Dutch Tulip Season: 4 things I've seen tourists doing wrong
Plus BONUS Tip: Where to take perfect tulip fields pictures
So, you have finally decided to visit Amsterdam and the Netherlands during the Tulip season.
You are not alone! In fact, every year over a million visitors travel to the Netherlands between March and May to watch the tulips blossoming.
Visiting the Netherlands during tulip season can be an amazing experience. But with so many people trying to catch the very same experiences, it can get overwhelming -especially if it’s the first time you visit.
I have experienced the tulip season a few times already and put together a list of things to know about the Dutch tulip season and mistakes to avoid.
Plus my BONUS tip: Where to take perfect pictures of tulip fields in 2024!
#1 - There are no tulip fields in Amsterdam
Sorry about that, you really have to know this. Many tourists visit Amsterdam during tulip season assuming they’ll see tulip gardens and fields everywhere.
Sure enough, in Amsterdam you’ll see tulips decorating bridges, streets and gardens. But if you are looking for the actual tulip fields, you’ll need to travel to the countryside outside of Amsterdam (more on that below).
#2 - If you do visit Amsterdam, don’t walk on bike lanes
Seriously, don’t. Locals don't like that, and for a good reason: Bike lanes are, well, for bikes, and can get really busy.
I get it: Sometimes it can get confusing to understand where you can walk and where not, so these are some general rules of thumb:
Narrow streets are generally used by cars AND bikes;
Before crossing a narrow street, always double- and triple-check to your left and right;
Bikes always have priority, full stop. Even if they don’t;
Some areas are pedestrians-only (but you’ll still need to pay attention to bikes).
#3 - There are no tulip fields in Keukenhof, either!
Keukenhof is perhaps the most popular attraction for tourists visiting the Netherlands during the tulip season.
Good to know: Keukenhof is a huge park with many different gardens with tulips and other seasonal flowers, like hyacinths and daffodils.
Keukenhof is accessible by car and by bus from Amsterdam, Schipol Airport and Haarlem and offers facilities such as cafés, restaurants and bathrooms. The ticket price for Keukenhof in 2024 is 19,50 EUR online for adults (23,00 EUR at the ticket office), plus 8,00 EUR car parking fees.
However: In Keukenhof you won’t find tulip fields. If you want to see those (which I highly recommend), you have two options:
Rent a car in Amsterdam and drive randomly in the Bollenstreek area between Lisse, De Zilk, Vogelenzang, Hillegom, Noordwijk and Noordwijkerhout;
Rent a bike in Amsterdam and take the train to Hillegom, then bike around the Bollenstreek. You can take a bike on the train if you pay a daily supplement. If you stay in Haarlem, you can rent a bike there and bike all the way to the Bollenstreek!
Hurry up! Depending on the weather, tulip fields will be blossoming until end of April/beginning of May and then will be cut.
*Update 4 May 2024: As of today, there are very few tulips left in the fields*
#4 - Don’t walk in the tulip fields (no, not even “for the gram”)
If you do choose to visit the tulip fields around Keukenhof, avoid walking through them. In fact, fields are private property and walking through them might damage flowers and bulbs.
I know, it can be so tempting to get as close as possible! But you can still capture beautiful pictures by staying at the edge of the tulip fields.
[BONUS]: Where can you take perfect pictures of tulip fields in 2024?
If you are visiting the Netherlands for the first time and only have a few days to see the tulip fields, don’t feel overwhelmed: Here are the coordinates of two picture-perfect tulip fields in 2024 (copy+paste them into Google Maps):
8H32+376 De Zilk
8H87+654 Vogelenzang
One final advice: Don’t let the weather forecast discourage you. Weather in the Netherlands can be really unpredictable -in a good and in a bad way.
Therefore, pack for all seasons and get ready for sudden rainfalls or the best weather you can ever dream of - both in the same day.
Hopefully these tips will help you getting the most out of your next holiday in the Netherlands!
About me:
As a passionate traveler and tourism professional I’ve experienced the world: From hiking the Andes to flying Business Class, from camping in Serengeti to staying in luxury resorts in Maldives.
In my career as a marketer I’ve driven brand collaborations, scaled up communities and websites and helped tourism companies reach international travelers.
Beating Jetlag is where my authentic experiences as a traveler and genuine curiosity as an industry insider come together for behind-the-scenes travel content and resources.
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