The Massive Garden In Amsterdam Featuring Over 7 Million Gorgeous Blooms

For tulip lovers, visiting the Netherlands' Keukenhof during the annual blooming is well worth the price of airfare. Millions of bulbs are planted in the fall (the best time of year to plant tulips) and burst into flower each spring, inviting visitors to enjoy their two-month limited run. The gardens are in Lisse, 40 minutes southwest of Amsterdam in the flower bulb region known as the Bollenstreek. The massive Keukenhof garden covers about 80 acres on the 617-acre Keukenhof Estate. Tulips are the stars of Keukenhof, but visitors will also find daffodils, irises, crocuses, and hyacinths as well as flowering trees like azaleas and rhododendron.

Visiting Keukenhof, the Garden of Europe , is more than viewing acres and acres of flowers. Pavilions on the grounds feature history exhibitions and restaurants. Themed gardens are spread across the grounds and there are playgrounds for children. A historic windmill, open to the public, towers over the venue. The grounds of the castle, Kasteel Keukenhof, are open daily year round and guided tours are offered once a week for a nominal fee. The Keukenhof festival is only part of a larger celebration that happens all over the Netherlands every spring. Flower-themed events are held across the country as part of the annual Tulip Festival, farms are open for tours, and flower parades with enormous flower-covered floats are the centerpieces of local celebrations.

The Keukenhof tulip display runs from March 19 through May 10 in 2026. Tickets go on sale in mid-November (if you've booked a package with a tour operator, you will probably get your ticket through them). Each ticket has an arrival time, but you're welcome to stay until the 7 p.m. closing time. People spend, on average, three hours touring the gardens and pavilions. Tickets frequently sell out, particularly on the parade weekend, Easter weekend, and when the flowers are at peak bloom. Since the actual bloom time depends on the vagaries of nature, all you can do is make an educated guess when the blooms will peak. Generally, the crocuses and daffodils bloom first, followed by the larger tulips.

If you find yourself in the Netherlands without tickets for Keukenhof, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the country's flower heritage and learn everything you need to know about tulips. The Amsterdam Tulip Museum, located a short walk from the Anne Frank house, tells the history of the flower through interactive exhibits. In Lisse, the National Museum de Zwarte Tulp (Museum of the Black Tulip) contains exhibits on tulip cultivation and art depicting the colorful flowers. The parade does travel through some public areas, so if you find yourself without a ticket, you can still watch the floats and marching bands.