Tulips are as synonymous with the Netherlands as windmills, clogs and stroopwafels. The Keukenhof botanical garden in Lisse, an easy day trip from Amsterdam, allows you to tick off as many as three of these national emblems in one fell swoop – they’re not quite so big on clogs here, in case you were wondering. Read on for our expert guide to visiting this essential Amsterdam spring attraction, including when to visit, how to get there, and what to see in the gardens (disclaimer: may include tulips)...
Keukenhof Guide: The Gardens in Brief
Keukenhof is a sensory fiesta, where great carpets of brightly colored blooms dazzle the eye and the air is heady with intoxicating floral aromas. At around 79 acres, Keukenhof is one of the biggest flower gardens on the planet, with something in the order of seven million bulbs planted here every year. We’re talking tons of tulips of course, but that’s not all. You’ll also find many other spring favorites growing here, including daffodils, irises, hyacinths, crocuses and orchids. This ‘Garden of Europe’ is open between March and May when spring’s best blooms are at their sensational best, and you could easily spend a day here, exploring the themed flower shows, wandering the manicured woodland-style paths, boating silently along canals flanked by great flamboyant fields of tulips, and snapping Keukenhof’s Insta-perfect windmill.
Keukenhof Guide: When to Visit
Dates vary a little year on year, but as a general rule Keukenhof's floral fiesta runs between the spring equinox in March and the middle of May. It’s open every day throughout this period from 8AM to 7.30PM so there’s plenty of opportunity to immerse yourself in its painterly landscapes and to pack a picnic and make a whole day of it.
Popularity of this Amsterdam spring attraction peaks over the Easter holidays and through April, when the flowers are at their absolute blooming best, a one-day flower parade takes place mid-month, and busloads of flower-loving tourists arrive hourly from Amsterdam, Leiden, Haarlem and beyond.
Keukenhof Guide: Don’t Miss…
Flower Shows
This is where Holland’s expert growers really come into their own, with eye-popping themed zones and pavilions that showcase the nation's best blooms. Themes change year on year to keep things bud-fresh, but previous years have paid homage to 1960s flower power, graffiti art and tropical beaches.
Art at Keukenhof
As if the glorious displays of flowers weren’t eye candy enough, Keukenhof also boasts several cool visual art pieces including sculptures and installations that juxtapose beautifully with the vibrant blooms.
Canal Cruise
Hop aboard an electric-powered whisper boat behind Keukenhof Windmill for a relaxing 45-minute cruise through the bulb fields that surround the gardens. Cameras at the ready for buttery yellow daffodils by the dozen, tulips by the truckload and sweet-scented hyacinths in a rainbow of colors. An audio guide will fill you in on the history of the region as well as helping novices to distinguish their tulips from their crocuses. An extra charge applies for cruises, on top of the standard Keukenhof entry fee.
Keukenhof Windmill
Bag that quintessential Netherlands selfie in front of Keukenhof Windmill, afloat on its ocean of vibrant spring tulips, before taking a peek inside this 19th-century treasure. It’s not just photogenic from the outside, you know: climb to the top for stunning views across the technicolor gardens.
Keukenhof on Two Wheels
You can rent bikes (and tandems!) right outside the entrance if you want to explore the bulb fields and canals that surround Keukenhof at your leisure. But note that you can’t cycle through the gardens, only around them.
Kids’ Stuff
Once the little people in your life have been suitably wowed by the flowers and windmill, let them lose themselves in the hedge maze, let off steam in the playground and say hey to the peacock, pigs, goats and rabbits in the animal meadow.
Stroopwafels!
We teased you with these sweet syrup-filled treats way back at the beginning of this blog so it’s only fair we elaborate further here. There are several restaurants throughout the park, serving hot and cold meals (including options for kids) all day. You’ll also find a variety of snack and coffee vendors scattered around the gardens and its these you should make a beeline for if you’re in the market for a classic Dutch stroopwafel, as well you should be.
Keukenhof Guide: Ticket Options
Keukenhof is no different to most popular attractions, in that you’re likely to bag the best prices by booking online in advance. For example, a pass bought direct from the ticket office on the day will set you back €23. The online price meanwhile is €19.50, saving you a tasty €3.50 to put towards those delicious stroopwafels. You can also pay for parking as well as pre-booking bicycle rental and rides on the whisper boat via the official website here.
You can also find plenty of tour operators offering one-price tickets that include return coach transfers and entry to the gardens.
Alternatively, pick up a Go City Amsterdam attraction pass, which includes return transfers and entry to Keukenhof as well as access to many more Amsterdam attractions, tours and activities, including the Rijksmuseum, Madame Tussauds, and the famous Amsterdam canal cruise. Find out more about the Amsterdam pass options here.
How to Get to Keukenhof
There’s a plethora of ways to get to Keukenhof from Amsterdam, from the straightforward (coach+entry package) to the rather more complicated (train+bus) to the adventurous (cycling 25 miles from the city center to the bulb fields, anyone?).
There’s no right or wrong way to do it, and how you get there will likely depend on budget and personal preference. We take a deep dive into the various transport options here – check it out!
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Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.
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