Visiting Keukenhof: Best Tips for Seeing the Tulips in Bloom
It’s that time of year in the Netherlands when the fields come alive with color, blanketed in blooming flowers. Eager to catch the tulips at their peak, we turned to friends and neighbors for advice. The overwhelming recommendation? Keukenhof. Below is my short and sweet list of tips and takeaways from our visit.
what is keukenhof?
Keukenhof is located in Lisse, a charming town in the heart of the Dutch flower-growing region, about 40 minutes from both Amsterdam and The Hague.
Often called the Garden of Europe, this springtime spectacle features over 7 million blooming tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths arranged in sweeping, artful displays across wooded paths and quiet water features. It’s more than just a flower park—it’s a celebration of Dutch horticultural heritage and the fleeting magic of the season in full bloom.
Keukenhof welcomes over 1 million visitors each season from all over the world, making it one of the most popular flower gardens globally. The grounds originally belonged to a 15th-century estate used to gather herbs for the Countess of Holland’s kitchen—hence the name Keukenhof, meaning “kitchen garden.”
The gardens are only open for about 8 weeks each spring, typically from mid-March to mid-May—timed to showcase the tulips and other bulb flowers at their peak.
IS keukenhof WORTH VISITING?
An overwhelming yes in my book. Both my husband and I were genuinely impressed by the scale and beauty of the gardens. We spent nearly five hours moseying through the grounds, taking in the colorful displays at a leisurely pace. There are several spots to grab snacks or drinks throughout the park—we stopped once for coffee and again later for fries. It’s easy to make a half-day of it without feeling rushed.
The gardens are open 8AM to 7Pm. For more up-to-date information and FAQs visit the official Keukenhof website.
my two biggest tips for visiting Keukenhof
1. Get your tickets in advance.
This is a must, folks. Keukenhof is incredibly popular, especially during peak bloom, and tickets do sell out.
2. Choose the earliest time slot available.
If your schedule allows, I highly recommend selecting the 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. entry. It was already buzzing when we arrived at 8:30, but the difference was noticeable by late morning—the crowds really picked up closer to noon. Those first couple of hours are still your best bet for a more relaxed experience and better photo opportunities before the gardens fill up.
STAYING OVERNIGHT IN LISSE
Since our visit to Keukenhof was part of a weekend road trip (and we had access to a car), we opted to stay overnight in Lisse so we could arrive at the gardens first thing. We got into town on Sunday afternoon with enough time to walk by some of the surrounding flower fields and grab a meal in the small city center.
Lisse itself is not large, but it's perfectly situated for a Keukenhof visit. We stayed at Boutique Suites Lisse, which was spacious and included breakfast in the morning—nothing fancy, but it did the trick. That said, if you’re sensitive to noise, you might want to look around a bit. The hotel is located above a row of restaurants and cafés, and although we were there on a relatively quiet Sunday, there were earplugs waiting on the bed when we arrived—always a telling detail.
VISITING FROM AMSTERDAM
One of the most popular ways to experience Keukenhof is as a day trip from Amsterdam. There are several transportation options available:
Keukenhof Express Bus (Bus 852): Departing from Amsterdam RAI Station (accessible via Metro Line 52 to Europaplein), this direct bus takes approximately 35 minutes to reach Keukenhof.
Shuttle Bus from Amsterdam City Centre: A special shuttle service operates from the "This is Holland" attraction near Amsterdam Central Station. The journey takes about 40 minutes and offers a guaranteed seat.
Public Transport via Schiphol Airport: You can take a bus from Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport and then transfer to Keukenhof Express Bus 858, which takes about 30 minutes to reach the gardens.
Keep in mind that travel times can vary depending on traffic and crowds, especially during peak bloom.
Biking near Keukenhof
Bikes aren’t allowed inside Keukenhof itself, so the gardens are best explored on foot—but the surrounding area is known for its scenic cycling routes through the tulip fields. You can rent bikes just outside the park entrance at Rent-a-Bike van Dam, which offers well-marked loops ranging from 5 to 25 kilometers.
We didn’t bike this time—as we left the gardens, the queue for rentals was already quite long—but it’s something I’d definitely consider for a future visit. If you have your heart set on biking through blooming fields, I’d recommend arriving early or perhaps trying for an early evening rental.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, check their website.
Keukenhof really is one of those places that lives up to the hype—especially if you time it right and take it slow. Whether you’re planning a dedicated visit or adding it to a broader spring itinerary, I hope these tips help you experience the beauty with a little more ease (and fewer crowds).
“The earth laughs in flowers.”
-— Ralph Waldo Emerson