The Best Free Tulip Fields in the Netherlands

I am kind of obsessed with flowers, and living in the Netherlands has enabled me to visit the most beautiful flower fields in the world. The tulip fields in the Netherlands are absolutely breathtaking! The world-famous Dutch fields are filled with different colored tulips & there are SO many places in the Netherlands that hold these fields. Not only are there the tulip fields, but there is also a famous tulip garden called Keukenhof near Amsterdam. I went to Keukenhof two years ago and it was beautiful, but pretty busy and cost around 20 euros. Therefore, this year I decided to be cheap and try out the FREE fields instead. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed!

I want everyone to experience and see the beauty of these tulip fields so I’m going to share my experience and all my tips and tricks about the fields. As I mentioned there are tons of fields in the Netherlands but the ones I went to were around Lisse. This is one of the best areas in the Netherlands to visit the fields and is very accessible from Amsterdam. Now, let’s get into the details!

When To Go

Dutch Tulip season is actually quite short! The fields start blooming at the beginning of April and start to die near the end of April. If you visit after Kings Day there is a risk many fields will be fading. But, the Keukenhof gardens are open longer and the flowers last longer (until mid-May). Since the time to visit the fields is so limited I have included some alternative options for the offseason at the end.

How to get there

I got to the Lisse tulips fields from Amsterdam and it took about 45 minutes in total. I took the train from Centraal station to Voorhout Station and started the adventure from there. There are plenty of maps available online to help you with the route to take to find the fields such as this one. I tried to follow that map and got completely lost because I thought looking at it once was enough (not the case). So I made my own route which I will map out briefly below. The route I took was essentially going North towards Keukenhof from the train station. I think the route I took was perfect because it brought us through many beautiful fields that were not very busy at all, and we ended up in Lisse afterward so we could rest and get some gelato.

How to get around

The best way to view the gardens is by bike! I brought my bike on the train which I think is the easiest option if you own a bike/live in the Netherlands. But if you are a tourist, you can take a bus to Keukenhof and rent a bike out from there. If you do this you don’t have the hassle of bringing your bike on the train and you still get to explore by bike. You can walk the fields but it would take a really long time, or you can drive. But since the fields are spread over a wide range and sometimes down small paths, biking is the most efficient (and Dutch) way to see the fields.

Tips

1. Look out for signs – The tulip fields have over half a million visitors each year and many of the fields have signs that prohibit people walking in them and taking photos. The majority of fields are open for you to walk around in but some have signs that explicitly say this is not allowed. Please obey these signs and keep an eye out for them. I was so excited when I saw one field I walked into it and only noticed after the huge sign that said this was not allowed. It’s really important to respect the tulip farmers wishes and stay off fields that say to.
2. Be Respectful – When entering the fields its important to be gentle and mindful of the flowers. They are very delicate. Also, you aren’t allowed to pick the tulips so refrain from doing so.
3. Bring water & snacks – There aren’t any stores on this route and on a nice spring day, biking far distances you can get very hungry and thirsty. I suggest bringing a few things to tide you over and make sure you don’t get dehydrated.
4. Bring Euros – Since these fields are located near small, non-touristy towns most of them don’t take cards. If you stop in a town after viewing the fields for a bite to eat you should make sure you bring euros to pay.

Alternatives

Now if you can’t make it to the Netherlands in the one month period that the fields are in bloom you’re not completely out of luck. The Netherlands is a country that loves flowers and has plenty of viewable year-round.

Option 1: MARKETS IN AMSTERDAM

There are so many flower stands and markets in Amsterdam year round where you can see beautiful flowers. A bunch of tulips costs 10 euros and my favorite market is in De Pijp.

Option 2: BLOEMENMARKT AMSTERDAM

This is a little street that has everything flowers and tulips! You can buy so many different tulip seeds here and souvenirs so that you can grow your own tulips in the spring!

Have any other questions about visiting the Netherlands Free Tulip Fields? Leave them below! I have all the answers.

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Love,

SSW