6 Best Tulip Fields in the Netherlands Without Crowds
Are you wondering how you can visit the tulip fields in the Netherlands without the crowds of the popular Keukenhof garden? Then this post is for you! These tulip fields can be reached from Amsterdam in only around 30 minutes making it the perfect day trip. There are many Holland tulip fields where you can enjoy the fields in peace without many around!
🎥 Check out this Instagram Reel to visually see how to spend a day at the tulip fields!
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Tulips Canal Boat Tour
Did you know you can ride in a boat full of tulips in Amsterdam! This is such a fun experience! And the best opportunity for an Instagram shot without the crowds.
Visiting the Tulip Fields in the Netherlands
All around Lisse and Hillegom in the Netherlands, there’s tulip field after tulip field in all pretty colors. You can get there in only 35 minutes from Amsterdam.
If you really want to escape the crowds, you’ll also find tulip fields in Beemster too which is a much lesser-known area.
Keukenhof is the world’s largest flower garden open only 2 months out of the year and with more than 1 million visitors annually. I imagine it is very beautiful but I actually avoided the garden and explored the surrounding fields with not many people in sight! However, if you do decide you want to go to Keukenhof, then be sure to go right at opening and buy skip-the-line passes here.
However, you must be careful when doing this as you shouldn’t enter a field without permission from the owner and it’s highly frowned upon. Also, you should be very careful to not step on the bulbs of the flowers. Many flowers are in danger due to tourists stepping on them and disrupting the growth of the flowers. I only visited fields I got permission from or that were made for visitors. Be sure to keep this in mind when planning a visit to the tulip fields in the Netherlands.
Visitor Friendly Holland Tulip Fields
There are many visitor-friendly tulip fields in the Netherlands that are made for photography and Instagram lovers! You are allowed to walk through these tulip fields unless otherwise marked. The Lisse tulip fields are where you’ll find the highest concentration of tulip fields but there’s also even more less known spots like in Beemster for example!
1. The Tulip Barn in Hillegom
The Tulip Barn costs only €7.50 to enter and they have all kinds of cute displays all around including a golden cow, a red heart you can sit inside of, a swing set, and a piano in the middle of all the pretty colored tulips. They are definitely visitor-friendly and during Easter, there is an Easter Bunny walking around so it is also kid-friendly. You can buy tickets online or upon arrival.
🕐 Opening Times: April 1 – May 15 (season varies each year so check ahead) daily from 10am to 7pm.
🎟️ Tickets: €7.50 (including a potted plant)
Website: The Tulip Barn
Address: 3e Loosterweg 130, 2182 CX Hillegom, Netherlands
2. Tulip Experience Amsterdam
Tulip Experience Amsterdam is another visitor-friendly tulip farm in the Netherlands. The garden displays over 1 million tulips. Here you can even pick flowers which is a unique experience. There is a tulip museum too where you can learn about the production of tulips as well as the history.
🕐 Opening Times: 19 March to Sunday 22 May (season varies each year so check ahead) daily from 9 AM to 6 PM
🎟️ Tickets: €12.50 (including a coffee or a tea and a bunch of tulips)
📷 If you email Tulip Experience you can also arrange a professional photoshoot in the tulip fields for an extra fee. Note: drones are not allowed at the Tulip Experience.
Website: Tulip Experience Amsterdam
Address: Delfweg 37, 2211 VK Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands
3. v.d. Slot Tulips
v.d. Slot Tulips is a company that sells fresh tulips and bulbs. You can visit their show field and purchase a huge bundle of lovely flowers for only €10. They also make great props for photos as you can see we set up our own beautiful picnic here and placed some tulips in a straw bag. I really loved this farm because it is lesser-known to tourists and you can get some really nice shots here. It is one of the few free tulip fields in the Netherlands that are friendly for visitors. You can even fly a drone here too! The wonderful @exploringtulips is a local friend and she set this nice picnic for us.
🕐 Opening Times: typically March to May (varies per season)
🎟️ Tickets: FREE but encouraged to purchase flowers to support
Website: v.d. Slot Tulip Barn
Instagram: @janvdslot
Address: 2215 SB Voorhout, Netherlands
4. De Tulperij
De Tulperij has a picking farm just like the Tulip Experience. You can book a photoshoot here as well if you email them.
🕐 Opening Times: 24 March till 15 May 2022 daily from 9pm to 6pm
🎟️ Tickets: €7
Website: De Tulperij
Address: Oude Herenweg 16 B, 2215 RZ Voorhout, Netherlands
5. Fam Flower Farm
Fam Flower Farm has become famous among several Instagrammers. They welcome you to take photos and provide you with all sorts of props too – a bike, a watering can, and a bunch of tulips.
The cost is 45 euros for a visit and you must book in advance as they sell out.
This one is a bit too pricey for my taste compared to the other fields so unless you want the full setup of cute props I would say skip this one.
🎟️ Tickets: €45 including coffee, tea, stroopwaffles, and a bunch of tulips. Kids under 4 years old have free entrance, the rate for kids between 4 and 12 yrs old is €20.
Website: Fam Flower Farm
Address: Heereweg 361, 2161CB Lisse, The Netherlands
6. Nicolaashoeve in Beemster
Did you know that Lisse and Keukenhoff are not the only places to find tulip fields in the Netherlands? Beemster is a little town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage for its unique polder area (used to control water for centuries. Here you’ll find tulip fields and one I visited was Nicolaashoeve. This is an unknown place to tourists unlike the famous flower fields of Keukenhof and Lisse so you’ll have it literally to yourself! I also visited a cheese farm, Kaasboerderijgroot. Behind the cheese farm were tulip fields to my surprise! If you really want to have the tulip fields without the crowds then consider Beemster!
When is the best time to visit the tulip fields in the Netherlands?
Tulip season is from the end of March to the end of May but the best time to go is mid-April. You have to make sure the tulips are in bloom as the seasons vary.
It can get very busy especially if you go over Easter break. Many people say to avoid going over Easter break but this is when I went and I’ve visited on two different occasions over this period. The traffic can get really bad for those trying to get to Keukenhof so get there really early! I got up at 7 am and explored the surrounding fields in peace.
Even later on in the day, if you aren’t visiting Keukenhof most of the fields are pretty relaxed even during Easter.
How to get to the tulip fields in the Netherlands
I based myself in Haarlem the first time I visited the tulip fields as I had already traveled to Amsterdam before and I wanted to experience a new place. Haarlem was such an adorable town and it is pretty easy to get to the tulip fields from here. Some people bike all the way but I took a bus and then hired a tour guide from AirBnB experiences (like this but there are many to choose from!) to show me around. She provided a bike so we could see all the different fields and we got permission to enter into one of the fields. You can rent a bike for 10 euros at the parking lot of Keukenhof.
The second time I visited the tulip fields, I took a train to Leiden and from there a friend drove me around to the different fields. Driving is also a good option if you can do it as it will allow you to get to more places easily. You can rent a car from Discover Cars to find the best deal.
Check google maps in satellite mode & you will see all the pretty colored fields from here and can plan your bike ride accordingly.
🚲 To rent a bike you can do so using this website.
Where to have lunch near the Tulip Fields?
There are not a whole ton of places to eat in the immediate area but one that stands out is actually near a really lovely castle you should make a point to visit! It is Keukenhof Castle. Behind the castle, you will find Hofboerderij where you can enjoy a nice lunch on the terrace. There is also a petting zoo you can see right next to the restaurant and you can pet bunnies, sheep, and other creatures!
Visit the secret beach near the tulips!
Did you know there’s a secret beach right next to all the tulip fields that not many tourists know of!? It’s called Noordwijk Beach and is only a 15-minute drive from most of the fields mentioned in this post. It is the perfect place to relax with a cocktail after a long day of exploring the tulips. You should visit the stylish beach bar, Tulum for snacks and a fruity drink. You will definitely feel as though you are in Mexico instead of the Netherlands!
Places to Stay near the Tulip Fields in the Netherlands
You can stay in Haarlem or Amsterdam and take a day trip to the fields but what an experience would it be to stay in the fields and have a view of the tulips!
De Groene Bollenschuur
Did you know you could actually stay in a B&B hotel overlooking the tulip fields! If this sounds like a dream come true to you then stay at De Groene Bollenschuur. It is located in Hillegom and you won’t get over the view from the room and breakfast area. There are 5 rooms at this small locally owned hotel and farm, 2 of which have a terrace view. Pro-tip: You can also rent a canoe and go canoeing in the canals!
For more reading, you may also like these:
🌷Beautiful Towns in the Netherlands Countryside
🏘️ 2 days exploring the outskirts of Amsterdam
🌷Tulip Farm 1 Hour From London
💎 Best Hidden Gems in Europe
📸 Most Beautiful Cities in Europe
💜 Lavender Fields outside of London
xoxo, Jackie
