Keukenhof - Tulips from Amsterdam
The minute you enter the Keukenhof Gardens, your eyes are treated to a stunning mound of tulips in full bloom, hinting at the vibrant colours and displays located around the park.
Together with the Chelsea Flower Show, Keukenhof is probably the most famous flower show in the world. Particularly known for the millions of tulips on display, the annual show is open from mid-March to mid-May.
The Dutch gardens are located on the outskirts of Lisse, about a 45-minute drive from central Amsterdam.
During the Spring Festival, the park opens daily from 08:00 to 19:00.
In 2026, if bought online, the adult entrance ticket costs EUR 21, which I think is excellent value. A child’s ticket is EUR 10. When bought at the entrance, it’s more expensive – EUR 25 for an adult, and EUR 14 for a child.
My recommendation is to get there as early as possible to avoid the masses as much as possible. I arrived at 10:30, and it was already busy, but by the time I left at 14:30, it was extremely busy.
The weather was kind to me, and my visit was on a glorious sunny day with temperatures up to 20 degrees, which made the visit and photos all the more enjoyable.
Keukenhof Floral Displays
There are literally millions of flowers on display. I was surprised to see it’s not just the world famous tulips. There are daffodils, hyacinths, orchids, crocuses and more. The variety of tulips is incredible. They range from ‘standard’ (you know, like the ones you get at the local supermarket), to far more intricate and dainty types.
The displays cannot be guaranteed as they depend on weather conditions, so planning the date of your visit can be a little tricky, especially if you’re booking months ahead.
There’s a ‘Flowering Report’ on the official website to show what happened last year and what’s happening now. Generally, the festival is split into three flowering periods.
· From mid-March to early April, expect to see crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, and early dwarf tulips.
· From early April to early May, blooms include larger tulips, daffodils, muscari, fritillaries, and late-blooming hyacinths.
· Early to mid-May, the last late-blooming tulips, irises, and alliums are in bloom. The trees, rhododendrons, and azaleas add further colour around the park.
I visited on 8th April 2026.
Keukenhof – Things to See and Do
Footpaths
The footpaths weave in and around the beautiful displays. Apparently, there are 15km of them, cleverly designed to spread out the thousands of visitors throughout the park. Most are tarmac, some small ones are gravel or woodchippings. I also came across a small wooden swing bridge and large stepping stones across the canals.
Most displays are roped off, but in some areas, visitors are allowed to walk amongst the flowers.
Indoor Flower Shows
These can be found in the three ground pavilions:
Oranje Nassau Pavillion where the show changes each week
Juliana Pavillion for orchids
Willem-Alexander Pavillion for tulips and other flower varieties
Whisper Boat
Pre-book!
It’s very popular and costs an additional EUR 11.
I booked my 13:00 ride when the tickets went on sale in December, and glad I did, as when I turned up at midday to collect my ticket, the next available tickets were at 17:15. As it’s so busy, they’re strict about the booking time, so if you don’t turn up at the right time, you will almost certainly miss your ride.
The ride lasts about an hour and is on an open-top canal boat, so there is no cover if it rains. Check the forecast and take a raincoat or poncho. It’s also worth taking a jumper or coat in case the wind is chilly.
During the ride, I discovered that the surrounding fields through which the canal weaves are privately owned. This means that Keukenhof has no control over whether there will be flowers in them or not. Most of the flowers I saw were hyacinths (very fragrant), and apparently, many were expected to be cut the following day.
It was a nice, calm way to relax my feet after a couple of hours walking, and I did see flowers and birds, but I’m not sure I would recommend it, because there could be very limited flowers to see.
The Windmill
The canal boat ride entrance is located behind a large windmill, where it’s possible to go up to the top for views of the gardens and fields. During the hours I was in that area, from midday to two o’clock, there was a very long queue, so I recommend going as early as you can.
I spotted a set-up photo opportunity across the bridge in front of the mill. A small pontoon with a canal boat full of tulips. Similarly, at that time, the queue was long and slow-moving.
Restaurants
There are several restaurants and food vans dotted around the park, serving a good selection of snacks, meals, and pastries.
I wasn’t sure how expensive the food was going to be, so I took in a supermarket sandwich. However, it wasn’t as expensive as I expected. For example, a warm chicken sandwich was EUR 8.15, a chicken Caesar salad EUR 15.75, and a lasagne bolognese and salad EUR 17.25.
I chose a classic Dutch almond paste cookie called a Gevulde koek, which was a tasty accompaniment to my coffee. Total cost EUR 6.40.
For the Kids
I walked passed a large children’s play area next to a petting zoo.
Shops and Toilets
It’s hard to resist popping into one (or more) of the shops. I’m a sucker for a souvenir, so no surprise I came back with a few brightly painted wooden tulips and an inevitable windmill.
There are multiple toilet facilities located at both entrances, and others next to restaurants and shops.
Keukenhof - Getting There
If my blog and photos have whetted your appetite, there are several ways to get there.
Coach, bus, car, or train/bus. As you might expect in the Netherlands, there are also scenic cycle options, which take between 1.5 to 2 hours.
The festival website has a link https://keukenhof.nl/en/ov/ suggesting different options.
It’s possible to buy a ’combiticket’ which gives entrance and transportation. The prices for 2026 are: Adult EUR 38.50 and Child (4-17) EUR 17.50.
The combiticket wasn’t available when I ordered my festival ticket in December 2025 when they first went on sale, so I chose to book a coach round-trip separately. It worked out a little more expensive, coming to EUR 46 (EUR 25 plus the entrance fee of EUR 21).
The departure point was Overhoeksplein 51, which entailed catching the free Buiksloterweg ferry from waterside dock D at Amsterdam Central Station. You walk straight on, and it takes around two minutes to get to the other side - an unexpected bit of fun. My seat was guaranteed, and coaches leave from 08:30, with the last coach leaving Keukenhof for Amsterdam at 18.30.
If you do go, I’d love to hear what you thought of it.
