Tulip Fields in the Netherlands: Where to Go in 2027
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- By: Peter Orsel
There is no country in the world where you can see as many tulips as The Netherlands. Every spring the green fields turn into a beautiful color palette, and people fly in from all over the world just to see it. This blog will tell you all you need to know if you want to visit the tulip fields in The Netherlands in 2027. Trust me, there’s more than just Keukenhof.
Please note: Tulip Season of 2026 is over. You can already start planning your trip for next year!
In This Post
When is tulip season in The Netherlands?
To see blooming tulip fields in The Netherlands, you need to visit in spring season, but the timing still varies depending on the weather. If there has been a lot of sun, the season will be early. A lot of rain can cause some delay. Generally spoken, most tulip fields will bloom from about the second week of April until latest the second week of May.
Famous area Bollenstreek offers a map with frequent updates, showing where the fields are blooming at the moment. Check it out here. Don’t check this months in advance, as the timing is weather dependent.
There are also fields of hyacinths and daffodils in The Netherlands, and especially hyacinths bloom for a longer time than tulips. I love their pastel colours. Drive around the areas below and you’ll find them without much effort.
How to travel around in The Netherlands
Traveling through The Netherlands is pretty easy. The infrastructure is great, there’s public transportation anywhere and after all it’s just a small country. For full independency in The Netherlands, a car would be your best bet. Trains and buses don’t stop at the exact spots of the fields. After all it’s agriculture. In some areas, you can rent a bicycle and cycle through the tulip fields. It doesn’t get more Dutch than this. Do you prefer exploring with a guide? Consider this guided cycling tour.
Where to stay in The Netherlands?
If you rent a car, I would avoid the city centers as it gets expensive to park your car, and you need to get out of the city to visit the tulip fields anyway.
Instead, try one of the Van der Valk hotels. Their hotels are modern, the breakfast buffet is great and they’re usually located next to the highway with free parking. I stayed in all the options below, and can highly recommend them.
Some options:
- Van der Valk Amsterdam Zuidas
Located in one of the most popular areas, this Van der Valk hotel is easily accessible by highway and by public transportation. It’s a new hotel where you’ll be well-rested for your tulip adventures in The Netherlands! - DoubleTree by Hilton NDSM Wharff
NDSM Wharff is located just 15 minutes by (free) boat from Amsterdam’s central station, so it’s a great option if you rely on public transport. NDSM Wharff is famous for its street art and the huge flea markets. One thing I love about DoubleTree by Hilton hotels is their free cookie on arrival. So simple, yet so effective. - Van der Valk Akersloot / Alkmaar
Located just above Amsterdam, you’ll find this Van der Valk hotel with free parking, just next to the highway. Especially useful if you want to make the most of your time in North Holland, while visiting the biggest tulip fields you will find in The Netherlands. Don’t stay here if you rely on public transportation.
Where are the famous tulip fields?
Over the years I’ve visited a range of areas to photograph tulip fields. Many of these offer self-drive routes that take you past well-known locations in cooperation with the farmers. Some routes are interactive, like the one in Flevoland, where you learn about the area, the farmers, and their history.
These self-drives usually cost a few euros, which supports the local farmers and helps with crowd control in the area. Where there’s no set route, I just drive around until I find the best-looking fields.
Here are my favourite areas in no particular order:
Goeree Overflakkee
This area in south-western Netherlands, offers annual tours during Tulip season. Over the last few years it’s grown more popular with international visitors looking for something more authentic than what you get at and around Keukenhof.
If you decide to go by yourself, try to drive around the towns of Dirksland, Middelharnis, Nieuwe-Tonge and Oude-Tonge. A must-stop is Vogelobservatorium Tij, located in Stellendam, not for the tulips, but for a photogenic location location to spot some birds.
Touring through Goeree Overflakkee without a car is difficult. This is farm country, and public transport doesn’t reach most of the fields.
Province of Noord Holland
Probably my favourite area. Known for traditional windmills, often surrounded by tulips. This province also has the largest connected area of tulip fields, and it’s reachable by public transport too. Start your trip in Schagen, Anna-Paulowna, or Julianadorp. You can find cycling routes and more information here.
Bollenstreek
Bollenstreek is the best-known tulip area in The Netherlands, with Lisse being the main city where it centers all around. This is where you’ll find Keukenhof and most of the tulip-related tourist attractions. The fields are beautiful but heavily protected, since this is where the crowds are heaviest. Don’t expect to get close to the tulips, farmers fence off their fields here. If you want to make the most of a visit, take a bike tour through the area. Book it here.
Province of Flevoland
Can you imagine this province didn’t even exist 60 years ago? It’s the youngest province of The Netherlands, and the ground is very fertile for the growth of tulips.
The areas are stretched out wide and most of the tulips are in the areas of Dronten and Zeewolde. Zeewolde is the place to find the tulip island as well! I love visiting this province for tulip season, as it’s so centrally located. Keep in mind that you need a car to cruise around. More information about the annual tulip route can be found here.
Fun fact: Flevoland is by far the biggest human-made island in the world.
Province of Drenthe
Drenthe is known as one of the most beautiful provinces of the country. It offers beautiful parks and it has a lot of domestic tourism. During the tulip season, there are several fields to visit, mainly around the town of Smilde. Usually, only Dutch people know about Drenthe, so if you want to travel like a real Dutchman, consider this area far from urban pollution of the capital cities.
Combine your visit with a boat tour in Giethoorn or a hike in one of the large parks.
Visit Keukenhof
Keukenhof is internationally known as the place to be when it’s about visiting tulip fields. Located in Lisse, this park is surrounded by tulip fields. The best thing about Keukenhof is that the tulips are blooming during the whole spring season. In 2027, Keukenhof is open from 18 March until 9 May. Don’t expect the park to offer traditional acres, expect a theme park experience. You’ll find a windmill, you’ll find beautiful gardens, and it’s amazing for a day trip.
I would recommend visiting Keukenhof if you’re arriving very early in the season (let’s say March to the first week of April) or very late (mid May). If you’re visiting in the peak weeks, go for the real experience and visit the farms by tour or bicycle.
Planning to visit Keukenhof? You can get your tickets here.
Can I walk through the tulip fields?
You can’t walk through the working tulip fields without permission. Social media has made this more of a problem over the last few years, since everyone wants the shot of themselves surrounded by tulips instead of standing at the edge of a field.
If you want to walk through the fields, you need permission. If there’s no farmer around, it means you don’t have permission.
Most fields have a sign telling you it’s forbidden to enter. Even without a sign, stay out. The reason is simple: tulips get damaged easily, and it’s nearly impossible to stay on the narrow tracks meant for farming vehicles.
You’ll see photos online of creators walking or running through the fields. They most likely had permission. Don’t assume you can do the same just because they did.
Where can I get close to the tulip fields in The Netherlands?
If you want that photo of yourself standing between the tulips anyway, you need a dedicated tulip garden. Two well-known options are Tulip Experience Amsterdam, near Noordwijkerhout, and The Tulip Barn, in Hillegom.
Both are family-run tulip farms that turned part of their land into a visitor garden, with paths through the flowers and spots for photos. This is perfect for everyone looking for the perfect shot, but keep in mind it’s a tourist experience.
Prices, opening hours and booking rules change every year, so book your tickets and check the information before you go.
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
As you’re visiting in the tulip season, a stop at the Amsterdam Tulip Museum is a must too. It’s a small indoor museum about the history of tulips in The Netherlands. A great stop if you’re in the city anyway, when it’s out of season or when it’s a rainy day. The shop is free to enter, and you can buy your ticket for the museum inside.
Can I fly my drone above the tulip fields?
In general, flying drones above tulip fields is allowed, as long as you check the no-fly zones first. Many tulip fields are close to airports, so check the flight map before taking off.
If I’m at a lesser-known spot and there’s a farmer around, I usually ask if I can fly. Most are happy to chat, and nobody has turned me down yet.
If there’s no farmer around, the drone map shows that it’s allowed to fly, and you’re not harming someone’s privacy, you can fly. There’s just one important thing to remember: don’t fly too close to the ground, as the wind created and the blades of your propellors could damage the tulips.
How to take the best photos of the tulips?
You’ve found the right field and the light is good. How do you get the shots that other people get?
Finding the right field takes time. I look for bright orange fields, red fields, or fields with a strong mix of colours, like the header image on this post. The exact spots change every year, since these are working crops, so I can’t just hand you a pin on a map.
If I find a good field, I usually start with my drone. My favourite fields have water sprinklers running, since they create a great rainbow effect. With my drone, I shoot top-down images and shots built around a subject, like farming equipment or a windmill. I try to use the lines of the field to keep the composition balanced.
With my camera, I go for more detailed shots. There’s almost always a tulip with an odd colour or one growing the wrong way, and those are the ones I look for. If you’re new to photography but want good results anyway, start with a wide aperture (low F-number), keep your ISO as low as the light allows, and set your shutter speed based on how much light you’ve got. If you want to go further, try focus stacking. You’ll need a tripod and, ideally, a day without wind.
I hope you’re as excited as I am about the new tulip season and I hope you have the best time visiting The Netherlands. Into photography? Combine it with other famous photography spots in The Netherlands : The Best Photography Spots in The Netherlands
FAQ about the tulip fields in The Netherlands
How far away from Amsterdam are the tulip fields?
The closest well-known region is Bollenstreek. It’s about 40 minutes from Amsterdam by car, and this is also where you’ll find Keukenhof. Noord Holland, around Schagen and Anna-Paulowna, is about an hour away and less crowded. Flevoland and Drenthe are further out, more like 1.5 to 2 hours.
Is it better to visit the tulip fields or Keukenhof?
It depends on when you’re visiting. Keukenhof stays colourful for eight weeks, so it’s a good option if you arrive early or late in spring, before the open fields look their best. During peak bloom, around mid-April, I’d pick the open fields over the park. See the Keukenhof section above for more on this.
What is the best month to see tulips in The Netherlands?
April, with the second and third week usually giving you the best chance of blooming flowers. The exact timing depends on the weather every year, so check the Bollenstreek flower map a week or two before you travel instead of planning around a fixed date.
What is the best month to visit Keukenhof?
Keukenhof plants its bulbs to stay colourful for the whole season it’s open, so there isn’t really a bad time to go. However, the opening times are usually from early March until early May. If you also want to see the open fields on the same trip, aim for mid-April, that’s when the park and the farmland around it both look their best.
Can I walk through the tulip fields?
Not on the working fields, no. Those are private farmland, and the bulbs can be damaged if you walk on the fields. f you want to walk through tulips, visit a dedicated garden like Tulip Experience Amsterdam or The Tulip Barn instead.
Do I need a car to see the tulip fields?
Not always. Noord Holland is reachable by public transport. Most other regions, including Flevoland and Drenthe, are easier with a car, since buses and trains don’t stop at the fields themselves.
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About Me
Peter Orsel is a Dutch travel photographer based in Bali, specialized in drone and landscape photography. He has visited over 40 countries and writes detailed, no-nonsense guides based on firsthand experience.