When is the best time to see Dutch tulips in bloom?

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.

When do flowers bloom in the Netherlands?

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.

Tulip season in The Netherlands

Part of The Netherlands is transformed into a vast sea of flowers from mid March to mid May. It starts with crocus season in March, which is followed by daffodils and hyacinths. Finally the tulips show their gorgeous colors, this is from mid April through the first week of May. A floral paradise for true flower enthusiasts.

Visit the enchanting flower bulb fields.
See over seven million flower bulbs at the Keukenhof.
The flower bulb fields are at its finest by mid April.

Fields filled with beautiful color

Its long spring season with cool nights makes The Netherlands the perfect country for tulip growing. The soil in the polders is continuously drained, creating perfect growing conditions for tulip bulbs, which love well drained but moist soil.

From mid March to the end of May, the tulips transform big parts of The Netherlands into a colorful patchwork quilt. If you travel to the Netherlands to see the tulips in bloom, you will come accross impressive fields of flowers with amazing colours.

Where are the tulip fields?

Lady on fence enjoys flower fields in Lisse in the Bulb Region

Most tulip farms in The Netherlands are located in the Noordoostpolder in the province of Flevoland. If you are looking for the largest contiguous area of flower bulbs in the world, you should head out to Kop van Noord-Holland, located on a stretch of land between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer Lake. Here, you will be surrounded by impressively coloured flowers as well as the coastal area. In the flower village of Lisse, everything comes together: a rich flower culture and vast and impressive flower fields. The coastal town of Noordwijk also boasts many acres of flower fields, that display a harmony of floral scents and colours. The Keukenhof, the world’s biggest flower exhibition, is famed for its many tulips and is just a 15 minute drive away from Leiden and 30 minutes from Amsterdam. FloraHolland is the world’s biggest flower auction located in Aalsmeer, just 30 minutes by car from Amsterdam and can be visited year-round. If you are you looking for flowers during the off-season, you may want to visit the flower auction. There may not be any flower fields here, but you can still enjoy an incredibly wide range of beautiful flowers.

When is tulip season?

Travel to The Netherlands in mid April to see the tulips at their best. Tulip season runs from the end of March until mid May, but the flowers are usually at their best halfway through April. More than 7 million flower bulbs bloom in spring at the Keukenhof in Lisse. It is one of the best places to discover many different kinds of tulips. However, in this time of the year you really only have to board a train or pick up a bicycle to watch the tulips in all their glory in rural fields.

Activities

Would you like to see the fields but don't know where to start? Rent a bike and cycle along the colourful cycle routes of the Markermeer, Kop van Noord-Holland or the Anna Paulowna polder. There are many activities in the area, such as the Anna Paulowna flower days or the Spring Garden in Breezand. If you want to extend your stay among the flowers, spend a night here and enjoy the lovely scent of flowers while savouring a cup of coffee in the morning. Fancy a walk? Discover the beautiful flower bulb region via the Walking Route Network Duin en Bollenstreek (Dune and Flowerbulb Region). To take a peek behind the scenes, visit De Tulperij in the heart of the flower bulb region. Enjoy a drink here among the tulips or pick any of the other outings to enjoy an unforgettable day.

Enjoy the flower fields but make sure it's tulip-friendly.