When is the best time to see Dutch tulips in bloom?

Tulips and other flowers mainly bloom during spring. March through May is therefore the best time to visit the Netherlands if you want to watch them in bloom. The world's most beautiful spring park, the Keukenhof, is open during this time.

When do flowers bloom in the Netherlands?

Tulips and other flowers mainly bloom during spring. March through May is therefore the best time to visit the Netherlands if you want to watch them in bloom. The world's most beautiful spring park, the Keukenhof, is open during this time.

Tulip season in The Netherlands

Part of The Netherlands is transformed into a vast sea of flowers from mid March to mid May. It starts with crocus season in March, which is followed by daffodils and hyacinths. Finally the tulips show their gorgeous colors, this is from mid April through the first week of May. A floral paradise for true flower enthusiasts.

Visit the enchanting flower bulb fields.
See over seven million flower bulbs at the Keukenhof.
The flower bulb fields are at its finest by mid April.

Fields full of beautiful colours

With its long springs in which the nights are cool, the Netherlands is the ideal place for tulip cultivation. The soil in the polders is continuously drained, which creates the perfect balance of moisture and drainage that tulip bulbs love. It enables the proper development of the bulbs and creates a beautiful palette of colours every year.

From mid-March to the end of May, tulips transform large parts of the Netherlands into a colourful floral mosaic. The tulips are at their best in April, when you can admire the impressive fields full of beautifully blooming tulips.

Where are the tulip fields?

Lady on fence enjoys flower fields in Lisse in the Bulb Region

Every year, visitors flock to the famous bulb fields around the Keukenhof and Lisse, but there are many more places to enjoy tulips in the Netherlands. For example, the vast bulb fields in the Noordoostpolder (in Flevoland) or the province of Overijssel are definitely worth a visit.

Want to see the largest continuous flower bulb area in the world? Then head to the Kop van Noord-Holland, located on a bit of land between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer lake. You will be surrounded by colourful flowers and the coast, without the crowds of typical tourist hotspots. The flower village of Lisse has a rich flower culture but the village of Noordwijk is also home to a gorgeous harmony of floral scents and colours on many hectares of flower fields.

The Keukenhof is the largest flower exhibition in the world, famous for its many tulips. You can admire over 7 million flower bulbs in bloom here. FloraHolland in Aalsmeer, the world's largest flower auction, is also a well-known hotspot. Looking for flowers out of season? While the flower auction may not be a huge flower field, it does have an incredibly wide range of beautiful flowers.

When is tulip season?

Tulip season runs from late March to mid-May but the flowers are usually at their best in mid-April. The Keukenhof is famous around the world as a fantastic place to see many different types of tulips. But at this time of year, all you have to do is hop on the train or a bike to see abundantly blooming tulips in the vast flower fields of Flevoland, Overijssel or North Holland.

Activities & tulips

Want to see the fields but don't know where to start? Hire a bike and follow one of the colourful cycling routes along the Markermeer, the Kop van Noord-Holland or the Anna Paulownapolder. You can fill your day with all the activities that are being organised around the flower fields, such as the flower days in Anna Paulowna or the Lentetuin (Spring Garden) in the village of Breezand, and much more. For a unique experience, spend the night surrounded by flower fields and enjoy the lovely scents of flowers over a cup of coffee in the morning.

Fancy a walk? Explore the beautiful walking routes in the bulb region. For example, follow one of the many signposted routes of the Dune and Flowerbulb Region Walking Network or visit De Tulperij, where you can not only admire the tulips but also have a drink, get a peek behind the scenes or join one of the inspiring outings.

We want you to enjoy our flower fields but please do so in a tulip-friendly manner and with respect for nature.