Keukenhof is the best location in Holland to view tulips. A 7 million flower bulb park called Keukenhof is encircled by tulip fields.
How do you travel to the Dutch tulip fields?
There is a coastline strip of extremely rich soil renowned for flower growth and sand dunes between the cities of Leiden, The Hague, and Haarlem. Hillegom, Katwijk, Lisse, Noordwijk, Noordwijkerhout, and Teylingen are among the towns that are part of it. The two most well-known of these settlements are Lisse, which was already detailed, and Noordwijkerhout.
The best choice is to bike there or to hire a bike there. The routes near Noordwijk and Noordwijkerhout are incredibly picturesque thanks to the coastline views, rural settings, and, of course, the lengthy tulip fields.
What month is ideal for viewing tulips in Holland?
From December to about May, tulips can be found in flower stores throughout Holland. These tulips are being grown in greenhouses rather than on flower fields. Tulip fields are not visible in December, January, or February. A tulip field in bloom in March is also extremely unusual but not impossible. The majority of visitors want to see the open tulip fields. April is the ideal time to view tulips in Holland. Mid-April to early May 2023 offers the best possibility of seeing the most picturesque tulip fields.
Where in Amsterdam can you see tulips the best?
Where are the Dutch flower fields is one of the most often questioned queries. There are several places in the Netherlands where you may see tulips in the spring. Only 40 kilometers from the center of Amsterdam is the most well-known region with the most stunning flower fields: the area surrounding the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. The region is known as “Bollenstreek.”
Between the cities of Amsterdam, Leiden, Haarlem, and The Hague, the Bollenstreek is situated behind the North Sea sand dunes. Numerous flower fields are covered in tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. The Bollenstreek is renowned for its views of the authentic Dutch countryside. which look stunning when combined with the colorful landscapes.
Do you have access to tulip fields?
If you happen to be in Holland during tulip season, you must visit the renowned tulip fields near Amsterdam. You can actually feel spring coming on thanks to the lovely colors and scents. You will view the tulips and flower meadows at their peak with these sightseeing tours. Near the Bollenstreek’s Keukenhof Gardens, all tourist trips begin (flower region).
On March 23, 2023, the Tulip Festival will once again begin. Going to Amsterdam before to then? Then look over our advice below.
Where can I go for free in Holland to visit tulip fields?
Option 1: Take the bus to Keukenhof and then stroll for free through the tulip fields in the Netherlands close by.
- Step 1 is to take a train to Schiphol Airport and then leave the airport.
- Purchase a one-way ticket to Keukenhof in step two (the bus station)
- Step 3: Alight at Keukenhof and go on foot till you come across some lovely Dutch fields.
Where can I go for free to observe tulip fields?
Here are some more free tulip fields in the Netherlands for you to enjoy if you’re looking for more locations to take advantage of the tulip bounty.
Tulips in Amsterdam
It’s likely that if you’re visiting the Netherlands for the first time, you’ll end up in Amsterdam.
The city does grow tulips in designated areas in honor of its annual tulip festival, which is held during the entire month of April, even if there aren’t any enormous, “far as the eye can see fields of tulips running through the city (one could hope, right?).
With over 80 participating venues, your chances of finding a display or two are good, but you can get a complete list on the festival’s website by clicking here.
- The Museum of Van Gogh
- Rijksmuseum
- Exhibit Van Loon
- Vondelpark
- The Tulip Museum of Amsterdam
PS: The renowned Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market) is another great place to get your fill of tulips, however I must admit that I don’t particularly enjoy how touristy it is.
Cycling the The Flower Strip
The Flower Strip, a funny name they’ve given the highway from Haarlem to Leiden, is another option to enjoy free tulip fields in the Netherlands.
There are signposted routes that, according to what I’ve heard, are fairly foolproof that take you past all the vibrant tulip fields you’ve always imagined over this 35 kilometer stretch of level terrain.
Many choose to take this trip beginning in Haarlem, which is about 20 minutes by rail from Amsterdam, while taking the route only in part is also an option (see below).
The free tulip fields around Keukenhof and Lisse
Here’s another lazy option if you don’t feel like cycling the full Flower Strip.
There are many stunning, vast tulip fields nearby Keukenhof that are free for you to admire. You can take public transportation to Keukenhof, rent bikes there, and then set off on one of the four clearly indicated cycling paths to see various fields.
Remember not to cycle through the fields destroying everything in your path if you lose all sense of reason. Respect the boundaries, refrain from trespassing, and exercise caution when taking pictures.
Free Tulip Fields in Kop van Noord-Holland
The location of the largest flower bulb field in the world and where many residents allegedly choose to go tulip hunting on their own.
This beautiful region, which can be reached by train from Amsterdam and is located north of the city, is home to beaches, cute tiny towns (like everywhere else in the Netherlands), and lots of flowers.
From Amsterdam to Keukenhof by Train
The town of Lisse, where the Keukenhof Gardens are situated, lacks a railroad station. To get to the gardens, you can opt to go to any of the surrounding train stations and then board the Keukenhof Express Bus.
in Haarlem
Take the train from Amsterdam Centraal to Haarlem Station; it takes, on average, 20 minutes and costs $4.50 one way. Take the Regional Bus Line 50 from Haarlem to go to the gardens.
Leiden
Take the train, which typically takes 35 minutes, from Amsterdam Centraal to Leiden Centraal (one-way ticket costs €9,60). The Keukenhof Express Bus Line 854 will transport you to the gardens from Leiden.
From Amsterdam to Keukenhof By Bus
Using a Combi-Ticket, which provides fast track access to the Keukenhof Gardens as well as round-trip transportation in an AC coach, is the ideal method to take a direct bus from Amsterdam to Keukenhof. From Amsterdam Central Station, take the bus.
It is necessary to take a connecting bus to Hoofdorp, Amsterdam RAI, or Schiphol before boarding a Keukenhof Express Bus since there is no direct public transportation from Amsterdam to Lisse.
- From Amsterdam City Center, take bus route 397 (Leidseplein, Rijksmuseum, Museumplein)
- From Amsterdam Zuid Station, take bus route 341
- 300 bus line
- from the bus station in Amstelveen
From Amsterdam to Keukenhof By Car
It takes roughly 40 minutes to get to Keukenhof Gardens from Amsterdam (Amsterdam Central). It is an easy journey and perfect for a quick road trip; you can also utilize the automobile to travel through Bollenstreek’s countryside. The cost to park a car is $6.
- Address for the Keukenhof Gardens is Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM, Lisse.
- The GPS coordinates for the Keukenhof Garden are “52.271256 4.546365.”
When leaving Amsterdam, you must go on the A4 Highway and exit at the Nieuw-Vennep exit for the Leimuiderweg/N207. Approximately 10 kilometers of driving will get you to Loosterweg Noord, which is close to the gardens.
Walking or Biking to Keukenhof
The best way to appreciate Keukenhof, which is situated in the Bollenstreek region and offers lovely rural views, is to take a leisurely stroll or ride a bicycle through it. The fact that you don’t have to worry about missing a bus back to Amsterdam means that you can visit the garden early in the morning or late at night.
A couple hotels in Lisse are within your price range and are the best options for getting to Keukenhof Park on foot.
The nearby regions, which have excellent motels, are ideal for bicycling to Keukenhof.
- 12 km from Keukenhof to Noordwijk seaside village with access to beaches that is idyllic
- Hoofdorp
- Amsterdamse Bos Park is located in a canal-side municipality 15 kilometers from Keukenhof.
- Keukenhof is 15 kilometers away in Haarlem, a city with a historical core, galleries, and tulip fields.
By the Keukenhof Express Bus
The designated bus for taking guests to the Keukenhof Gardens is the Keukenhof Express Bus. There are four lines that will get you to the Keukenhof Gardens immediately.
- From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, take bus route 858 (Aprox. Travel time35 minutes)
- From Amsterdam RAI, bus line 852 (Aprox. Travel time35 minutes)
- From Hoofddorp, take bus route 859 (Aprox. Travel time22 minutes)
- From Leiden, take bus route 854 (Aprox. Travel time25 minutes)
On Buses 858, 859, and 854, a single one-way ticket costs $5; on Buses 852 it costs $7.
You are welcome to bring your small dogs on board with you, and the buses are accessible for wheelchair users.
Where in Holland are the Keukenhof gardens?
Keukenhof, also referred to as the Garden of Europe and pronounced [kk(n)f] in Dutch, is one of the greatest flower gardens in the world. It is located in the Dutch municipality of Lisse.
[1] Keukenhof Park has a total area of 32 hectares (79 acres), and the gardens receive around 7 million flower bulbs each year, according to the official website. [2] [3] Although tulips are the most famous flower in Keukenhof, there are many other blooms there as well, such as hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations, and irises. [4]
The “Dune and Bulb Region,” which includes Keukenhof, is in the province of South Holland, southwest of Amsterdam and south of Haarlem (Duin- en Bollenstreek). Bus service is available from Schiphol, Leiden, and Haarlem train stations to get there. Keukenhof is only open to the general public for a famous 8 week tulip display from mid-March to mid-May[5], with peak viewing arriving near mid-April, depending on the growth season weather, which fluctuates annually. However, its grounds are open year-round for private events and festivals. 2019 saw 1.5 million visits to Keukenhof,[6] or 26,000 people every day. [7] In contrast, the Efteling receives 14,000 people daily, while the Rijksmuseum averages 8,000.
When do the tulips in Amsterdam bloom?
A. The season for Amsterdam tulips begins in late March and lasts through mid-May. The season in 2022 begins on March 24 and lasts through May 15th.
A. The peak of the Amsterdam tulip season, from mid-April to mid-may, is when you may watch the tulip blossoms bloom at their best. This is the ideal time to see tulips in Amsterdam.
A. There are various areas in Amsterdam where you can find tulip fields. However, Bollenstreek, which is close to the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens, is home to some of Holland’s finest tulip fields.
A. In Amsterdam, the tulips primarily bloom in the spring, from mid-April until mid-May. The 2022 Tulip Festival will start on March 24 and run until May 15.
A. The start of spring in the city is signaled by the Amsterdam Tulip Festival. Several flower-related events are held throughout the festival to celebrate the arrival of spring.
A. Keukenhof Gardens is the ideal location to view tulips during their blooming season. The garden plants over 7 million tulip bulbs in the autumn so that they will blossom in the spring, and it displays about 800 different kinds of tulips throughout the season.
A. There are a variety of Keukenhof Tulip Festival 2022 tickets and guided tours available, several of which include transfers from Amsterdam. Register for tickets here.
Is a trip to Keukenhof worthwhile?
A day excursion to the Keukenhof Gardens and the Tulip Fields of Lisse is a must if you’re in Amsterdam in April. The “combi-ticket” is the ideal way to take advantage of the adventure.
This covers both transportation (you must board a ferry to get to the bus that will take you to Keukenhof) and your admission ticket (which includes skipping the line function).
Here are the prices.
Aside from driving, you should be aware that there is no direct public transportation from Amsterdam to Keukenhof. There is plenty of parking near the grounds, and the drive takes around 25 minutes.
Last but not least, be sure to look into this ticket if you wish to purchase a combi-ticket (transportation and skip-the-line entry ticket to Keukenhof) and a canal cruise at the same time.
Where can I find free tulip viewing in Amsterdam?
The privately owned Amsterdam Tulip Museum, which is situated in the city’s incredibly charming Jordaan neighborhood, was established by and supported by a nearby bulb firm. To properly examine the museum’s exhibits and discover more about the tulip industry in Amsterdam, allow between 30 and 60 minutes. You can find information here about the tulip museum’s hours of operation.
Additionally, you should be aware that the I Amsterdam City Card, which offers excellent value if you intend to visit a lot of museums and other attractions in Amsterdam while there, includes admission to the Amsterdam Tulip Museum. For instance, the one-time cost of this card includes access to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and public transportation.
#4 Museum de Zwarte Tulp (Black Tulip Museum) in Lisse
In the village of Lisse, near to the Keukenhof Gardens (about an hour’s drive from the center of Amsterdam), lies the second of the Netherlands’ most well-known tulip museums.
You may discover all about tulip production in the area, as well as the history, methods, and tulip culture that have since come to be so associated with Lisse, at this location, which is right in the center of the old town.
From Schipol Airport, there is a direct train to Lisse; however, there is no direct rail from Amsterdam Centraal. You might think about spending the night in Lisse the day before if you intend to visit both the Museum de Zwarte Tulp and the Keukenhof Gardens. We personally stayed at the Restaurant De Vier Seizoenen, and we were ecstatic with our room’s seasonal decor.
#5 Pick your own flowers in Annemieke’s Picking Garden in Hillegom (U-pick farm)
The Bus 50, which travels between Haarlem and Leiden, stops at Annemieke’s Picking Garden, which is situated on the route between Hillegom and Bennebroek.
You must board a train from Amsterdam Centraal to get to Haarlem or Leiden. The Bethlehemlaan stop is where you can get the #50 bus to get to the Keukenhof Gardens.
The flower garden is open during the spring and is a simple day trip from Amsterdam. Here, you may select your own tulips, stroll through the flowerbeds, and even take some of the lovely blossoms home with you! Despite the fact that dogs are not permitted in the picking field, tulips cost 0.25 per and may be purchased using a debit card (making this a fantastic value).
#6 Keukenhof day trip from Amsterdam
The Keukenhof Gardens, often known as “the Garden of Europe,” is undoubtedly the ideal place to celebrate spring and take in the best tulips in the Netherlands.
The fields are a straightforward day trip from Amsterdam, and you can even buy a Keukenhof combi ticket in advance that includes admittance and transportation (though you should be aware that you can’t just cycle there because the fields are almost an hour away).
Once you get at Keukenhof, it will become clear that the gardens are just that—gardens—contrary to what you may have been led to believe on social media. There are many locations where you may enjoy distinct walled gardens and floral displays that are picture-perfect and themed. Here is where you can buy tickets for the Keukenhof Half-Day Guided Tour with a Free 1-Hour Canal Cruise.
Although it’s important to know that the entrance ticket for Keukenhof does not cover official access to the adjoining fields, there are plenty of the striped hyacinth and tulip fields that you’ve probably seen images of previously nearby in the fields surrounding Lisse.
In contrast to the Volendam/Marken, Zaanse Schans & Keukenhof with Canal Cruise tour, which focuses on the bulb region and several Dutch fishing villages, the Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans & A’dam Lookout Combo Day Tour offers the chance to enjoy a guided tour of the Keukenhof Gardens, visit a clog maker and a cheese farm, see the windmills of Zaanse Schans, and enjoy the view of Amsterdam from the A
#7 Bloemencorso Bollenstreek (Bulb flower Parade)
Every year, a flower procession is held to honor the tulips for one day in April. Highlights of this annual one-day celebration include flower-filled floats that go from Noordwijk to Lisse.
The floats can be seen for free in any of the villages along the road between the two towns, even though you can watch the parade from inside the Keukenhof gardens. You may get more information about the tulip parade here.
#8 Follow the Dutch Tulip Route & Free Tulip Fields in the Netherlands as a day trip from Amsterdam
The Netherlands has a number of significant tulip growing regions, many of which are simple day trips from Amsterdam;
Duin en Bollenstreek (Keukenhof & Lisse) tulip mania
South Holland’s Duin en Bollenstreek region is the most well-known tulip growing region (which is where Keukenhof is located). The name of the region, which refers to spectacular dunes like those in Scheveningen and impressive tulip fields like those that surround Lisse, is literally translated as “dune and bulb.”
In addition to Lisse, the Bulb Region also has the adorable-cute villages of Bennebroek, Heemstede, and Noordwijk, so I’ve been told. Additionally, the annual Flower Parade takes place in the Bulb region in April. The Dutch coastline is best enjoyed when visiting the nearby coastal communities of Katwijk and Noordwijk.
West Friesland tulips
Although there are many possibilities to see tulip fields close to Keukenhof or around Lisse, taking the train to Schagen, which is about an hour north of Amsterdam in the Northern Holland province of West Friesland, is one of the simplest ways to enjoy free tulips in Holland.
You may simply cycle or walk from Schagen to many of the lovely blooms and take in the Dutch tulips without the throngs and visitors of some of the more well-known locations. The town of Breezand, which is situated in this province, hosts an annual flower festival in March.
Flevoland tulips
Alternately, some of the largest tulip fields in the Netherlands can be found along the Tulip Route in the Flevoland province, more specifically in Noordoostpolder, which is the final and twelfth province of the Netherlands. A new Tulip Route is developed each year; further information about it can be obtained on this page. The provinces of Zeeland and Drenthe each have tulip routes.
Flower Strip Tulip Route
Cycling the flower strip, which is the name given to the 35 km road between Haarlem and Leiden, is the final of the greatest tulip mania day adventures from Amsterdam. On the iAmsterdam website, you can find out more information about how to take advantage of the best Dutch tulip blossoms along this path.
#9 Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market on the Singel)
When visiting Amsterdam’s famous flower market for the first time, many tourists become perplexed. They believe they are in the wrong location or that they might not have fully comprehended the floral market.
No, you’re in the proper location… Just that the majority of the flower market’s offerings are bulbs rather than real flowers! Although it no longer resembles how it once did, the largest floating flower market in the world has existed since 1862.
Many of the flower stores have been replaced by souvenir and tourist traps, making the flower market today a little more touristic than some people would like. Although there aren’t many stands left that sell fresh flowers, you can get a bunch of 50 tulips for as little as 10!
#10 See the world’s largest flower auction
Of course, viewing the tulip fields outside is not the only way to take in Amsterdam’s floral displays. Instead, take a train to nearby Aalsmeer, where FloraHolland flower auction, the biggest flower auction in the world, is often held. Aalsmeer is just fifteen minutes from Schipol airport. You can watch actual tulipomania here from a viewing gallery, which is open every day except on public holidays and is free to enter.