way there and back planned, then you can buy your entry tickets to Keukenhof in advance here so you don't have to worry about it once you arrive.

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You can easily spend hours here wandering around the garden and enjoying the view. Check out more details on Keukenhof below!

Cycling Flevoland

What would make your tulip season even better? Cycling. Walking through a flower garden is nice, but enjoying the spring flower fields on a bike is even better. Flevoland is the most tulip-packed region of Holland. If you’re looking for flowers outside of Keukenhof, this cycling route is for you. The 19 km cycling trip is best done in mid April to May when the flowers are at their best. The route takes you to 4 different tulip gardens and through beautiful flower fields in Holland.

• De Stekkentuin. Noordermiddenweg 13, 8311 PZ, Espel
• De Tuinen van Lipke Schat. Polenweg 9, 8314 PL, Bant
• De Goldhoorn Gardens. Klutenweg 13, 8314 PB , Bant
• De Pegasushof, Klutenweg 5, 8314 PB, Bant

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Schagerbrug

Schagerbrug is a small town and is surrounded by tulip fields every year. Here’s the thing. The location of the fields changes each year to make sure the soil stays healthy. So, the best way to see the tulips here is to drive or take the train up to Schagerbrug then wander just outside the town on a bike. There are hardly any tourist crowds up here. If you manage to get here around sunset, the tulip fields look stunning. Make sure to ask the locals about the best tulip field spots!

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Goeree-Overflakkee

Goeree-Overflakkee is one of Holland’s best kept secrets. An hour's drive outside of Rotterdam, this area actually makes around 10% of the tulips in the Netherlands. It’s completely free to visit the tulip farms here and you won’t see any of the crowds like Keukenhof. Just keep in mind that farmers don’t appreciate tourists walking through the tulip fields as it damages the flowers. Most of the tulip farms can be found around Nieuwe-Tonge, Middelharnis, and Dirksland. Most locals ride around on a bike in mid April to enjoy the tulip views.

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De Tulperij in Voorhout

Say farewell to the tourist crowds of the tulip season. De Tulperij is a tulip farm with a show garden of over 300 types of flowers. The cozy farm has everything you need to enjoy the tulip season. Walk through the flower field, buy tulips, and enjoy a cup of coffee and slice of cake at the farm cafe. If you want a hidden gem and fewer tourists, De Tulperij is a great pick for your spring trip.

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Flower events this spring

Done walking through the tulip fields? Change up your spring season with the flower powered events this spring. The Netherlands always has flower parades in the spring with tulips being the star of the show. You’ll find some of the biggest and best flower parades in and around Amsterdam, but every region has something special to offer.

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Dutch Flower Parade

Bloemencorso Bollenstreek is the annual flower parade and a massive festival. The parade travels over 42 km from the seaside resort of Noordwijk to the city of Haarlem. You’ll see beautiful flowers and unique sculptures made from tulips in the parade! You’ll find some of the biggest crowds watching the parade just outside of Keukenhof Gardens. We actually recommend watching the start of the parade from the seaside at Noordwijk.

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Tulip Festival in Amsterdam

Amsterdam itself is a great place to see tulips for free. From the beginning to the end of April, you’ll see mini gardens and flower pots all over the city full of blooming tulips. Most of the tulips can be found around Dam Square in Amsterdam’s city centre. You’ll also find tulips outside the Rijksmuseum, by the luxury hotel Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, and the waterside EYE Filmmuseum. Part of the spring fun in Amsterdam is spotting all the tulips around the city.

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Profytodsd Tulip Festival

This tulip festival can be found in the beautiful Noordoostpolder area. The route is completely free in a car. You can also rent a bike nearby to enjoy the tulip fields. There are routes for everyone here with a 5 km walking trail, 33 km cycling route, and an 88 km driving route.

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Our top tulip tips for spring

Want to make the best of your spring day out in Holland? There are a couple of ways to take your journey through the tulip season to the next level. Here are our top tips to help you make the very best of Holland’s beautiful spring.

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1. Rent a bike

It’s best to enjoy the tulip fields in the open air. Join in with the locals and hop on a bike as you travel through the farms and fields. There are bike rentals all over Holland and plenty nearby the best tulip fields. A lot of rentals also offer e-bikes which can be handy.

2. Get outside of the tourist attractions

It’s true that Keukenhof is one of the best places to see the tulips in the Netherlands. But there are plenty of beautiful places outside of Lisse to enjoy the flower fields. Around April when the tulips look their best, Keukenhof tends to get crowded. It’s also not cheap! If you’re on a budget or just want to avoid the crowds, check out the other flower fields and events around Holland.

3. Go for a hike

You’ll find plenty of beautiful spaces and flowers at the botanical gardens and national parks around Holland. Spring is the best time to go walking in the Netherlands. The national parks offer gorgeous heathland landscapes plus flowers for stunning spring hikes. Check out our map to find your next hiking trip.

4. Go to a flower parade

We all love the flower fields, but you really have to see one of the parades in Holland at least once. Bloemencorso Bollenstreek is definitely the biggest and the best!

5. Lookout for hidden gems

Spring is one of the most popular times to visit the Netherlands to enjoy the tulip season. The country is absolutely beautiful, but the tourist attractions around Amsterdam can get crowded. If you want to make the best of your Holland trip this spring, make sure you check out the hidden gems.

That’s everything for our ultimate guide to tulips for this spring. Check out our best spring things to do in the Netherlands to start planning your trip.

Check out our map of the Netherlands for even more fun things to do in Holland!