Keukenhof and the bulb fields, without trampling them

Keukenhof, near Lisse in the Netherlands, opens for a short season each spring. In 2026 the park opened on 19 March and runs until 10 May, a period of 53 days, with daily hours generally from 8 am to 7 pm. Visitors must book a fixed time slot when they buy tickets, and popular dates sell out, particularly around Easter, the Flower Parade and King's Day on 27 April. Book as early as you can, and keep a weekday in reserve.

Keukenhof describes itself as a garden of display: the flowers are planted by growers who want visitors to see their bulbs in bloom. The park changes every year, so what you see in April differs from what you would see in late March or early May. Early in the season, daffodils and hyacinths lead; tulips come into their own through mid-April.

The wider bulb region, the Bollenstreek between Haarlem and Leiden, is a working agricultural landscape, and this is where visitors often go wrong. The fields belong to farmers. Walking into them to take photographs damages the plants and the livelihoods behind them, and growers have asked visitors repeatedly to stay on public paths. Admire from the road or the cycle track, and never pick flowers.

One good plan is to see the garden early in the morning, then rent a bicycle and explore the fields on the cycle paths, with a stop in one of the small towns. Keep in mind that blooming times depend on the weather, so a cold spring delays the display and a warm spring shortens it.

Practical details: Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for the Netherlands, so apply early. Check the Dutch government's information on Netherlands Worldwide for the current process. Carry rain gear; April weather in the Netherlands is changeable.