A local’s complete guide to seeing the tulip fields in the Netherlands

I am kind of obsessed with the Dutch tulips and every single year that I’ve been living in the Netherlands, I’ve sought out the best tulip fields to visit in the Netherlands. I’ve rounded out the best places to find the tulips beyond the Lisse area to give you some alternatives to the popular Keukenhof area based on my time living in the Netherlands.

When is tulip season in the Netherlands?

Tulip season in the Netherlands is generally between mid-April and late-April. If you visit post-King’s Day (early May), you should be able to still see some tulips in the field although they’ll already be starting to fade. (I still think that tulips are pretty as they’re dying!)

If you’re reading this freaked out that you’re going to miss tulip season…. I include some options for seeing the Dutch tulips in offseason towards the end although they won’t be in the fields.

Where to go to see tulips in the Netherlands

• Keukenhof
• Tulip fields near Keukenhof
• Tulip fields near Emmeloord (Flevoland)
• Tulip fields near Giethoorn (Overijssel)
• Tulip fields in Noord Holland (near Den Helder)
• Tulip fields near Zeeland (close to Antwerpen)
• Tulip fields near Brabant
• Tulip fields near Groningen
• Alternatives to see the tulips out of season

Note on seeing the tulip fields in the Netherlands

All of these fields are privately owned by farmers who sell these tulips commercially. I’ve been increasingly seeing signs prohibiting access to the fields as people destroy their tulips by taking photos. Do not pick the tulips! Please respect the signs as you don’t want to trample on any tulips as these are the farmers’ livelihoods! Don’t ruin this for everyone else.

Similarly, you are not allowed to fly a drone over the tulip fields without the permission of the farmers as drones are not allowed on private property in the Netherlands without permission. In some parts of the Netherlands, flying a drone is illegal due to the proximity to airports/helipads.

If you want to see the tulips in the Netherlands like a local, don’t pay for Keukenhof. It takes a small amount more effort to visit the beautiful tulip fields that are generally free to visit. (You can pay extra in some cases to enter the fields.)

I recommend bringing some euros with you as smaller cafes in towns in the Netherlands tend not to take foreign cards if you decide to stop off along the way. Similarly, many farmers set up self-monitored stands along the road where you can leave money to buy a bunch of tulips for a very reasonable price (usually 3-5 euros). Now that’s out of the way, we can discuss the best places to see the tulips in the Netherlands!

Keukenhof

I am not the biggest fan of Keukenhof, but there is a reason why this popular Dutch garden is so popular. The lines and the crowds can be particularly bad, so try to go on a weekday (rather than a weekend) and reserve your ticket ahead…. However, keep scrolling if you want to see the Dutch tulip fields without the crowds.

There’s bag storage within Keukenhof if you’re heading here straight from Schiphol Airport. The ticket will cost a pretty penny and you will not be able to walk through the fields, however you will be able to enjoy Keukenhof’s beautiful gardens and see the fields in the distance. Click to buy your ticket for Keukenhof with a bus from Amsterdam.

Tulip fields near Keukenhof

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Most years, I head to the tulip fields near Keukenhof (20 min from Amsterdam by train), which are free to visit. It’s easy to do this route on foot, however, most of the fields are closed to the public. It’s still a stunning walk along the narrow road in late April. Click for my free self-guided walking tour near Keukenhof.

For more sustainable fun, you can head to the Fam Flower Fam tulip farm if you wish to take photos in the fields for 40 euros (2019, have some tea, and support some hard working tulip farmers. Book ahead as they sell out.

Tulip fields near Emmeloord (Flevoland)

A few years ago, I took a road trip across the Netherlands up to Groningen with my husband and my friend. You can do this without a car by taking the train to Emmeloord before taking a 30-minute cycle each way as you find the tulips.

If you have a car, this is seriously the prettiest drive in late April. Emmeloord is about an hour from Amsterdam and I recommend stopping off in Zwolle if you have the chance.

You can go between Ens and Marknesse if you’re going to be heading to Giethoorn without going too out of your way. There’s far more to the Flevoland tulip route, which spans 120 kilometers of tulip fields without the crowds of Holland. If you’re looking for updated information for this year, look for the Tulpenfestival Noordoostpolder although they’ve said they’re launching an English website this year!

Tulip fields near Giethoorn (Overijssel)

On my visit to Giethoorn, one of the cutest villages in the Netherlands, I found the accommodations to be incredibly overpriced. I ended up staying in the cutest guesthouse just fifteen minutes from Giethoorn in Blankingham. As you drive along this road, you’ll see countless tulip fields on the Overijssel side of the border (as it borders Flevoland).

We stayed in a tiny house that belonged to the grandmother of the dairy farm owner. In the morning, we took a walk along the tulip fields after taking a tour of the workings of the farm. I’m not keen on Airbnb at this point, but it’s seriously the cutest B&B and there’s nothing like having sheep wake you up.

Tulip fields in Noord Holland (near Den Helder)

Many of the tulips in Holland are actually grown in this part of Noord Holland above Amsterdam. If you’re looking for unspoiled fields without the tourists, you can head up to West Friesland. Hoorn, one of the gems of the region, is just forty-five minutes by train or car from Amsterdam!

Outside of Hoorn

Hoorn, one of my favorite small cities in Holland, is a great base for seeing the tulip fields. From Hoorn, you can rent a bike to cycle outside of the city. If you’re really keen on doing a big bike ride, you can cycle up to 50 kilometers along these scenic Dutch towns and tulip fields. Click to see a map of a biking route of the West Frisian tulip fields near Hoorn.

Kwekerij Siem Munster.

For the ultimate insider tulip experience, come in early spring (prior to late April) and make a reservation at Kwekerij Siem Munster. This tulip farm opens itself up to the public between December and April, so you can learn about the entire tulip growing process told by the farmers themselves. You’ll see up to a million tulips grown in their greenhouses. There are also fields outside of the farm.

Tulip fields in Zeeland

Zeeland is one of my favorite provinces in the Netherlands. This region is about 2-2.5 hours from Amsterdam by car although much closer to Rotterdam/the Hague (1-1.5 hours). This region bordering Belgium (close to Antwerp) is perfect for those looking for tulip fields in the Netherlands that are quite off the beaten path. If you’re visiting Antwerpen by car, you might want to stop off here for a few photos in April.

You’ll find quite a few tulip fields east of Terneuzen closer to Absdale although I caution that you’ll need a car as this region has limited public transit. (A word of warning: The roads can be quite narrow although it’s quite picturesque! Yield accordingly. )

If you’re planning on visiting Middelburg, a gorgeous medieval Dutch city with a rich history, consider taking a diversion to head towards Heinkenszand to see the Zeeuwse tulips. Similarly you can also head to Serooskerke for tulips near middelburg.

The photo above was shot in the charming fishing town of Yerseke, which is famous for Zeeuwse Seafood. Pluktein la Fleur opens their fields in Yersekedam up along Postweg to be picked for a small fee (Thirty tulips cost five euros!) although you can also look for signs for the Steketee farm. It’s very close to the historic Zeeuwsee city of Goes.

Tulips in Noord Brabant

Just outside of Bergen Op Zoom (Noord Brabant), you’ll be able to visit Serooskerke to pluck your own tulips in the fields for a small fee.

Tulip fields near Groningen

If you’re up North in Groningen, you don’t need to drive two hours to see the tulips in the Netherlands as there are tulip fields in Groningen. Consider heading to Uithuizermeeden where you can climb the church tower for a few euros to have an amazing view of the fields from above. You’ll find many tulip fields close to Hogeland.

Alternatives to find the tulips out of season

Bloemenmarkt Amsterdam

If you’re visiting in off-season, this is the best time to buy tulips. I generally recommend buying tulips in fall as you should be planting them prior to the ground freezing. Although you won’t see the tulips in bloom, tulips are a great souvenir from the Netherlands and the Bloemenmarkt in Amsterdam is the best place to find seeds that you can bring home with you.

Aalsmeer Auction near Schiphol

One of the most epic places to see tulips in the Netherlands is the Royal FloraHolland flower auction in Aalsmeer (near Schiphol). This is the world’s biggest flower auction. You’ll need to get up early as it begins as early as 7am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Tickets cost 8 euros per adult (2019).

Markets around the Netherlands

The tulips above were purchased at a small local market. Spring is a great time to buy inexpensive tulips at the Dutch markets and you’ll typically pay 5-10 euros for a bunch. My favorite market is the Noordermarkt in the Jordaan.

Kwekerij Siem Munster

As mentioned previously, you can take a tour of a real tulip farm between December and April. If you’re disappointed that you’re going to miss the tulips, this is a great way to make up for it by seeing them as they grow!

Any favorite spots to see the tulips in the Netherlands that I missed?

• Your complete itinerary for Amsterdam
• Easy day trips from Amsterdam
• Tips for visiting Amsterdam for first timers
• Beautiful streets in Amsterdam

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