Why Stay in Amsterdam?
The Netherlands in tulip season is a spectacle of colour that has drawn visitors for centuries. From mid-April to mid-May, the flat Dutch landscape explodes with geometric fields of red, yellow, pink, and purple tulips stretching to the horizon. Amsterdam sits at the heart of this annual transformation, offering easy access to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens and the Bollenstreek (bulb region).
Keukenhof, located just 30 minutes from Amsterdam, is the world's largest flower garden. Over seven million bulbs are planted annually across 32 hectares of gardens, creating a display so overwhelming it borders on the surreal. The gardens are open for just eight weeks each spring, coinciding with peak bloom. Tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and orchids create a living tapestry of colour.
Canal-house hotels in Amsterdam's Jordaan and Canal Belt offer the quintessential Dutch spring experience. Window boxes overflow with tulips, the city's famous floating flower market on the Singel canal is at its most vibrant, and café terraces spill onto the canalside as the city emerges from winter. Hotels in Haarlem, closer to Keukenhof, provide a charming alternative base.
Beyond Keukenhof, the tulip fields themselves are accessible by bicycle from several bulb-region villages. The Flower Parade (Bloemencorso) features elaborately decorated floats and draws massive crowds. King's Day on April 27 adds an explosion of orange celebration to the already colourful spring season. The combination of tulips and King's Day makes late April the most festive time to visit Amsterdam.