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Wo man Tulpen in den Niederlanden sieht

From Amsterdam’s urban gardens to the Technicolor fields in rural Noordoostpolder, here's where to marvel at the national flower of the Netherlands.

Tulips and windmills in the Dutch countryside
Hi, I'm Rebecca!

Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.

Nothing says spring in the Netherlands like the sight of bright, cheery tulips. These flowers hold a unique place in the country’s history, economy, and culture, so tulip season—usually from late April through early May—is one of the highlights of the Dutch calendar.

Festivals, tours, flower farms, and landscaped parks all celebrate the colorful blooms while markets and windowsills pop with rainbow hues. If you’re planning a spring jaunt to the Netherlands, here are eight top spots for tulip gazing.

1. Keukenhof Gardens

Bright tulips on show in Keukenhof Gardens in springtime.
The flowers of Keukenhof Gardens in the springtime.Bildquelle: Hama-Kid / Shutterstock

The star of the tulip show.

When it comes to spring tulips, Keukenhof Gardens is Holland’s headliner. This English-style garden is one of the largest in Europe, where 7 million flower bulbs wow visitors with their colors each year.

Located southwest of Amsterdam, reach the park by train or car. Just be prepared for crowds since this destination gets more than 1.5 million visitors during the weeks of peak bloom. This is why taking a skip-the-line guided tour of the gardens may be the best way to enjoy the flowers.

2. Lisse

Pink tulips rise towards the sun in Lisse, the Netherlands.
Pink tulips rise towards the sun.Bildquelle: Dmitry Rukhlenko / Shutterstock

Fields of endless flowers can be found in Lisse.

Keukenhof Gardens is located within the municipality of Lisse, but this famous park isn’t the only spot for admiring tulips. Countless fields of cultivated tulips bound for flower markets across the globe span the area, creating long ribbons of color that make for unforgettable photographs.

Take the train to Lisse, then bike or hike through the countryside to admire the striking tulip farms. The city of Lisse has also long been associated with the country’s tulip industry, and is home to the Black Tulip Museum (Museum de Zwarte Tulp) which is dedicated to the history of tulip cultivation in the Netherlands.

3. Amsterdam

An Amsterdam tulip market
Amsterdam is, of course, a hot spot for tulips, which you can buy at city center markets.Bildquelle: Mario Savoia / Shutterstock

Head to the Tulp Festival when in Amsterdam.

You don’t have to head out to the countryside to admire the national flower of the Netherlands. There are plenty of tulip opportunities right in the capital city, starting from its famous floating Flower Market (known locally as the Bloemenmarkt), open Monday to Saturday along the Singel Canal in the old town.

Amsterdam also hosts the Tulp Festival each April, a massive celebration of the iconic flower when the entire city is blanketed in cheerful blooms. The festival publishes a map for each edition so you can walk or cycle to marvel at flower displays in parks, gardens, and courtyards.

Related: 11 Colorful Tulip Tours from Amsterdam

4. Noordoostpolder

Noordoostpolder tulips and wind turbines on a breezy day.
The 'windmills' look a little more modern around Noordoostpolder.Bildquelle: LI SEN / Shutterstock

Tulips instead of tides.

The municipality of Noordoostpolder sits in the Flevoland province, a lowland area that was only reclaimed from the waters of the Zuiderzee in the mid-20th century. This fertile landmass today is blanketed in bright fields of tulips and other cultivated flowers, making it a top destination for tulip biking and hiking excursions.

In the spring, many Noordoostpolder flower farms also open to the public to offer guided tours of their fields, an excellent way to learn more about the Netherlands' important flower industry.

5. Noordwijkerhout

Pink tulips cover a huge field in Noordwijkerhout, with cottages in the distance.
Pink tulips cover a huge field in Noordwijkerhout.Bildquelle: dipo58 / Shutterstock

A jewel of the Dune and Bulb Region.

Like the Keukenhof Gardens and the city of Lisse, the postcard-perfect plains of Noordwijkerhout sit in the Dune and Bulb Region, a stretch of fertile coastal lowlands between the cities of Leiden and Haarlem.

The entire area is known for its vast fields of tulips, but the chocolate-box village of Noordwijkerhout is a standout for the picturesque fields that surround the old town. Exploring the area by bike or electric car to admire the eye-catching flower fields, rolling dunes, and placid coastline of North Holland is highly recommended.

6. Noord-Holland

Purple and orange tulips grow in Noord-Holland by the railway.
Noord-Holland is a top spot for seeing bright tulips.Bildquelle: Richard Semik / Shutterstock

Tulips without the crowds.

Set about an hour north of the capital city of Amsterdam, the northern tip of the North Holland (Noord-Holland) province is a fabulous destination for tulip spotting that flies under the radar of most tourists. The sandy dune soil between Petten, Den Helder, Nieuwe Niedorp, and Wieringerwerf is ideal for flower farming, and this spot is said to be home to the largest continuous area covered by tulip fields in the Netherlands.

And, because the area is farther from the capital city and takes more time and effort to reach, it sees only a fraction of the tourists that overrun the tulip fields south of Amsterdam come spring.

7. West-Friesland

Flowers and sheep in the fields of West-Friesland.
It's not just flowers you'll find in the fields of West-Friesland.Bildquelle: Steppeland / Shutterstock

A tulip day trip combined with Noord-Holland.

Set on the coastline directly north of Amsterdam, West-Friesland borders with the North Holland (Noord-Holland) tulip fields, making for a colorful day of tulip spotting in two distinct areas.

Take in the expanse of tulip fields by bike or car, then visit the pretty historical towns of Hoorn and Medemblik and bask on one of the many beaches in the coastal area for a day of flowers and fun without the crowds.

8. Zeeuws-Vlaanderen

A close-up of delicate tulips in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
The delicate tulips of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.Bildquelle: barmalini / Shutterstock

The Netherlands’ southern tulip capital.

In the far southern reaches of the Netherlands, the little-known tulip fields of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen in the province of Zeeland are said to rival those of the famed Dune and Bulb Region.

Best for travelers combining a tulip trip with jaunts to Belgium or France, these jewel-toned flower fields are particularly striking around the towns Hulst and Terneuzen. The fields are close together, so ideal for a walking or cycling excursion—and, like their counterparts in North Holland, you’ll encounter very few crowds.

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