How to See Tulips from Amsterdam
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A bucket list day trip for a Spring visit to the Netherlands.
Tulip Fields Day Trip From Amsterdam: (Jump To)
If it’s Springtime in The Netherlands you should set aside at least a half day to visit the tulip fields.
History of Tulips in Holland
Despite the country’s love for tulips, the flowers did not originate in the Netherlands. In the 16th century, Dutch traders brought home tulip bulbs from the Ottoman Empire. The word tulip comes from the Turkish word for turban: tülbent.
In 1952 Princess De Chimay hired Carolus Clusius to come to the new and prestigious Leiden University in the Netherlands to create a garden for the study of plants. Clusius became one of the world’s first botanists. He is often credited as the man who brought tulips to Holland.
Soon tulip fever spread across the country with prized tulip bulbs selling at higher prices than gold. These days 77% of all flower bulbs are imported from the Netherlands.
Where to See Tulips From Amsterdam
Keukenhof Gardens is the best place in The Netherlands to celebrate the Tulip. Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens. The gardens are located in South Holland near the municipality of Lisse. Seven million flowers (including more than just tulips) are planted in the gardens annually.
When is The Best Time To See Tulips in The Netherlands?
Spring is tulip season in The Netherlands. The best time to see the flowers is mid-April with flower season running from late March to early May.
How to See Tulips From Amsterdam
Visiting Keukenhof Gardens is very easy via public transportation.
From Amsterdam Central Station take the Blue Subway 52 line toward Station Zuid.
Exit at the fourth stop, Europaplein.
Inside the Europaplein station follow the signs toward the busses.
Upon exiting the station you will find the 852 bus to Keukenhof.
Exit the bus at Keukenhof.
The Keukenhof bus ride takes about 40 minutes after departing the Europaplein station. This is a very popular route. The buses come frequently but plan to wait in line for up to an hour to board a bus.
The best way to pay for the bus is to include the round-trip bus fare when purchasing Keukenhof entrance tickets. You can typically enter the queued bus line 2-3 hours before the entrance time on your ticket.
How To Get Tickets for Keukenhof Gardens
It’s best to buy tickets online in advance to visit the gardens, especially if you plan to visit on the weekend. There are usually same-day tickets available on weekdays. When you purchase your ticket you will be asked to select an entry time for your visit.
How Much Does it Cost To Visit Keukenhof Gardens?
Entrance to the Gardens is currently €19.00 for adults and €9.00 for children. The combination ticket that includes the round trip Keukenhof express bus (mentioned above) is €36.00 (€17.50 for children). Parking on-site is €6.
What To See in Keukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof Gardens is quite large. You can easily spend 3-4 hours walking around the gardens.
Inside the park, you will find numerous beautiful themed floral displays. There is plenty for the kids too, with play areas and even a hedge maze.
There are five buildings on site that house impressive indoor flower exhibitions.
A highlight is the site’s windmill where you can snap a perfect tulip selfie for your social media.
The gardens have numerous options for indoor and outdoor dining, plus gift shops selling souvenirs and tulip bulbs to take home with you.
The gardens are surrounded on both sides by tulip fields. Be sure to make time to walk up the street a little to see the fields of blooming flowers as far as the eye can see.
You can also rent a bike from the kiosk in the center of the parking lot and take a nice ride along the bike trail that follows the adjacent tulip fields.
