Tulip Season in Holland: What Travelers Should Know in 2025

We've all seen the pictures. Millions of brightly colored tulips, blanketing large fields in the Netherlands. But when can you see the tulips in the Netherlands? And where? When is tulip season in Amsterdam? Can you even see tulips there?

Don't worry, we are here to answer all of your questions about the when, where, why, and how when it comes to having your very own magical experience in the fields of the Netherlands.

When is tulip season in Amsterdam?

April to early May.

While you will find tulips in flower shops in Amsterdam as early as December, the fields really don't begin blooming until March, but are fully in-blossom in April.

The official Tulip Festival Amsterdam website says the best time to view the tulip fields is in April. In fact, they get more specific, highlighting the second week of April.

Keep in mind that the tulip season can vary every year as it's dependent on the weather. Each year, officials in the Netherlands forecast the dates for the upcoming tulip season.

While the start-end of season is variable, there aren't usually huge fluxcuations. Guests can assume April is a good time to see the tulips.

How long are the tulips in bloom?

Tulip fields near Amsterdam are usually focused on the bulb of the flower, not the flower itself. This means that the care that they do for these beautiful plants is centered around bulb-health and quality, not how long the flower itself lasts.

Because of that, fields that focus primarily on the bulb often won't flower for as long as fields that focus on blooms and petals.

Most tulip fields bloom for 2-3 weeks. However, there are some that aim to keep the flowers in bloom for longer periods of time, such as the famous Keukenhof Gardens or the Tulip Farm de Tulperij in Voorhout.

Keukenhof has more than 7 million flowers and over 800 types, but it is a garden, not a field.

However, Keukenhof and Tulip Farm de Tulperij are within 5 km of each other, meaning you can easily visit both in one day for a memorable experience.

How to visit tulip farms near Amsterdam

Keukenhof Gardens and the Tulip Farm de Tulperij are about 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Amsterdam and depending on what tickets you buy, you may be able to hop on a tour bus from downtown. Additionally, there are public transportation options including buses, taxis, and more.

While April is the peak time to see the fields full, Tulip Farm de Tulperij is open from the end of March until mid-May, giving you some more options depending on when you're traveling. Keukenhof has a similar schedule.

Both are open 7 days a week during its tulip season, but you will need tickets to go. You'll need separate tickets for each.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance, and it's recommended as they often can sell out. Your Keukenhof ticket(s) have a timed entry, so make sure you visit during your allocated slot.

💡 Pro tip: If tickets are already sold out on the day you want, try booking a guided tour instead. While a tour will be more expensive, it can be a way to still see the fields even when they're sold out.

There are other types of tickets as well, such as one that includes a bus shuttle from Amsterdam, or one that includes a 1 hour canal cruise in Amsterdam.

What to know before visiting Keukenhof Gardens

There are a few helpful tips that all travelers should know before heading to Keukenhof Gardens.

• The gardens aren't open for very long, so they can be extremely busy. It's generally recommended to go as early in the day as possible if you want fewer crowds.
• Keukenhof is a landscaped garden, not a tulip field - it's an entire experience with food options, boat rides, activities for children like playgrounds and a petting zoo, etc.
• To see the tulip fields (like you see in photos), there are tulip fields just outside of Keukenhof (keep in mind you need separate tickets to enter).
• You can bring your own food/drinks into the garden, but there are also restaurants and food trucks available too.
• Keukenhof isn't in Amsterdam. It's in Lisse, a nearby town.

What to know before visiting Tulip Farm De Tulperij

If you want to see fields like the ones you see in the photos, it's worth a stop to De Tulperij. Before traveling, here are a few tips to make the most of your trip.

• Tulip season is the end of March to mid-May. However, Tulperij is also open from mid-August to mid-October for Dahlia season!
• There is a gift shop and cafe on site with coffee and baked goods.
• You can rent bikes from Keukenhof Gardens to see the fields at Tulperij!
• The greenhouse and show garden at Tulperij are free to visit, meaning you do not need tickets. However, you will need tickets to access the fields.
• Tulperij offers a tour from the farmers themselves, telling you how their farm works and giving you insider-knowledge about tulips!
• The Tulip Farm De Tulperij is located in Voorhout.

Can you see tulips in Amsterdam?

What if you aren't able to (or don't want to) travel outside of Amsterdam? Can you still see tulips?

Yes!

Each year on the third Saturday in January, tulips are brought to Dam Square in Amsterdam by the thousands. Anyone and everyone can come to the square to see over 200,000 tulips, and even take one home for yourself.

While this day marks the beginning of tulip season, tulip fields aren't ready for visitors in January. Guests will have to wait for Spring for that.

If you miss this celebration, you can also visit Amsterdam's famous floating flower market. This market, called Bloemenmarkt, is located on large boats on the Singel Canal and can be visited 7 days a week.

Here, you can see (and purchase) tulips, daffodils, roses, chrysanthemums, violets, peonies, and more.

Tulip field FAQs