Endless striped tulip fields, the world’s most beautiful flower garden, a 42-km flower parade and a self-guided audio cycling tour — welcome to the most colourful corner of the Netherlands.
Every spring, the Bollenstreek — the bulb-growing region between Leiden and Haarlem — transforms into one of the most spectacular natural displays in the world. Millions of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils bloom across the flat polder landscape in long, striped bands of colour that stretch as far as the eye can see.
The region is home to Keukenhof, the world’s largest spring flower garden, and the annual Bloemencorso — a 42-km flower parade made entirely from fresh spring flowers. But beyond the famous attractions, the Bollenstreek’s cycling routes through the fields themselves are what most visitors remember longest: the silence, the colour, the scent of hyacinths hanging in the cold spring air.
The season runs from 19 March to 10 May 2026. Book Keukenhof tickets well in advance — they sell out weeks before peak bloom.
| Bollenstreek – Flower Region Amsterdam |
|---|
| 📍 Location: Between Leiden and Haarlem — 30–45 min from Amsterdam by shuttle or car |
| 🌷 Season: 19 March – 10 May 2026 (Keukenhof & Tulip Bike Tour) |
| 🚨 Flower Parade: Saturday 18 April 2026 — book grandstand seats now |
| 💶 Keukenhof: Book tickets online — sold out dates cannot be accessed at the gate |
| 🚲 Best way to see the fields: by bicycle — self-guided or guided tour |
| 📸 Peak bloom: mid-April (approx. 12–20 April) — best for photography |
Tulip fields & Keukenhof in Lisse
The Bollenstreek is best known for its magnificent tulip fields in the spring. From the end of March to mid-May, the region will be dominated by the Tulip Festival Amsterdam. Millions of colourful tulips bloom in the tulip fields and at Keukenhof flower park. The flower village Lisse is the centre of the Bollenstreek and has many nice restaurants and shops.
Our tips in Lisse:
- Tulip Park Keukenhof
- Flower Cycle Route
- Sightseeing Tours along the flowers
- Museum the Black Tulip
- Castle gardens of Keukenhof
Tulip Experience & Tulip Fields in Noordwijkerhout
Another beautiful flower village is Noordwijkerhout. The village has a small centre but many flower fields surround the village. There are also several small-scale tulip show gardens to visit and there is a beautiful Flower Route that allows you to enjoy the flowers in the spring and summer months while cycling.
Our tips in Noordwijkerhout:
Bloemencorso Flower Parade 2026
The Bloemencorso Bollenstreek is the largest flower parade in the Netherlands. On Saturday 18 April 2026, a procession of floats decorated with millions of fresh tulips, hyacinths and daffodils travels 42 kilometres straight through the bulb region, passing Lisse and the Keukenhof along the way. The decorated floats can usually also be admired up close in the days around the parade.
Tip: grandstand seats along the route in Lisse sell out early in spring. Combine the parade with a visit to Keukenhof for the ultimate Dutch flower day.
How to get to the Bollenstreek from Amsterdam
The Bollenstreek lies about 35 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, between Leiden and Haarlem. During the tulip season (19 March – 10 May 2026) direct shuttle buses run to Keukenhof from Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam. By train, travel to Leiden Centraal or Haarlem and continue by bus or rental bike — the flower fields start just a few kilometres from both stations.
The most flexible option is the hop on hop off Amsterdam Countryside bus, which connects Amsterdam with the highlights of the region. Travelling by car? Parking at Keukenhof must be booked online together with your entrance ticket.
FAQ Bollenstreek
Mid-April is typically peak bloom — usually around 12–30 April. The exact timing varies each year depending on temperature. Follow the free Flower Alert service from bollenstreek.nl or flowertour.nl for live bloom updates.
Cycling or walking past the fields is completely free. The fields are private farmland, so always stay on the paths and never walk between the flower rows. For a hands-on experience, visit a tulip farm like The Tulip Barn, Tulip Experience or Tulip Farm De Tulperij.
Keukenhof tickets are time-slotted and sell out for popular dates. Book online before you travel. Tickets cannot be purchased at the gate.
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