Tiptoeing Through the Tulips In The Netherlands

One of my long-time travel bucket list items was to “tiptoe through the tulips” in Holland, the country most famous for growing the spectacularly colorful perennial flowers.

With careful planning, I was able make that dream a reality. Full disclosure: I didn’t actually “tiptoe” through any tulip beds (they are far too fragile), but rather I meandered along pathways, surrounded by millions of tulips and other flowering bulbs, and it was everything I hoped it would be.

If you want to see tulips blooming in Holland (aka The Netherlands), you have a small window each year in which to do it. And, even then, you might miss them by a week or two.

Tulips in The Netherlands can bloom anywhere from late February to mid-April. Each year is a little different depending on the weather. Timing is critical because peak blooms only last a few weeks before they are “headed” or die off.

We planned our trip to The Netherlands for the third week in March (2019), hoping we would hit the tulip blooms at the right time. Because we were flying internationally from California, tickets were purchased, and plans were made three months ahead of time.

I carefully tracked the bloom predictions as our trip drew closer, fingers and [tip]toes crossed. We were a smidge early to see all the massive tulips fields in full bloom, but we saw plenty of every variety and color at the world-famous Keukenhof gardens.

Keukenhof is only open for about a six-week window every spring. The opening and closing dates vary each year depending on bloom predictions. (In 2022, opening day was on March 24 and closing on May 15.)

Amsterdam was our home base for this trip, so we rented a car to make the 30-minute drive to the gardens and to visit some other places in the area. If you don’t want to rent a car, you can easily take public transportation or one of the many tour buses. You can also rent and ride a bike there, which is very popular in The Netherlands.

We purchased our tickets online well in advance (strongly recommended) to make sure they didn’t sell out. When purchasing tickets, you must select a specific day and time slot. The tickets will only be honored for that specific day. If you want to visit Keukenhof more than one day, you might want to consider buying an annual pass. (At the time of this posting, adult tickets cost €18.50, children aged 4-17 cost €9, and children 3 and under are free. Annual passes cost €45.

Just inside the entry gates are two large stores selling bulbs and all manner of tulip-themed and Dutch souvenirs. Initially, I was determined to buy bulbs from the shop to take back with me to the US, but I discovered that, not only can you buy them anywhere (including the airport), but you can also easily purchase them online.

Once we made our way through the throngs of tourists congregating outside the two gift shops, we set out to see as much of the 79 acres as we could before our feet gave out or they closed, whichever came first.

Moments later, we were transported into a springtime paradise, surrounded by brilliant bursts of color, delightful fragrances and stunning visual displays. Each flower bed is a unique work of art – literally. Intermingled with the flowers, Keukenhof also features work from various artists, including sculptures, glasswork, water features, topiaries and even pieces of art made of flowers.

The visual appeal is so engaging that visitors can’t help but be drawn into and become part of the artful displays, with a new canvas unfolding at every turn. Along the many winding pathways, hundreds of floral carpets are woven with every color imaginable in what is surely one of the most beautiful, breathtaking spring gardens in the world.

While there are more tulips than anything else, the gardens also feature a wide variety of flowering plants, including those that also grow from bulbs (like daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, and crocuses), as well as many other varieties from seeds.

In addition to the outdoor gardens, visitors may also see a wide variety of exotic flowers in one of several pavilions that feature flower shows and other exhibits. The day of our visit, we were treated to a Dutch music concert and traditional Dutch dances with authentically dressed performers right down to their hand-crafted wooden shoes (what we Americans call clogs and the Dutch call “klompen”).

If you want to purchase your own set of wooden clogs, you will have plenty of opportunities at one of the various shops located throughout the property. On one side of the gardens (about the 3 o’clock position if you are looking at the map provided upon entry), we discovered picnic grounds, a marionet show, an historic windmill, and (for a photo op) a giant pair of clogs big enough for children to sit in.

Weather permitting, you may also embark on a 45-minute “whisper boat” ride through Keukenhof’s waterways. The boat (which is not included in the admission price) departs from a dock by the Mill.

Although guided tours are available, we opted for a self-guided tour to explore at our own pace. You could easily spend an entire day at Keukenhof if you like to linger and contemplate, but there are other things to do in the area. Nearby is the Keukenhof Castle and Black Tulip Museum in the town of Lisse. You can also visit the many surrounding flower fields or head out to explore other towns.

We ended up spending the first half of the day at Keukenhof and then headed to the town of Delft for lunch and shopping (a 40-minue drive further south). The charming town is home to the world-famous Delft pottery. We visited the factory to learn how it was made. Each piece is hand painted and signed. Of course, I had (cue husband’s eye roll) to purchase a vase to bring home.

Depending on your goals and interests you can also incorporate time to visit The Hague or nearby Rotterdam or any number of small Dutch towns, including seeing another popular thing Holland is known for: windmills. Because The Netherlands is a fairly small country, nothing is that far away.

Because the blooming season is the most popular time of year to visit, make sure to plan ahead and book early. Also, if this or a similar trip is on your bucket list, don’t put it off. This spring was the first time Keukenhof was open since our visit three years ago due to the Covid pandemic. You never know what the future will bring, so travel now and check those items off your bucket list while you can!