About
Tulip season in the Netherlands generally runs from early April through the middle of May. The earliest varieties may start showing color in late March or early April, while late-blooming types can keep flowering into May. The peak display usually falls in the second half of April, when the famous bulb fields in the Bollenstreek (the bulb region between Haarlem and Leiden) are at their most vibrant.
Bloom timing depends heavily on weather. A mild winter and warm spring can bring flowers forward by a week or two, while cold snaps delay them. Because of this variability, visitors planning a trip often check the bloom reports published by Keukenhof and the bulb growers before traveling.
For the best experience, visit the Keukenhof gardens (usually open mid-March to mid-May) for the widest variety of tulips, and then drive or cycle through the surrounding fields around Lisse, Noordwijk, and Hillegom to see the rows of color in full bloom.