“When is the best time to see the tulips?” is the question we hear more than any other. The honest answer: it depends on the weather — but the season always follows the same order. Here's what to expect, month by month.
Early to mid-March: crocuses
The first colour of the year. Parks and roadsides turn purple and white with millions of crocuses. Keukenhof usually opens in the second half of March, when the gardens are fresh and quiet but the fields are still mostly green.
Late March to mid-April: daffodils and hyacinths
The bulb fields between Haarlem and Leiden start to fill with yellow daffodils, followed by hyacinths in pink, blue and white. Hyacinths are worth the trip on their own — on a sunny day you can smell the fields before you see them.
Mid-April to early May: tulip peak
This is the moment everyone waits for. The tulip fields usually peak from mid-April to early May, and Keukenhof is at its most spectacular. A warm March can bring everything forward by a week or two; a cold spring pushes it back. We check the fields every day during the season and always tell you honestly what you'll see.
- Bollenstreek (Lisse, Hillegom, Noordwijkerhout): the classic striped fields right next to Keukenhof.
- Noordoostpolder in Flevoland: the largest tulip area in the country, blooming a little later and far less crowded.
- North Holland (around Alkmaar and Den Helder): huge fields, often still in bloom in early May.
Mid-May: the end of the season
Farmers cut the flower heads off so that the energy goes into the bulbs — that's what they actually sell. Keukenhof closes in mid-May. If you're coming later, the gardens are gone, but the countryside is green and the windmill villages are at their best.
Tips for the flower fields
- Please don't walk into the fields. Photos from the path look just as good and the crop is a farmer's income.
- Rent a bike in Lisse — it's the best way to see the fields.
- Weekdays and early mornings are far quieter than weekends, especially around Easter.
