Tulip fields are the epitome of springtime glory and there is no better place to bask in the floral flurry than Holland. If you’re a flower lover like me, the fields here have been on my bucket list for sooo long and I finally found the time to visit this year. If you’re looking to do the same, the best time to visit is mid-April when the tulips are in peak bloom.
I’m a person that does a ton of research and sometimes this leads to building too high of expectations of a destination, but I can honestly say that the fields did not disappoint and they are just as spectacular in person as they are in photos. When you see an image of a saturated sea of tulips, this is no joke…you will see soo many fields like this when driving around the tulip regions!
HOW TO GET THERE
Okay, now for the logistics… getting to the fields isn’t tough, but it’s not a straightforward destination to get to. We went by car and this is honestly the best and easiest way to get around because you have the freedom to explore different fields and regions. If you’re coming by plane, all international car rental agencies are available at the Amsterdam Airport Schipol and there are also a few agency options at the Amsterdam Centraal train station if you’re coming in by train.
If renting a car is not for you or if you’re wanting to do a quick day trip from Amsterdam to visit the fields in Lisse, there is also a direct bus from Schipol airport to Keukenhof Gardens where you are able to rent bike to explore Lisse. Even if you aren’t visiting Keukenhof, you can still rent a bike there for the day. We rented bikes from our hotel and it was super easy to get around from field to field by bike because you can circumvent any traffic, plus its part of the quintessential Dutch experience!
To explore regions beyond Lisse like Noordwijk, Noordwijkerhout, Goeree Overflakkee or Noordoostpolder, a car is the highly recommended as public transport will be difficult and you will be limited as to what you can explore in the regions.
WHICH FIELDS SHOULD I VISIT?
LISSE
Probably one the most iconic spots for tulip fields in the world, which also means more tourists and thus more regulation of field visits. It is no doubt that Lisse is THE spot to visit in the Netherlands for tulips and driving through this area is an absolute kaleidoscope of tulip fields in every color you could possibly imagine.
A lot of people come here to visit Keukenhof Gardens, which attracts visitors with its charming tulip displays, but if you’re looking for vast fields, this is probably not the spot for you. We did not go to Keukenhof for this reason and also because the sheer amount of tourists was just insane! I seriously could have mistaken the parking lot for Disneyland because it was full with a never-ending line of tour buses.
My advice is to skip Keukenhof and visit the surrounding fields via car or bike- this is free and you will see those iconic fields you’ve been dreaming of around every corner!
Now, time to get a bit more serious. The fields are very precious to this community and are a primary source of income to many of the farmers here. Most of the fields here are blocked for entry with signage saying DO NOT ENTER or even barbed wire blocking the paths in some cases. Many of the farmers here have made it clear that they do not want you taking photos here and ruining their livelihood.
With that being said, there is a fantastic place called Fam Flower Farm which openly welcomes visitors to come take photos in their field. They have a ton of cute props to use in your photos (freshly cut flowers, watering can, bike, etc.), but they do charge a fee and you better book your time slot in advance because they are extremely limited! Unfortunately, I did not do my research on this one beforehand and all of the slots were already booked when we were there, but next time!
If you fall into a similar scenario as me or if you want to go the free route, there are a few fields which aren’t blocked and where you will see tourists taking photos in when you drive by. I did not see signage on these particular fields, so I made the assumption that it was okay to enter. I recommend you to be very cautious and vigilant if you decide to take the risk – do not step on the flower beds and if a farmer asks you to leave, be prepared!
On that topic, I was not sure if I wanted to share this with you as I was quite embarrassed by the situation, but we found field near our hotel that had every tulip color imaginable and when we discovered it there were probably around 75-100 other people taking their photos there so we decided it would be best to come back in the early morning around 7:00 am. Although we had the field all to ourselves, we realized that it may have been better to go with the crowd on this one because we had a very awkward confrontation with the farmer who came to tend the fields that morning. Despite the fact that there was no signage or barricade and dozens of people in the same field the day before, we were interrupting the start of his work day and this really made him mad. Because of this situation, I recommend visiting fields when at least a few other people are present during the daytime to avoid a similar experience or to reach out to the farmer beforehand.
GOEREE OVERFLAKKEE
Okay, now to my favorite tulip spot! We decided to make a stop here on our way in from Paris and man, how I wish I had more time to spend here! This little island is tulip heaven.
You will find the most gorgeous expanses of pure color bliss with little to no people around. The fields here do not have barricades and while some do have signage, they simply state to be respectful of the fields. If you want your empty tulip field shot, this is your place. The pink and orange fields are particularly stunning here and I also love that the island is surrounded by massive turbines… if you’re lucky you will find one of the fields with these in the background!
Salt in Our Hair has provided an amazing tulip field map of this area, we followed this when we were on the island and it was perfect! Be conscious that the fields are cut at different times, so you may find a field or two that have already been cut on this list.
NOORDVIJK & NOORVIJKERHOUT
Lisse’s tulip neighbors. These areas can be quickly reached from Lisse and also have some amazing tulip fields. I particularly loved driving through Noordvijk because we also got to stop at the beach here! It’s such a cute surf town, with the most amazing beach clubs like Tulum (very aesthetic and perfect for the gram + amazing food & cocktails). I swear, this did not feel like typical Holland to me!
NOORDOOSTPOLDER
This province contains the largest tulip field area in the Netherlands, with over 2500 acres of fields. You are sure to find vast fields of every color and kind of tulip here. During tulip season, this area hosts a tulip festival with a “flower-bulb” route which you can follow throughout the 100km of fields. This route was named one of the World’s Most Beautiful Road trips by National Geographic, so its definitely a must if you visit! Sadly, we did not make it to this area, but I highly recommend exploring this less familiar tulip region.
WHERE TO STAY
Disclaimer: these are small towns so hotel options are limited! If you want to be in the middle of the action, Lisse is a good base. We booked a bit late, so we stayed in Hotel de Engel which was only a 5 minute drive from the Lisse town center – it was super clean, comfy and perfectly located.
LISSE FINDS
Hotels:
Bed & Breakfast:
Airbnb & Holiday Homes:
OTHER FINDS NEARBY
Hotels:
- Hotel Van Oranje, Autograph Collection
- Van der Valk Hotel Sassenheim – Leiden
- Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin
- Hotel Aan Zee
Airbnb & Holiday Homes:
- Es Vedra
- Bohemian Loft
- Luxury Apartment Noordwijk
- Seaside Holiday Home
- Noordwijkerhout Loft
- Leiden Apartment
- Noordwijk Tiny Home
If you want to stay in big hotel chain, you’re better off staying in nearby Amsterdam or The Hauge and then daytripping to the fields. This isn’t a bad option because both are only around 30-45 mins from Lisse & Noordwijk.
Pro tip: If you plan on driving, double check that the hotel in these big cities have a guest parking garage before you book because street parking can be tricky.
WHERE TO EAT
Food is always a top priority for me on trips and I usually try to reserve or pick out places beforehand, but this time we weren’t sure where exactly the fields would be or how long it would take so we decided to wing it. Lucky for you, I’ve saved some of the yummy spots I found below to make your food hunt a bit easier:
For local cuisine, try Dutch fusion food at Restaurant Den Ouden Heere, Como & Co or De Heerekamer. If you’re a brunch lover like me, definitely check out Het Tussen Station – this is THE spot for breakfast here. If you’re craving more international fare, satisfy your Mediterranean fix at Trattoria Panini Lisse or Mykonos Lisse.
WHAT TO WEAR
If you’re coming here for the amazing photos you’re going to capture, I’m right there with you! I tried to coordinate my outfits to complement or contrast the different color fields.
If your into props like me, stop by De Mooij Bloemen to pick up a bouquet for your photos and maybe even order a cheeky watering can because, why not?
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