By Kumiko Matter
Tulips are one of the most successful exports of the Netherlands and the country’s national flower. Few sights are filled with more sheer beauty than fields upon fields of tulips in full bloom! Plan on seeing the tulips in Netherlands this spring? Read these tips to make sure you catch them at the right time.
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When is tulip season in the Netherlands?
Tulip season runs from late March until Early May, though can fluctuate from year to year. To play it safe, the best time is around the latter half of April. Try to avoid visiting around Easter. It is generally very packed in the Netherlands and in Europe with tourists during this holiday weekend.
Where can you see the tulips?
The popular tulip fields are in Hillegom, Lisse, Haarlem, and Leiden. Near Hillegom is the famous Keukenhof Gardens, which provides a nice walk around an expansive site featuring hundreds of varieties of tulips and other flowers, like daffodils and hyacinths. It is best to visit Keukenhof Gardens in the early morning in order to save on waiting time when catching the bus from Amsterdam, Leiden, or Haarlem. If you have a long layover at Schiphol Airport, you can catch a bus from there to the gardens as well.
What is the best way to view tulips?
By bike! Do as the Dutch do and cycle the flatlands among the never-ending tulip fields. You can rent a bike and purchase a cycling route map of the Bloembollenroute (flower bulb route) from any bike rental shop or from a tourism office. To view more of the tulip fields with ease, join a bike tour.
Van Gogh Tours features multiple bike tours during tulip season, each for 8 days and easy enough for children to join too.
How can I take great photos?
Springtime in the Netherlands is generally cloudy and overcast. If you plan on taking photos of the tulips, prepare in advance so the weather doesn’t affect the outcome of the photos. If you are bringing along an SLR camera, use a UV or polarizing filter to change the balance of light in the photo. Available at camera stores, these filters will bring depth to the photos of tulips and the fields.
Can I buy tulip bulbs in the Netherlands?
Keukenhof Gardens and other touristy areas will sell tulip bulbs for very expensive prices. Skip the checkout lines there and look for bulbs at local markets for better prices. Bloemenmarkt in Amsterdam sells flower bulbs year round, and you’ll find the biggest flower market in the Netherlands at Leeuwarden Flower Market in the north only on Ascension Day (May 29). If you plan on flying afterward, check with the vendors if they have any bulb packages that are certified and sealed to go through customs. However, these packages are more expensive than the regular packages that they sell at the markets. If you try and bring regular bulb packages through customs, they might not make it through to the other end.
Visiting the tulip fields in Netherlands is a travel goal to many, and a beautiful sight to behold when you see them at the perfect moment of full bloom!
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Photo credits:
Woman in Tulip Field: Amy Bonner via Flickr
Keukenhof Gardens: stevekc via Flickr
Woman on Bike Tour: Amy Bonner via Flickr