Each year, the Netherlands is blanketed by tulips in almost every color, making it a once-in-a-lifetime destination for flower enthusiasts. “You’d never guess there are so many wonderful species, and they come in all shapes and sizes,” Willeke te Flierhaar, the marketing and communications director at the De Hortus Botanicus gardens, shares. 

Jacu Strauss, creative director of Lore Group (which owns the Travel + Leisure reader-favorite hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam), gets even more poetic about it: “Tulips—and beautiful fresh flowers in general—are synonymous with the Netherlands, so there is nothing more special than visiting the country when these are in peak bloom—it’s like Vermont in fall or D.C. during cherry blossom season. The weather is also wonderful during tulip season, so more time can be spent outdoors exploring, enjoying an al fresco supper or evening strolls.”

Seeing these tulips in full bloom does take a little planning, but we’ve got you covered with expert tips. Here’s how to plot the perfect adventure to the Netherlands to see the tulips blooming this spring. 

When to See the Tulips

The official Netherlands tourism website says that the typical tulip season begins in late March and is over by mid-May, meaning the tulips usually peak around mid-April. As for this year, Holland.com noted, “Over the past months, planting conditions were favorable, allowing the bulbs to root well. The weather forecast for the coming month looks promising, with moderately cold temperatures.” Keukenhof, arguably one of the most famous places to see the tulips in Holland, will be open from March 20 to May 11. There’s also an annual flower parade that’s slated for April 12 this year; the route is 26 miles long and will end in Haarlem.

If you’re planning a trip this spring, Strauss suggests booking right away. “I’d always recommend booking as soon as possible,” he said. “It is a busy time for Amsterdam, so to ensure your pick of activities, the sooner, the better.”

Where to See the Tulips

Keukenhof is the most popular spot to see the tulips in the spring. Each year, the garden’s landscaping pros plant a whopping seven million bulbs, which have to be in the ground before Christmas to ensure they have a good hibernation period and will bloom for spring. However, this is a true year-round effort, as the team works throughout the summer and fall to work with growers to gather enough bulbs and designers to put together the beautiful patterns. The bulbs are also planted in layers, which allows for a longer blooming period. The gardens host events throughout the season like flower shows and the Holland Heritage Days. Tickets start at about $20 for adults. Keukenhof is located in Lisse, about a 40-minute drive from Amsterdam, and the easiest way to get to the garden is by public transport (a bus), driving there in your own car or taxi, or by booking a guided tour from Amsterdam. 

Keukenhof is part of the larger Flower Strip, also known as Bollenstreek, a 12-mile strip of tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and hyacinths that stretch from Haarlem to Leiden. According to Holland.com, the best way to experience it is by bike, which will take you through villages including Sassenheim, Hillegom, Lisse, and Noordwijkerhout. You could also rent a two-seater all-electric vehicle from Renzy.

Another way to see the tulips is by hopping on the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS, the Dutch national railway company) on its Haarlem-to-Leiden route. As Travel + Leisure previously reported, the trip passes through the town of Noordwijkerhout, a community well known for its blooms. The town’s official website noted, “You can smell and see daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips everywhere.”

Travelers are also welcome to visit De Tulperij, about 40 minutes outside the city center, which is one of the few working tulip farms that allows tours. You can even pick tulips to bring home, or if you’re traveling in a group, you can set up a guided tour to learn everything there is to know about farming these famed flowers. 

And if you’re looking for the perfect Instagram spot, head right to the Tulip Barn, a garden containing more than 200 varieties of tulips and more than one million blooms that is punctuated by Instagram-worthy props like tractors and a windmill. The barn also has a greenhouse and a small cafe, which is perfect for a rest after taking all those snaps, along with a playground and children’s area, making it ideal for the entire family.

Of course, there are plenty of places to see the famous Dutch blooms in Amsterdam, too. “Obviously the outside garden of Hortus Amsterdam—we have tulip exhibitions every year,” te Flierhaar said when asked where people should go to see the tulips. “We try to have as many special species as possible, and they are on show in big pots around the garden, and there’s a lovely little tulip field near our rock garden too.” 

There’s also Vondelpark, Erasmus Park, and in case of rain, there’s the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, which showcases the country’s history with the flowers.

There’s one more way to see the tulips that’s especially enticing to those who love a thrill: a helicopter ride. Travelers can book a helicopter flight over the flower fields on either Saturday, April 12, or Sunday, April 13, or the following weekend on Saturday, April 19, or Sunday, April 20 for about $175 per person.

Tips for Visiting

There are plenty of ways to track the blooms before and during your trip. “We always post updates about the tulips on our website and social media,” te Flierhaar shared. “So stay tuned for that via dehortus.nl/en or follow us on Instagram @hortusamsterdam.” You can also track the blooms via this 2025 Flower Forecast, which The Tulip Festival updates throughout the season.

No matter where or when you go, it’s critical to be respectful of the blooms, standing beside them and never on them, so they can bring joy to other travelers throughout this season and the next. “When you find yourself standing beside a brilliantly colored flower field, it can be all too tempting to charge in amongst the flowers. Resist the urge,” the Noordwijk town website reads. “The flowers and bulbs are fragile, and if you have any plant diseases on your shoes, you risk taking them in with you. This would be a pity for nature but also a major loss for the growers. So enjoy the view, but please show respect for the flowers and grower: do not enter the fields without the grower’s express consent.” 

So don’t touch the delicate blooms, but do take a million photos and memories with you when you go.