Culture & Travel
23 April 2025What Is Tulip Season and Why Is It So Special?
Walking through the streets of the Netherlands during spring feels like stepping into a symphony of colors. From the brightest yellows to deep purples, from soft pinks to vivid oranges—tulips transform the landscape into a living painting. This short but enchanting period, from late March to early May, is more than just a visual feast; it's a cultural celebration that awakens the country in full bloom.
Tulips first arrived in Europe from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, but it was the Netherlands that truly embraced them. So much so that during the 17th century “Tulip Mania,” a single tulip bulb could be worth the price of a house! Today, the obsession has softened into admiration, and tulip season has become a beloved tradition. From vibrant photo spots to dreamy gardens like Keukenhof, tulip season offers a magical blend of nature, history, and artistry.
Keukenhof Gardens: A Springtime Dream Come True
Located in the town of Lisse, Keukenhof Gardens burst into life every spring as if nature is putting on its finest show. Open from the last week of March to mid-May, this vast park hosts around seven million flowers, dazzling visitors with a spectacular display of color. Spread across 32 hectares, it’s not just tulips that bloom here—hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, and many more bulb flowers join the celebration of spring.
But Keukenhof is more than just a garden; it’s a living museum of floral art. Themed sections, sculpture-lined paths, and seasonal flower exhibitions create an immersive experience. Each year, the garden follows a new concept, offering visitors fresh perspectives and unforgettable scenery. For anyone seeking the essence of spring, Keukenhof is a must-visit wonderland.
Enjoying Springtime in Amsterdam
Have you ever visited Amsterdam during tulip season? If not, you’ve missed the city at its most enchanting—when every canal, corner, and cobblestone street begins to resemble a painting come to life.
In spring, Amsterdam is often the first stop for those heading to Keukenhof, but the city itself is an unforgettable destination. A short bike ride through town takes you from wide-open green spaces like Vondelpark to quiet neighborhoods touched by the soft hand of spring. With trees blossoming above and flower-filled window sills at every turn, the season wraps the city in a pastel glow.
But spring in Amsterdam isn’t just about the parks. It spills into the historic districts and open-air flower markets too. The most famous is the Bloemenmarkt, a unique floating flower market on the canal where you can browse colorful tulip bulbs, charming bouquets, and seasonal keepsakes. And if your visit happens to fall in April, you might experience King’s Day—when the city turns orange in a nationwide celebration of joy, community, and springtime spirit.
Picture-Perfect Spots for Photography Lovers
Tulip season in the Netherlands isn’t just a feast for the eyes—it’s a dream come true for camera lenses, too. At the heart of this colorful spectacle lies Keukenhof Gardens, a top destination for photographers from around the world. Why? Because every step through the garden offers another postcard-worthy shot: traditional windmills, charming stone bridges over ponds, and flower corridors that seem to stretch endlessly.
If you visit early in the morning, you’ll catch the best natural light and fewer crowds—perfect for capturing serene, vibrant scenes. One of Instagram’s favorite spots in the park is the classic Dutch window frame tucked among the flowers. Sitting inside the frame and posing with the blooms around you has become a tradition for many visitors. It’s not just a photo; it’s a signature of the season.
Outside of Keukenhof, the tulip fields between Lisse and Noordwijk have become a must-visit for everyone from professional photographers to casual travelers. These endless rows of single-color fields or rainbow-patterned gardens look like they’ve been painted onto the landscape—each one offering a postcard-perfect shot. It’s common practice to ask local farmers for permission before stepping into the fields to take close-up photos, and most are happy to help.
For those interested in drone photography, the wide-open spaces and naturally arranged floral patterns offer breathtaking aerial visuals. Capturing these fields during the golden hour of spring—just after sunrise or before sunset—turns the scene into something out of a dream. With the right light and a bit of elevation, the tulip fields become a living canvas.
Best Time to Visit During Tulip Season: Tips & Transportation
Tulip season in the Netherlands typically runs from late March to early May, though exact bloom times can vary each year depending on the weather. In our experience, the second week of April is the sweet spot—when tulips in both Keukenhof Gardens and the surrounding fields are in full bloom. Spring weather across the country is generally mild, but don’t forget to bring a light jacket—Dutch weather loves surprises.
Getting to Keukenhof is quite easy. Buses from Amsterdam city center or direct shuttles from Schiphol Airport will get you to Lisse in about 45 minutes. The “Keukenhof Express” offers a convenient combo of transportation and entry tickets, saving both time and hassle. If you plan to rent a car, you’ll have even more flexibility to explore the smaller towns and their surrounding tulip fields. To beat the crowds, arrive at the gardens early in the morning—you’ll enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and the best lighting for photos. Also, buying your tickets online in advance is highly recommended to skip the lines.
Tulips and the Netherlands: A Cultural Journey
Today, tulips are one of the first things that come to mind when people think of the Netherlands—but their story begins far from Dutch soil. Brought to Europe from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, tulips quickly captured the Dutch imagination. By the early 1600s, a phenomenon known as “Tulip Mania” had taken over, during which a single tulip bulb could sell for the price of a house! Though the craze eventually faded, tulips remained a symbol of elegance, patience, and the Dutch connection to nature.
Now, tulips are woven into nearly every part of Dutch life—from paintings in museums to souvenirs at airports. For the Dutch, this flower is more than just decoration; it’s a heritage. Annual exhibitions at Keukenhof preserve this legacy, while tulip festivals across the country celebrate the bond between past and present. In the Netherlands, the tulip is not only rooted in the soil, but also in the national identity, art, and joy of spring.
