The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Tulip Fields in the Netherlands
Visiting the tulip fields in the Netherlands has always been a dream of mine, and it did not disappoint! Here is everything you need to know about visiting the Holland tulip fields:
Tulip fields in the Netherlands
As you’ve probably seen on almost every postcard of the Netherlands, there are fields known to boast thousands of tulips every year in the spring. I’ve always wanted to visit them while they’re in season, so one year I took a trip from Paris over to Amsterdam to visit the city and most of all: See the Tulips.
It was an amazing experience that I would encourage anyone to do if you ever find yourself in the region!
What is the best time of year to see tulip fields in the Netherlands?
April is the definitely the best month, as the flowers are blooming the entire month! Late March is also okay, as well as early May. If you time it right, you may even find yourself in Amsterdam during the King’s Day festival!
Normally, you can get some pretty good weather, although there’s always the risk of rain! April to May in the Netherlands is usually pretty warm out in the sun, but chilly at nighttime and in the shade.
Where to see tulip fields in the Netherlands?
Before I went, I was expecting the entire country to be filled with fields of flowers! Heh, not so much.
The town closest to the fields is called Lisse, and is only about an hour train ride/drive away from Amsterdam. It’s the perfect day trip from Amsterdam! Most tulip fields and attractions are located close to Lisse, so it’s a good starting point for your trip!
The town is super cute, with Dutch style architecture, cute restaurants, and a really nice flower market. Be sure and plan some time to explore the town. Outside of the town you can find fields and fields of tulips.
How can you get to the fields?
As always, car will typically be the way to go, although you do have some options! If you decide to take public transport, you can take a train from Amsterdam and most other major cities to the town called Lisse. From Lisse, rent a bicycle and explore the fields the Dutch way– by bike! Just be sure to rent a bike in advance or they will all be taken! Lots of tourists come this time of year to see the tulips so you have to be a bit prepared.
Tulip Fields vs. Tulip Gardens – What’s the difference?
There are two main ways to visit the tulips: through the fields or in gardens.
When I visited, every person asked me, “Are you going to Keukenhof?” They made it seem like Keukenhof was the only viable way to see the tulips, so of course I booked a ticket.
Keukenhof is a massive garden filled with lots of photo spots and flowers in basically any color imaginable. It’s gorgeous, and easy to visit if you don’t have a car, since there is direct transportation to the garden for a good price. If you’re coming by car, you will need to pay for parking (6 euros).
I was visiting by motorcycle, so I noticed on my way to Keukenhof that there actually were fields of flowers just on the side of the road and on side streets. I was able to park and walk around the field a bit, which is why I recommend at least renting a bicycle if you don’t have a car. There were many other people on bicycles and cars, so I stayed for a bit before heading to my scheduled visit at Keukenhof.
Forewarning if you walk through the fields though: MOST of the time, the gardeners do not like for tourists to climb around the fields and take photos. You used to be able to, sure, but after decades of tourists trampling around on their merchandise, the farmers got sick of it and there are many fields blocked off (and honestly, who can blame them?).
However, other residents don’t really care, and you can find some fields that are easily accessible to the public, like in the location I found here:
An alternative to this would be to visit the Tulip Barn! This place has a cheaper entrance fee than Keukenhof and more of the natural fields.
So what is my recommendation? Do both if you can!
It’s really cool to see the difference between fields and gardens and enjoy the tulips in all their splendor. After all, the tulips were the real reason to the area you came right?
Would you ever travel just to see the tulip fields in the Netherlands?
