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ABOUT THE FLOWER BULB REGION
Millions of people all over the world travel to the Netherlands to admire the colorful fields of the Flower Bulb region in real life. We both grew up between these fields of color. Keukenhof flower park in particular is a highlight here. There are also plenty of other things to do in this area that is perfect for a long weekend. In general, the best travel time for the ‘Bollenstreek’ (as the Dutchies call it) is between the end of March and the beginning of May. This is not very long, but this makes it extra special. So make sure you visit this unique spot as a tourist in your own country and don't start planning too late!
WHAT TO DO IN THE FLOWER BULB REGION
Visit the Keukenhof flower park
The most famous attraction of the Bollenstreek may be very touristy, but it is certainly worth a visit. In just a few weeks, 1.4 million people from all over the world visit this special flower park. The park has more than 800 different tulips that differ in size, length and colour. Some flowerbeds are planned in such a way that the flowers together form a true work of art. A flower park may sound a bit dull, but the park really has something special. If you want more than just strolling in Keukenhof, you can also book a trip with a boat between the fields at Keukenhof! We recommend booking tickets online in advance to ensure your visit to Keukenhof.
Keukenhof
The windmill of Keukenhof
Rent a bike for the afternoon
The best way to explore the Bollenstreek is by bike, so that you can stop anywhere and smell the scent of the lovely flowers around you. Bicycles can be rented in every village for about 8 euros per day. A nice bike rental company is Rent a Bike van Dam, where they are happy to help you map out a route according to your wishes. Rent a Bike van Dam's bicycles can be rented at the Keukenhof parking lot during the Keukenhof period. If you prefer going a bit faster you can also rent electric bikes at van Dam’s. Nice stops for a picnic while touring are:
the Oosterduinse lake
the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen
Langevelderslag beach
in the grass next to a beautiful flower field
Visit the Tulip Barn for the most beautiful photos between the tulips!
It is important to know that you are not allowed to walk in the flowers beds in the Bollenstreek! The flowers will be damaged, become sick and will cost bulb farmers thousands of euros of damage every year. If you want to make a beautiful photo whilst sitting between the flowers, pay a visit to the Tulip Barn. Here you can walk in the flower beds and with a flower garden with more than 500,000 tulips and all kinds of photo objects, you are guaranteed to shoot the most beautiful photos. You can get a nice cup of coffee in the greenhouse or you can enjoy a tulip beer and fries on the sunny terrace with a fantastic view over the flowering fields. As an ideal stopover during a bike ride through the region, the Tulip Barn is admired by tourists from all over the world. The opening hours of the Tulip Barn depend on the weather so check their website or Instagram before you visit. If you are curious about the history of the flowers, you can visit the museum of the Tulip Experience, where you can learn everything about the cultivation process of the tulip!
The Tulip Barn
The Tulip Experience
Go to the beach
The location of the Bollenstreek is ideal to spend a day at the beach. It may not be hot enough in April to sunbathe in your bikini or swimming trunks, but it is the right time for a nice walk on the beach. On the beach of Noordwijk you will find several hip beach bars such as the Branding and Tulum, where you can enjoy a delicious lunch or a drink while watching the sun set into the North sea.
Admire the Flower Parade
For this particular activity you have to visit the Bollenstreek at exactly the right time. The annual Flower Parade event takes place on a Saturday around the end of April, with starting point Noordwijk and ending point Haarlem. Along the entire 42-kilometer route, thousands of people enjoy the flower-decorated parade cars driving by. The flowers which are used are hyacinths obtained from the Bollenstreeks' own region. On the official website of the Flower Parade you will find all the info. The best place to join the crowd of cheering people is the center of the different villages the parade passes, such as Hillegom and Haarlem.
Pluck your own colorful bouquet of tulips in a picking garden
This might be one for the last day, so you can still enjoy the beautiful flowers at home. There are a number of picking gardens in the Bollenstreek where you walk through the garden itself and can choose which tulips you want to pick for your bouquet. The picking gardens are of course connected to the season in which the tulips grow, but some picking gardens also have other types of flowers that bloom in the summer, such as dahlias. We recommend that you check the website or social media of the picking gardens before your visit so that you are certain that they are open when you are in the Bollenstreek. Don't wanna to go to a picking garden, but do want to go home with a beautiful bouquet of tulips? Look out for one of the flower stalls along the road in the region. Here you can often leave some cash in a deposit box in exchange for a bouquet of fresh tulips. We recommend sleeping here for the most central spot in the Flower Bulb region!
Hi, we are Bren and Tess! We travel to the most beautiful places in the world, and with our video's, we hope you feel inspired to do the same.
