The temperatures in April in Amsterdam don’t really feel like spring yet. Even though I’m still bundled up in my coat most days, the city is starting to look like spring. That’s because it’s officially tulip season in Holland. If you’re visiting Amsterdam in late April, I highly recommend taking a day to visit the tulip fields in Holland. It’s one of the most incredible sights.
Below are all the things you need to know in order to visit the tulip fields in Holland. From the best places to go to how to behave, consider this your complete guide to the most beautiful part of the Netherlands.
Xx, Kelsey
WHEN TO VISIT
Did you know that tulip season only lasts about three weeks? The majority of the tulip fields in Holland aren’t used for the bouquets of flowers you find in the markets. They’re actually used for bulb production. This means the flowers get harvested a few weeks after blooming. Essentially all of the beautiful flowers are chopped off (quelle horreur!) so the bulbs can keep growing and get bigger.
This means there is a limited time to get down to the tulip fields in Holland. The best time to visit is the last two weeks of April. After the first week of May, the fields are all filled with green stems from the harvested flowers. Don’t fret if you arrive prior to prime tulip season at the end of April. At the beginning of the month, the daffodils and hyacinths are out and are just as beautiful.
WHERE TO GO
Keukenhof Gardens
One of the easiest ways to see the tulips is to visit Keukenhof. Open all April, these cultivated gardens are totally stunning. But they’re also crawling with tourists. Millions of people come to the Netherlands during the few short weeks of Tulip Season, and most end up here. Go just after opening or just before close to avoid the crowds.
Lisse
Lisse is the city that Keukenhof is located in. Throughout the village, you’ll see fields and fields of flowers. There’s a stand just outside Keukenhof where you can rent bikes to explore the area. This is the best way to get around, as it’s a bit far to walk between fields and ubers are non-existent.
Amsterdam
If you don’t have time to leave the city, that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on all the tulips. During the month of April, the entire city is planted with tulips. Especially worth seeing are the tulips in the reflecting pond outside Rijksmuseum.
HOW TO GET THERE
The easiest way to get down to the tulip fields is to take the bus from Schiphol Airport to Keukenhof. Tickets can be purchased on the bus for 5EUR. Or purchase a combination ticket for the bus and gardens. I highly recommend renting bikes once you get down to Keukenhof to explore the surrounding areas.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, another option is to take the train down to Lisse. You’ll have to arrange to either bring a bike or rent one when you get down there, which isn’t the easiest thing to do in small Dutch towns.
HOW TO BEHAVE
As beautiful as the tulip fields in Holland are, it’s important to remember that they’re someone’s private land. These farmers rely on the fields as their livelihood. So be respectful of the flowers, especially when you’re trying to take pictures. Your shoes and hands may carry diseases that could kill their crop. And don’t EVER pick the flowers. You could be destroying a bulb the farmer needed to sell.
If you are looking to take a photo in the middle of the field like the one above, find a farm like this one that lets you book a time to come out and shoot in the fields. I am friends with a grower, which is how we got the permission to shoot that shot among the flowers.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Special thanks to Chicwish for gifting me this gorgeous dress.
