Local Tips: Finding Tulip Fields in Netherlands the Right Way

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After living in Amsterdam for three years, visiting a handful of tulip fields, and speaking with a couple of tulip farmers in person, I wanted to share my best tips on finding tulip fields in Netherlands the right way. Visiting the tulip fields of Netherlands properly is more important than you could ever know! Keep reading to find out how to get your gorgeous tulip photos in the spring time.

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When to Visit Tulip Fields in the Netherlands

Despite the constant stream of beautiful tulip field photos on Instagram, tulip season in the Netherlands is relatively short. A lot of farmers grow tulips to sell the bulbs. Bulb export is predominantly their main business so they’ll cut down the tulips shortly after they bloom.

As a result, tulips are generally up for only two to three weeks! So of course, buying tickets to come to Amsterdam at the right time is crucial.

From experience, the prime time to see tulips at Keukenhof Gardens, a magnificent tulip park, is the last week of April or first week of May. I went too early two years in a row and missed all the tulips.

As for the tulip fields in Holland, you’ll want to aim for the third or fourth of April. If it’s a colder season and you come earlier than this, they might not be in bloom. If it’s a warmer season and you come later than this, they might’ve all already bloomed and been cut down by the farmers.

Overall, to be safe, I would come the last few days of April for both Keukenhof Gardens and the flowers fields in the Netherlands.

How to Find Tulip Fields in the Netherlands the Right Way

There are a few ways to find tulip fields in the Netherlands, but the best way is to directly reach out to a tulip farmer and ask permission to enter their field. This is my preferred method of taking photos at a tulip field because:

1. A lot of tulip fields in Holland have some barrier around them whether it’s a gate or a moat (for a lack of better words) so if you drive or bike around to look for a tulip field, your chances of taking photos inside one may be slim-to-none. Getting in touch with a farmer means that you’ll have 100% chance of getting into a field.
2. Because of barriers around tulip fields, generally you’ll be able to take photos in front of a field but not inside. Working with a farmer will give you access to take photos inside the field to get the insta-worthy photo you really want.
3. You won’t get kicked off the tulip field since you have permission. That way, you’ll be able to spend all the time you need on getting the perfect photo.
4. The most important reason why you need to get permission is because these tulip fields are a farmer’s livelihood! Their work is what keeps food on the table and roofs over their heads. Entering fields without permission can damage the flowers they plan on selling, or worse, ruin the entire field of flowers and bulbs with you unknowingly spreading disease.

A secondary way is to visit the tulip fields at the Keukenhof Gardens. To do this, you’ll have to buy a separate fields ticket in addition to the normal general admission ticket.

Note: I haven’t gone to the tulip fields at the Keukenhof Gardens, only the regular gardens itself. So I’d do a tad bit more research to see if you’ll get the photos you want there.

The third way of visiting the tulip fields in the Netherlands and probably the most usual way that people do it is by aimlessly driving and biking around until you find tulip fields with open access to take photos in.

I do NOT recommend this method as you could hurt the tulips, and in turn, the farmer’s livelihood. Keep reading to find out how this illegal activity puts a farmer’s fields at risk.

Why Aimlessly Finding Tulip Fields in Holland Is a Bad Idea

As mentioned above, besides not being able to get the perfect shot because of barriers around the tulips or getting kicked off the tulip fields, there’s something larger at stake than just a good photo.

The largest at stake is that by entering a tulip field without permission, you might unknowingly spread disease throughout the tulips! Yes, you innocently taking photos at one itsy bitsy corner of the tulip fields can actually make the entire tulip field completely black one to two weeks after you leave.

Once the tulip fields go black, then the tulip farmer cannot sell the bulbs or the flowers, and their fruitful efforts of their business will die… literally.

This is why I highly encourage reaching out to a farmer to get permission for photos. You’ll not only get all the time to take the photos and assurance of being able to be there, but you’ll also get to borrow super cute props such as balloons and baskets and use the flowers of the farm.

Thanks for making it all the way down to the end of the post. If you have any questions about finding flower fields in Netherlands, ask away!

I’d love to connect. Come say hi to me my Instagram @sarchetrit, especially if you found any part of this post to be helpful.

Till then, thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

xo,
Sarah