Ever used a paintbrush? If yes then you must be familiar with the fun and pleasure of producing continuous long stripes of color on paper using a flat paintbrush. Well, I think nature has somewhat similar interests!
Yes, just think about the rainbows…(Oh! Ya, they rarely are seen.) Don’t worry, nature has many other of its beautiful crafts- ever imagined rainbows over land? Yes, they exist!- The Tulip Fields Netherlands! and do you know the best part? Unlike a sky rainbow, you can admire them for as much time as you want, feel them and smell their fragrance. Seems interesting right? Let’s know more about them,
Netherlands, Tulips, and The Tulip Mania
The Netherlands and tulip bulbs share an interesting history. Yes, tulips were introduced from Istanbul (then, under Ottoman Empire) to Amsterdam of The Netherlands towards the end of the 16th century.
It is believed that the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire- Suleiman the Magnificient, sent tulip flowers and bulbs along with other vegetables such as tomato and potato which were introduced to Vienna for the first time. The tulip bulbs were then distributed from Vienna to Amsterdam.
They soon became so popular among the Dutch that some mere tulip bulbs priced more than gold! and also, the price of a single tulip bulb went to 10 times the annual salary of a skilled Dutch worker. This period was termed the Tulip Mania which marks an important incident of the Dutch Golden Age.
During the Tulip Mania, many varieties of tulip flowers were produced with different characteristics such as the Bizarden– meaning “bizzares” as they are virus-infected tulip plants that produced petals with colorful streaks, and many other varieties. Tulips were considered a luxury back then.
As of today, The Netherlands is the largest producer of tulip plants all over the world, producing around 3 billion bulbs on an annual basis. The tulip is also known as the national flower of The Netherlands.
What is the perfect time to Visit the Tulip fields?
Yes, time matters a lot while visiting tulip fields in the Netherlands. It is because your trip will be a complete flop if you reach there after all the tulips have been harvested and you will be left to see just flower litters, wasted stalks, and brown land.
That is why it is good to know the time when the flowers reach their full blooming and are still not harvested. Generally, for tulips, this period lies between late march to late April but it can get extended to mid-May because of the contrasting weather conditions every year that have a significant effect on the bloom.
Other flowers such as hyacinths, daffodils, etc. bloom earlier than the tulip, i.e., from the starting of March.
Famous Tulip fields in the Netherlands
Though we can’t list all the tulip fields in the Netherlands as there are numerous tulip fields in this pleasant country, indicated by the fact that it is the world’s largest tulip producer, here are some tulip fields and gardens that you can’t miss.
1. Keukenhof Gardens
Think how heavenly a garden will be if it has been quoted officially as “The Garden of Europe“? These gardens are known as the Keukenhof gardens located in the town of Lisse, in the South Holland province in the Netherlands. The Keukenhof gardens are also known as the most beautiful spring park in the Netherlands.
Spread over an area of around 79 acres over the land of Lisse, southwest of Amsterdam, these gardens plant approximately 7 million flower bulbs which are donated by almost 100 plant growers, along with other flowers such as roses, daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, etc.
If we take into account its history, then these gardens used to be served as the Keukenhof Castle’s kitchen garden where mostly fruits and vegetables were grown. The Keukenhof castle was earlier a Manor house constructed by the former governor and captain of the Dutch East India Company- Adriaen Maertensz Block.
Keukenhof gardens are accessible to the general public only from Mid-March to Mid-May (a total of 8 weeks, counting the peak of the flower season) during which you can witness the beauty of tulips bloom, synchronized tulip fields to offer flower bloom throughout the 8 weeks. You can also learn about traditional dutch flowering methods there, collect souvenirs, and much more.
Though these gardens are extremely popular for their tulip gardens, there are other fascinating gardens such as the Japanese Country Garden, the Nature Garden in which other perennial plants along with tulip flowers are combined, and the English Landscape garden also which shows the full bloom of the spring flowers.
As of now, around 50 million visitors had visited the Keukenhof gardens since its starting date. The tickets for the next opening of the Keukenhof gardens in 2023 will go on sale from October this year. Just visit their official website to get all the necessary information in detail.
2. Lisse tulip fields
Lisse is a municipality in South Holland- a western province of the Netherlands that is extremely popular for its long stretch of tulip fields, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists during tulip season every spring.
Whether you are on your own or with your family you can reach Lisse by several modes. You can board a bus directly from the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam which also offers special deals and discounts for a combined trip to lisse and the Keukenhof gardens.
If you are a solo traveler, then renting a bike to Lisse will be the best for you. Just think about enjoying the spring in the Netherlands on a bright sunny day, sprinting your bike through the roads like many other native citizens of the Netherlands who use bikes for their daily commute.
You may also find in Lisse, many tulip-picking gardens and tulip farms in which you can see the collection of tulips actively, and they also offer picnic spots and allow photoshoots to the tourists.
3. Tulip fields in Flevoland Province
The Flevoland (flower land) is a province that offers the largest open tulip fields in the Netherlands and it occupies more than 8648 acres of tulip fields. A region known as Noordoostpolder tulip fields is counted among the largest tulip bulb contributing regions as most tulip farms are located in Noordoostpolder.
Tulip Island
The Tulip Island in the shape of a tulip is situated in the municipality of Zeewolde in Flevoland. The island is a man-made island over which around 120000- 150000 tulip bulbs are planted to bloom. It is connected to the Zeewolde by a dam worth 200 meters long.
While the flower petal of the tulip island is man-made, the stem is a natural island and there is also a marina on this island that lodges around eighty boats. The island becomes much more adorable when it gets completely covered with tulip petals.
Hanneke’s Pluktuin
Another Interesting place is Hanneke’s Pluktuin which means Hanneke’s picking garden, situated in the village of Biddinghuizen which lets you create your flower bouquet by choosing beautiful flowers of your choice, yes, tulips also!
There are several other picking gardens in the Netherlands such as Pluktuin De Langendam situated in Waspik village, or the Pluktuin Fleurabeille situated in the municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, both belonging to the province of North Brabant.
Tulpenroute Dronten
Flevoland also organizes the “Tulip Festival” event which is generally hosted from the 16th of April to the 9th of May every year. This festival is also known as the”Tulpenroute Dronten” or we can say the “Tulip route in Dronten- a small village in Flevoland, which offers wonderful tulip field trips which you can relish while cycling or just strolling along the roads.
4. Amsterdam
Amsterdam is truly magical but the spring adds more charm to its beauty. There are many splendid tulip fields in or near Amsterdam and it also witnesses several festivals, some of them are described here-
Bollenstreek
Bollenstreek is situated South of Holland, nearby the city of Leiden. It is surrounded by two cities- namely The Hague to its western border and the city of Haarlem to its north. The flower bulb region is regarded as the most famous area for Dutch flower fields and has the most beautiful flower fields in the Netherlands.
You can find many flower fields in many of its villages such as Voorhout, Noordwijkerhout, etc. You can tour Bollenstreek and its flower fields by various means such as renting a bike, car, or a Renault twizy (an electric two-seater car), or you can just wander around on foot.
Amsterdam Tulip Festival
You must see the beauty of Amsterdam during the Amsterdam tulip festival that attracts millions of visitors annually during Spring. The Whole capital becomes ornamented with colorful tulip flowers and several flower events are organized based on a unique theme every year.
You also get to see the beauty of the Keukenhof gardens during this period in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
You can also visit the Amsterdam tulip museum which will unearth your curiosity about the complete history of Tulip. You can witness the journey of the tulip from its origin till it reached Holland and became its most loved flower. Not only this but the museum also provides about tulip gardening by teaching you all the basics for growing tulips.
The Museum is located just opposite the Prinsengracht Canal. If you want to know more about the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, visit its official website.
Bloemenmarkt- The Floating flower market
The floating flower market in Amsterdam is not just any normal market, it’s an emotion for the Dutch people. This is the only floating flower market in the world that was founded in 1862, situated over the Singel canal in the center of the Canal ring (An UNESCO-listed site) between Muntplein square and the Koningsplein in Amsterdanam’s southern canal belt.
You will find the market’s ether filled with the scent of fresh flowers that are exhibited and sold here from Monday to Saturday throughout the year.
The market also sells several Dutch souvenirs such as their traditional gouda cheese, stroopwafels, coasters, ceramics, etc.
Bloemencorso
You can’t miss the Bloemencorso, i.e., the Dutch Flower Parade which happens during the Tulip Festival on Saturday every year in which millions of visitors witness the 42 Kms long parade of flower-topped floats passing through the region of Bollenstreek and ultimately reaches Haarlem via Lisse.
The Bloemoncorso offers public stands along with seats and you can get yourself a seat quite easily by booking in advance. Also, it is so much fun to even watch the construction days before the actual parade on Friday night.
There are several other flower parades similar to Bloemencorso such as the Rijnsberg’s flower parade, and the Dahlia parades which are celebrated in Zundert and Lichtenvoorde.
5. North Holland
So, it can be considered a hidden gem when it comes to tulip fields because there are so many places in North Holland where you can see plenty of beautiful tulip fields along its coast. You can find various tulip fields in the cities of North holland such as Schagen, Den Halder, Hollandse Kroon, etc.
You can visit these fields by contacting any local farmer there, many farmers will happily guide you through the tulip fields, how it is grown when it is harvested, and growing methods.
You can also ask the farmers to let you visit the tulip fields by entering into it by seeking their permission. You get to see those giant old windmills without which you can’t imagine a traditional Dutch farm, it adds to the field’s beauty.
Aalsmeer Flower Festival
The Aalsmeer flower festival is held annually in the municipality of Aalsmeer in North Holland province. At this festival, you get to see the insights of the Aalsmeer flower auction building where different varieties of flowers from all around the world are traded each day counting to about 43 million flowers being traded daily.
You may visit the Flower Art Museum during the Flower Festival and learn about floral art, floriculture, etc. Live music, dance along with delicious food items adds more fun to this festival.
West Friesland and Alkmaar region
Another region in north Holland which is located in between two municipalities- Andijk and the municipality of Enkhuizen, are the fields of West Friesland which offers you synonymously beautiful tulip fields as anywhere else in the Netherlands. The Alkmaar region is also quite popular in this context.
Also, the Kop van Noord-Holland region in North Holland offers tourists the world’s biggest flower field along with serene beaches such as Sint Maartenszee or Huisduinen.
There are so many flower routes available in North Holland where you can go cycling, or simply stroll around. You can consider Callantsoog for staying in during your visit to North Holland during Spring.
6. Goeree-Overflakkee- South Holland
The Goeree-Overflakkee is a delta island as well as a municipality located in the province of South Holland near Rotterdam. You will witness there a large number of colorful tulip fields (almost 18 to be accurate) just waiting to have a photoshoot session with you!
What you have to do is just rent an electric bike which is easily available in villages such as Dirksland or Middelharnis and spot your favorite tulip fields. Here is the link for a bicycle rental service in Middelharnis.
Also, it is recommended to not touch and pluck the tulip plants or contaminate the tulip fields in any way as this small mistake may lead to a considerable loss to the local farmers there. Possible sources of contamination include entering a tulip field wearing muddy shoes or slippers, bringing food or pets that may contain any unwanted microbe that may be deteriorating the tulip growth, etc.
7. Zeeuws -Vlaanderen (Zeelandic Flanders)
If there is a place in the Netherlands that is extremely underrated in the case of tulip fields, it is Zeelandic Flanders which is the southernmost region of the Zeeland province and is bordered by Belgium from both its south and its east.
Hulst
One of its three municipalities named Hulst is known for its long stretches of vast tulip fields which are wholesome to see from ground level as well as its upper view which can be seen with the help of a drone.
If you have visited Amsterdam tulip fields and the Keukenhof gardens and are excited to see more of the Netherlands tulip fields, then the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is the right place to head towards.
8. Tulip fields In Beemster
Beemster, A former municipality that is now combined with the municipality of Purmerend which is situated in the North Holland province of the Netherlands. It’s easy to get a rental car or bike there and you can travel through the Beemster polder to watch tulip fields and also the famous Zaanse Schans– where significant historic windmills were relocated.
You can enjoy your day amid a lovely tulip field in Beemster along with the world-famous Beemster Cheese (similar to Gouda cheese)which is known for its special ingredient- grass milk obtained from the Beemster polder.
9. Tulip Fields in Drenthe
The Drenthe province situated in the northeastern part of the Netherlands, sharing a border with Lower Saxony (a german state) is not only famous for its three national parks but also for spectacular tulip fields that you can adore from the rise of the sun with a fresh morning till its dawn.
Diever Village
You can go to villages such as the Diever which has a very calm and peaceful surrounding where you can enjoy your tulips sightseeing without any noise or disturbance. You can even pick some flowers for yourself by asking the farmers or field owners there.
There are several places through the flower routes in Diever such as the Diever- Dwingeloo where you can easily get a bike rental service.
10. Texel Island
Texel Island of the North Holland province is a very interesting one. Not only do you get to see those colorful patches of tulip fields almost everywhere but you will also get surprised by their unique way of welcoming spring.
The Meierblis
The Meierblis It is a long-lived tradition of the Texel people which is celebrated every year on 30th April during which jubilant bonfires are lit all over this island as a mark of saying goodbye to the winters and welcoming the spring.
If you are traveling solo, then you will surely get some cute companions- fluffy sheep and lambs. Yes, According to data, there are the same number of sheep in Taxel as its inhabitants. Also, there is a funny tradition of painting each other’s faces black by texel people, so take that easy.
Fate of Tulips
The tulips grown in the tulip fields are primarily aimed to achieve the tulip bulbs rather than the beautiful flowers. Yes, after the complete blooming of the tulip flower, they are separated from the main plant by cutting to continue the growth of the bulb.
Some Facts related to Tulips and The Netherlands
Do you know that National Tulip day is celebrated every year on the 3rd Saturday of January in the Netherlands? Wondering Why? As the flowers start to bloom only in March! Though that’s correct, it is also a fact that tulips are grown in the Netherlands throughout the year in Greenhouses and via tissue culture methods.
- The first tulip picking garden in the Netherlands is located in the province of Flevoland, known by the name of Tulpenpluktuin Marknesse (tulip picking garden in Marknesse)
- Museum De Zwarte Tulp (Museum Black tulip) is a dedicated museum exhibiting the history of the Dutch tulip Industry, including several artworks based on tulips and floriculture.
- The tulip plants are native flower species from Central Asia before they were introduced to the West.
- The name “Tulip” is derived from the Turkish word “tülbend” which is even derived from the Persian word “dulband” which means turban.
- It will be very interesting to take note of the fact that the petals as well as the bulbs of the tulip flower, both are edible, and you can use them as a substitute for onions.
- There are around 3500 known varieties of tulips as of today such as the Viridiflora tulips, the Triumphs, Rembrandt tulips, Double late tulips, the early flowering Fosteriana, Fringed tulips, and much more. The most famous tulip variety is the Strong Gold tulip flower.
It is believed that the different colors of the tulip flowers represent different emotions and symbols. The red tulips are considered the symbol of love, yellow tulips symbolize content and joy, and the white tulips are the symbol of peace and apology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best tulips in the Netherlands?
The best spot in Dutch for enjoying tulips is the Bollenstreek – the bulb – region. Bollenstreek lies between Leiden, Hague and Haarlem.
Which Month will be the best to visit tulip fields in the Netherlands?
During the spring, tulip planting is very rare, although conceivable. Many people like to see tulips fields outside. The best month to see tulip fields bloom in April.
The best chances to enjoy the most beautiful tulips fields are from April to early May 2022.
Why were tulips so expensive?
The answer is the “Tulip Mania” which is considered one of the most significant market crashes that ever happened till today during which the prices of tulip bulbs soared so high that they exceeded the income of a common Dutch citizen.
Charles Mackay, the writer of the book “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of crowds” authored that Semper Augustus– a rare tulip species was exchanged for 12 acres of land! A painting named “The Tulip Folly” by French painter Jean-Léon Gérôme depicted a man guarding a tulip field to protect the bloom from soldiers.
Conclusion
While writing this article, I kept thinking that the country Netherlands should be known synonymously as “The Tulipland“, isn’t it? Just look at the surprising yet lovely obsession of Holland and the Dutch people towards Tulip. How exuberantly they celebrate all their tulip festivals such as the Amsterdam tulip festival, the Aalsmeer flower festival, and of course the Bloemencorso!
From the most famous fields of the Bollenstreek, the Garden of Europe- Keukenhof gardens, the cherishing view of the flower-garnished Amsterdam along with its good old Floating flower market, the serene architecture of the man-made Tulip Island in Flevoland, to the quiet and peaceful tulip fields of Beemster and Drenthe. No matter where you head, you will not return empty-handed (or I would say empty-hearted), but yes, you must visit them at the right time of the year.
So, with this, I conclude my article and hope that this article has proved at least a bit helpful to you in your quest to know about the Tulip Fields Netherlands. If you have liked this article, please share this and bring forth your valuable suggestions and reviews over the article. Also, please share your experience if you have visited a tulip field in the Netherlands before by commenting below.
If you want to explore more of The Netherlands by visiting it this summer, Click now! An Incredible Guide On Traveling To Netherlands This Summer. Goodbye!
