Keukenhof and the bulb fields: tulips without trampling

Keukenhof, in Lisse in the Dutch province of South Holland, is one of the world's best-known spring gardens. The 2026 season runs from 19 March to 10 May, according to the garden's own site. It covers about 32 hectares and is planted each autumn with roughly seven million bulbs, supplied by more than a hundred growers. It was founded in 1949 by bulb growers and exporters as a showcase and opened to the public in 1950.

Timing matters. Early in the season, daffodils and hyacinths dominate; tulips peak around mid-April, though the weather decides. Weekends and school holidays are crowded, and tickets are normally sold online for set days. Go on a weekday morning, and check the garden's own bloom reports before choosing a date.

The commercial bulb fields around Lisse, Noordwijk and Hillegom are the second half of the experience: long stripes of colour that you can see from the road or by bicycle. They are working farms. Do not walk into the fields, pick flowers or take photographs from within the rows; growers have reported damage to crops and spread of disease from visitors who do. Stay on public paths and roads, and buy flowers from farm shops or the garden.

Getting there is straightforward. Buses connect the gardens with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Leiden and Haarlem during the season, and the town of Leiden is a pleasant base. Cycling is a good way to see the fields, but traffic on narrow roads is heavy at peak times.

Mind the weather. March can be cold and wet, and flowers may open early or late depending on it. Pack layers and rain gear and keep your plans loose.