Best time to visit Amsterdam for Tulips Season

Last updated: January 11th, 2025

So, you want you visit the Netherlands during the tulip season? The tulip season is almost upon us – so time to start getting ready! Holland is about to burst into life with rows upon rows of colorful tulips, attracting visitors from around the world. It’s one of nature’s most beautiful displays, but here’s the important question you must be asking yourself: When is the best time to visit Amsterdam for tulips?

When planning my spring trip to Amsterdam, I had the same question. I wanted to have the best experience possible and for me, that meant flower fields lush with colour. But you have to time your trip right! Too early and the bulbs won’t have bloomed yet and too late, the fields will be harvested.

I’m pleased to say my spring trip to the Netherlands was one of my most memorable trips I’ve ever done and I like to think its thanks to my careful planning. And in this guide, I’ll share with you exactly how I planned the perfect trip.

In this guide, I’ll answer some of the most common FAQs about visiting Amsterdam during tulip season. From the best time to visit Amsterdam for tulips to how to get to the fields and the top places to see them, I’ve got you covered. If I miss any of your burning questions, drop them in the comments below—I’d love to help you plan your trip!

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Amsterdam Tulip Season: FAQs

When is the best time to visit Amsterdam for Tulips?

Tulip season in the Netherlands begins from the end of March until the beginning of May. However, the best time to visit Amsterdam for tulips is typically April. Peak blooming usually happens in mid-April, so aim to visit during this period.

They are predicting for 2025 that peak blooming will be the second week of April until early May! This varies slightly year by year, however they update this information on the Tulip Festival’s Flower Forecast. You’ll find the most up to date information there!

Keep in mind:

• Easter weekend (April 18th-21st) and April 26–May 4th (a Dutch school holiday) are expected to be very busy. Make your travel bookings well in advance if traveling during these periods – especially for weekend travel!
• The tulips are harvested throughout the season. The flowers are used for the Amsterdam Tulip Festival and are, of course, also used to be sold. That means that no matter what you should expect to find empty fields. But don’t worry, I’ll share some tips below on how to make the most of your visit.

 

PRO TIP: Although tulip season is March to May, April is when I recommend visiting. Avoid visiting in May – friends of mine went in May and said all of the tulips were harvested.

 

What is the Amsterdam Tulip Festival?

The Amsterdam Tulip Festival, of course, corresponds with the tulip season in the Netherlands. It celebrates the beauty of the spring season and is a time to welcome the warm, sunny weather! During the Amsterdam Tulip Festival, there are tonnes of activities that take place. It’s a vibrant time filled with events like flower parades, guided tours, and, of course, a visit to the iconic Keukenhof Gardens (more on that below).

In 2025, the flower parade will take place on April 12th, making it a perfect weekend to experience the tulip season in full bloom. Remember, the best time to visit Amsterdam for tulips is mid-April, so this particular weekend will be extra busy!

It’s important to note that events will take place all across Holland, not just in Amsterdam. For example, the Flower Parade route runs through 7 different towns! For a full list of events, check out their official website here!

 

Where to see the Tulips in Amsterdam?

The world renowned tulip fields are located roughly 30 minutes away from the city of Amsterdam, so to really experience and see the flowers, you’ll have to venture out of the city. However, you can find tulips all over the Amsterdam – there is no shortage of tulips!

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Amsterdam’s famous floating flower market, Bloemenmarkt, is filled with fresh tulips and bulbs you can take home. This is one of the best spots to find tulips in Amsterdam. However from personal experience, the canals are also lined with baskets of colorful, blooming flowers, so no matter where you are, you’ll find some flowers.

PRO TIP: if you want to buy tulip bulbs, check the regulations for your home country. Bringing bulbs into other EU countries is fine, but, bringing them overseas has special requirements.

 

Where is the best place to see the tulips?

Without a doubt, the ultimate tulip experience is found at Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. It’s the epicenter of tulip season in the Netherlands, surrounded by iconic, colorful fields. To get the full experience, a visit to Keukenhof Gardens and the tulip fields is necessary.

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Here’s everything you need to know about planning a trip to Keukenhof Gardens:

🌷 When are they open: Keukenhof Gardens is only open during the tulip season, so in 2025, its open from March 20th until May 11th.

⏰ How long do you need to visit: They are open every day from 8 am to 7:30 pm. We spent the entire day here – the grounds are massive! Inside you can find 800 types of tulips, flower shows, and 7 million flowers. IMPORTANT UPDATE: since 2023 you cannot exit and re-enter the park!

💰 Prices: It costs 20 euros per adult, plus 9 euros for parking. We booked both our tickets and parking in advance with a timed entry!

🍟 Food options: You can bring picnic items into the park if you’d like but there are also restaurants and food trucks inside. The fries were amazing, I highly recommend them!

🐶 Accessibility: Dogs are allowed in the park, but biking inside is not permitted.

🚌 How to get there: From Amsterdam, there are tonnes of tours that include shuttles – you can check out some options below! But you can also take the Keukenhof Express Bus.

Learn more about the events at Keukenhof or more FAQs!

 

How to get to the Tulip Fields?

To get to the iconic Dutch tulip fields, you definitely need to be in the Keukenhof area. Whether you are staying there for a few days, or just popping down for a day trip, this is where all of the tulip fields are found! There are a few ways to visit, such as self-driving tours, boating tours, or guided tours, but from my experience the most memorable way to see experience the tulip fields is by bike!

🚲 Visiting by bike:

We booked a bike rental from Rent-a-Bike Van Dam prior to our visit. I’m glad we did because we didn’t have to wait in line! They are conveniently located in the Keukenhof parking lot and it cost us 16 euros for a full day rental. You can also rent the bikes for 3 hours which costs 11 euros.

🗺️ There are 4 biking routes you can take from Keukenhof and I’d highly recommend asking the staff which route has the best flower visibility. As I mentioned above, the tulips are being harvested throughout the season so you want to make sure you are visiting the fields that haven’t been picked yet. The staff will have the most up-to-date information!

To keep in mind: As I said above, Keukenhof doesn’t allow you to enter and exit the park anymore. This means that you should plan your biking experience before or after your visit to the park.

🚗 Visiting by car:

If you have access to a car, you’ll have the flexibility to visit fields at your own pace. Parking is should be widely available in this rural area and we saw many cars pull over with no problems. Just remember to stay safe and not block traffic.

🌷Visiting with a guided tour:

If you’d prefer to have a guide show you around, there are plenty of tours to choose from! You can check some out here! There are even tours available that take you to visit a local tulip farm – I’ve linked it below!

 

Where should you stay to see the tulips?

Staying in Amsterdam is recommended since it’s where most people will be traveling through and there are plenty of ways to visit the fields from the city. However, you should also remember that the best place to see the tulips is along the coast and in the countryside. This is where growing conditions are best.

Towns such as Haarlem, Lieden, or beachside towns are much closer to the fields than cities like Rotterdam or Amsterdam. Depending on your preferences, you can choose whether or spend more time in the cities or more time in the tulip fields.

Here are some ideas depending on where you want to stay:

✨Hotel in Lisse (very close to the tulip fields and Keukenhof Gardens)

✨Beachside Hotel

✨Hotel in Amsterdam (close to RAI Amsterdam)

✨ Hostel in Amsterdam (another personal favourite place to stay!)

✨Hotel in Rotterdam

✨B&B in Leiden

✨My recommendation: Cute Farmhouse Airbnb in the Countryside. I’d recommend staying here if you have access to a car. We found it was a bit cheaper than staying in the cities and having a car meant we could get around easily. Without a car, I’d recommend Bunk in Amsterdam!

 

Tips for visiting during tulip season

🏨 Try and book accommodations as soon as you can. Do not hesitate, book your accommodations as soon as you can! The tulip season is one of the busiest times of the year in the Netherlands. Hotels, Airbnbs, and even B&Bs near popular tulip spots like Lisse, Leiden, and Amsterdam fill up fast. To secure the best options and prices, aim to book at least 3 months in advance!

🚲 Avoid renting bikes in Amsterdam! If you’ve been to Amsterdam before, you’ll know how chaotic it is with the number of bikes, pedestrians, and cars. The city is packed with experienced cyclists who know the rules, while tourists can struggle navigating the bike traffic, trams, and pedestrians. So unless you are a pro, I’d avoid renting bikes in the city. Renting bikes in the tulip fields is a much safer, and more enjoyable option! However, if cycling in Amsterdam is on your bucket list, consider getting some Travel Medical Insurance to be on the safe side!

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🎟️ Book tickets in advance. From Keukenhof Gardens to the Anne Frank House, tickets for top attractions sell out quickly during peak tulip season. Booking your tickets ahead of time ensures you won’t miss out on these iconic experiences. Plus, having everything pre-booked makes your trip stress-free and allows you to enjoy your visit without worrying about last-minute logistics.

📆 Plan at least 2-3 days to visit. You need a minimum of two full days to get the most out of your visit. For a ready-made itinerary, check out my Best Weekend Itinerary: Seeing The Tulips In Amsterdam (2025)! I’ve planned your weekend for you which includes a day exploring Amsterdam, a day in immersed in the tulip fields and Keukenhof Gardens, and a third day experiencing the famous Dutch windmills.

 

Enjoy the tulips!

By now, you should be fully prepared to embark on an epic, flower-filled adventure to the Netherlands! I’ve tried to include in this article every tip and planning advice I found useful when organizing our own trip including the best time to visit Amsterdam for tulips. If there’s anything I missed or if you have more questions, feel free to drop them in the comments—I’d love to help!

Visiting the Netherlands during tulip season was truly one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever taken. The vibrant colors, rolling fields, and unique atmosphere made it absolutely unforgettable, and I hope your experience will be just as special! You can find my exact weekend itinerary here!

If you’re nervous about missing the tulips or aren’t sure if the flowers will still be in bloom for your visit, the best travel planning resource I can direct you to is the Tulip Festival Amsterdam website. You probably already know since I referenced them a lot in this itinerary but the site is packed with valuable info beyond just the events and activities. They update it seasonally with flower forecasts, maps of the tulip fields and so much more!

Need help with your travel planning? If you don’t have the time, or energy to craft the best trip possible, let me help you take some of the weight off! I’ve helped clients plan trips to London, Paris, Normandy, and Italy and they all agree that having someone help you plan and research makes the process so much smoother! Check out my travel planning services on Thatch, I’d love to help you make the most of your trip!