Visiting Amsterdam During Tulip Season: Do’s and Don’ts

We have all been enchanted by the photos of endless colorful tulip fields that herald springtime in the Netherlands. Visiting during tulip season was a bucket list item for us! We spent 6 nights of a 9 night trip seen as much of the the Netherlands (and as many flowers) as possible. Weather is generally mild and well suited to evenings outside by the canals enjoying a beer and some Dutch cheese, so it is a great time to visit.

Tulip season also comes with crowds, timing quirks, and a few things we wish we had known before we went – so here are the do’s and don’ts that can help you plan a better trip.

DO plan your dates carefully

Tulip season generally starts in mid-March and runs through mid-May. However, a visit either early or late in the season can result in less-than-optimal flower viewing. Depending on the year, the flowers may bloom a little early or late. Since the best deals on flights often need to be booked before the timing of the blooms is known, it’s best to aim for the middle of the season. The trade-off is that this is also when crowds will likely be at their peak!

King’s Day is a lively holiday that falls during tulip season (April 27). There are city wide rummage sales, plenty of music and lots of drinking If that sounds like your kind of scene, you will want to plan your trip to coincide with the holiday – or avoid it if the opposite is true.

DON’T Stay in Central Amsterdam

Like other European capitals, Amsterdam can be swamped with tourists, particularly in the spring. Staying just a little outside central Amsterdam is our best advice for avoiding the throngs of people. Neighborhoods like Jordaan and De Pijp provide easy access to the city, but with a slower pace.

We used Chase points to stay at the Hyatt Regency Amsterdam, located in Plantage – university area known for historic buildings and green space. We were steps away from both a metro station and a tram stop and just a short distance from the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum.

Charming Jordaan is another great choice for a home base. Staying there puts you in walking distance of the Anne Frank House, tons of great food stops, and boat canal tours.

DON’T Forget to check the weather!

Spring weather in the Netherlands is both changeable and unpredictable. It can range from summery warm temps to surprisingly harsh chill and rain. You will want to be prepared with warm layers, raincoats, and sensible shoes! Here are a few products I am glad I purchased before our trip!

• Raincoat – this raincoat was both stylish and kept me warm and dry! Mr. Toasty Tourist loved this one – it’s super easy to pack!
• Warm Waterproof Boots – These are wonderful for walking comfort and dry feet
• Scarves – love this silk scarf in multiple prints for style and this one for warmth!
• Packable Puffer Vest – for those cool mornings!

DO Visit Keukenhof Gardens

This is a bit of a no brainer, but Keukenhof truly is a must-do during tulip season! You can get your tickets ahead of time on the official website. You can aslo visit Get Your Guide to bundle a trip to Keukenhof with transportation, tours, or other tulip-centric activities.

• DO visit Keukenhof as early as possible in the day, preferably mid-week to minimize crowds as much as possible.
• DON’T wait to figure out your transportation – learn from our mistakes! We elected to use Uber to get there. It was incredibly expensive and, because we waited too late in the morning to leave, traffic slowed us down immensely. On the way back, we used the shuttle bus, which was great!
• DO rent a bicycle – there are bicycle rentals in the parking lot of the garden, no need to rent ahead of time! If you prefer to reserve a unique type of bike such as a tandem bicycle, you cans use Lemonbike in Lisse Their bikes are highly rated and in good repair. You will need to secure your wheels a few weeks ahead.
• DON’T plan another big activity the same day. Instead, use that day to see as many flowers as you can in the gardens and surrounding fields.

DON’T go to the Flower Parade

I know this is a bit of a controversial take, but after visiting Keukenhof gardens, we found the flower parade a little…underwhelming. The parade route starts at Noordwijk Beach and travels through multiple locations on the way to Haarlem, where the parade concludes and floats can be admired up close by the public.

If you happen to be staying at one of the stops on the parade route, by all means, find a spot and watch the floral floats pass by. We just did not find it worth the money spent to secure grandstand seating and the half day we dedicated traveling to Voorhout to watch the parade pass. You will surely be going to Keukenhof gardens during your trip (or perhaps the Tulip Barn or another tourist-friendly location capitalizing on the popularity of tulip season). For us, that was a more impressive display of nature’s bounty.

If you still want to check it out, go here to see the parade route with day/times and grandstand tickets for purchase!

DO Visit other cities in the area

Amsterdam is a wonderful city! But the Netherlands does not start and end there—make sure you visit other cities and towns to round out your trip. The Hague, Delft, Utrecht, and Haarlem are all wonderful places to visit and offer a different look at the Netherlands.

If you want to keep your home base in Amsterdam, that is very doable thanks to the excellent train system and the Netherlands’ small size. There are many highly recommended day trips less than an hour away, such as Haarlem, Zaanse Schaans, and Utrecht.

We visited Haarlem from Amsterdam, then relocated to The Hague for 3 nights and visited Delft from there. Staying in The Hague also puts Rotterdam (a great modern contrast to Amsterdam) and Gouda (visit on a Thursday for the cheese market) a short train ride away.

Final Thoughts on Tulip Season

Tulip season is one of the most beautiful times to visit the Netherlands, but a little planning goes a long way. Between timing the blooms, navigating the crowds, choosing the right home base, and deciding which tulip experiences are actually worth your time, there are plenty of ways to make your trip easier and more enjoyable.

For us, the best parts were not just the tulips themselves, but exploring beyond central Amsterdam, wandering smaller cities, biking through the countryside, and slowing down enough to enjoy spring in the Netherlands.

Plan carefully, leave room to explore, and prepare to see more flowers than you ever thought possible!

For other great European destinations in spring, see these posts:

• A Perfect Day in Bruges: The Ultimate Itinerary
• 5 Reasons We Chose Ghent Over Bruges and Brussels
• The Perfect 3 Days in Lake Como: What to Do (and What NOT to Do)