How to Plan a Visit During Tulip Season in the Netherlands

If you’re looking for an amazing spring travel destination, look no further than The Netherlands’ colorful flower fields. I’ll give you all the information you need to plan your trip and enjoy the tulip fields at their peak in this blog post!

Where do tulips come from?

Even though the word “tulips” conjures up images of the Netherlands, which is well-known internationally as a major exporter of bulbs, the flowers are not of Dutch origin.
They originated in Central Asia and were introduced to Europe by the Ottoman Empire. Suleiman the Magnificent, in particular, adored the beautiful tulips, and many were planted in Constantinople’s vast gardens (actual Istanbul).
Western diplomats to the court noticed and reported back on the flowers, and they quickly became a craze across Europe, becoming known as Tulip mania in The Netherlands.

Why do the Netherlands have so many tulip fields?

The answer is simple: The Netherlands’ climate and soil are ideal for growing tulips.
Winters here are usually mild due to the marine climate and location, and summers are not too hot either. Tulips also prefer sandy, well-drained soil, which can be found in abundance throughout the country.

When is the best time to visit tulip fields in the Netherlands?

While the tulip season in The Netherlands lasts from mid-March to mid-May, the best time to see them is in April, specifically from mid-April to the end of the month, when the flowers are in full bloom on the fields.
Given that there is no unusual weather for the time period, I’d recommend planning your trip for the third weekend of April, or a little earlier. It’s also worth looking at previous flower forecasts, such as this one. They also post the current situation week by week, which may not be as useful because most people plan their trips a few weeks in advance anyway.

Because farmers grow tulips for their bulbs, the flowers are cut after 2 or 3 weeks of flowering so that more energy can be directed toward the tulip bulb rather than the bloom. Most production flower fields are usually in the process of being headed around the beginning of May. (meaning the flowers are cut).
So, in my opinion, it is better to plan your trip early rather than later. If the weather is colder than usual, you will not see many fields in full bloom, but if it is warmer, you may not see any tulip fields at all because the heading will begin earlier than usual.

Where in the Netherlands are the tulip fields?

Bollenstreek

The tulip fields in the Bollenstreek region (the area between Leiden and Haarlem) are among the most well-known and visited in the Netherlands. This region, also known as the flower bulb region or the flower strip, is only 40 kilometers from Amsterdam and contains acres upon acres of colorful tulips.

You should know that the city of Lisse, where the Keukenhof Gardens are located, is right in the middle of Bollenstreek, making the region an excellent choice if you also want to visit it. Because the tulip fields are scattered throughout the park, they are easily accessible even without renting a car.

Flevoland

If you want to go somewhere off the beaten path, I recommend visiting the blooming tulip fields in the Flevoland province. This region, which was only recently reclaimed from the sea, is located in the center of the Netherlands and is famous for its vast fields of colorful tulips.
In contrast to the Bollenstreek region, which can get crowded during peak season, the tulip fields in Flevoland are usually much quieter, and you may even have some of the fields to yourself during your visit.

De Kop van Noord-Holland

The flower fields in De Kop van Noord-Holland are near the coast, making it an ideal destination for combining a visit with a day at the beach. The tulips of this region, like those of Flevoland, are spread out over a large area, so it should be easy to find fields where you are the only tourist.