I’m obsessed with tulips and one of my favorite parts of living in the Netherlands is going to the tulip fields in Holland each year. I include tips for seeing the tulip fields near Amsterdam for free!
Although most people visit Keukenhof, it’s very easy to see the Dutch tulip fields without a tour or a bike. You can easily visit the fields on a budget, so read for tips on how to see the tulip fields in the Netherlands for free two different ways.
My advice on how to see the tulip fields in the fields: Skip Keukenhof. You can see the Dutch tulips for free TWO other ways. It’s 29 euros with transit from Amsterdam. If you’re into sculpted gardens, it’s great.
However, I think that it’s overpriced and crowded if you just want to see the tulips in the field. There’s plenty of guides to Keukenhof,
Check the Weather & Flower Forecast
You can check the weather a million times, but the weather changes quickly here. So much so that my friends only check it ten minutes before leaving and I have made a habit of wearing a raincoat as my normal coat. Weatherproof yourself and plan to be rained on no matter how much sunshine Buienradar.nl promises you.
The tulips bloom typically within a set period: late March to early May. It depends on the year, but you’re more likely to see tulips in bloom if it’s in April. There’s quite a few websites that will update in February/March on the season’s prediction for blooms for those planning ahead of time.
There is a way to check the flower forecast to find out WHEN and WHERE to go. There’s a website called BloemenRadar.com where you can check to see where flowers (not all are tulips) are in bloom within the past week.
You can just enjoy the photos OR zoom into a location to find out where you need to go. There’s not ONE single location and you can’t walk onto ALL of the fields, but it should give an idea of where is a good area to visit.
All of these fields are privately owned by farmers who sell these tulips commercially. I’ve been increasingly seeing signs prohibiting access to the fields as people destroy their tulips by taking photos. Do not pick the tulips! Please respect the signs as you don’t want to trample on any tulips as these are the farmers’ livelihoods! Don’t ruin this for everyone else.
Similarly, you are not allowed to fly a drone over the tulip fields without the permission of the farmers as drones are not allowed on private property in the
You have three main options to see the tulip fields in the Netherlands without going to Keukenhof by public transit:
- Head to Leiden and rent a bike (if the weather is good)
- Take a day trip from Amsterdam and take the 858 bus from Schiphol Airport towards Keukenhof. Instead of going to Keukenhof, you need to just walk about 30 minutes–and you’ll be in the fields.
- Similarly, drive to Keukenhof and drive until you see the fields. 😉
Option 1: Take the bus to Keukenhof and walk to the tulip fields in the Netherlands near Keukenhof for free!
This past year, I went again to the field with new friends. This is the easiest option for those who are with a family and/or want to have a budget trip to the tulip fields.
Step 1: Go to Schiphol Airport by train and exit the airport
As you exit Schiphol airport, you’ll see a sign for buses. The Keukenhof bus (858 bus) is a bit further to the right (a 10 minute walk) from the Schiphol exit. During tulip season, there’s a friendly employee with a shirt that you can ask as well as signs showing tulips. Easy, I promise.
Step 2: Buy a one-way ticket to Keukenhof (the bus station)
A one-way ticket to Keukenhof by bus is 6 euros. There’s a booth where you can pay for the Keukenhof express bus as well as a line that you’ll need to wait in.
Be warned that the Keukenhof bus is crowded and far from ideal for those with young children. It’s best to leave first thing in the morning (think 8-9am). It will take some time to get there.
I recommend getting a one-way ticket on the Keukenhof bus as you’ll have less walking if you take the train back rather than the bus back since my route leaves you off next to a train station that brings you right back to Amsterdam Centraal. It also means that you see a cute typically Dutch town surrounded by tulips.
Step 3: Get off at Keukenhof and walk until you see some beautiful Dutch fields
It’s about 5km from Keukenhof to Hillegom. (You can download the map below showing the tulip walking route near Keukenhof where I took these photos). The road is a bit narrow, so watch for cars and bikes!
We found our first field only fifteen minutes from Keukenhof, but the best ones were about a thirty minute walk. We went very slow as we had a blast just enjoying the fields.
Remember these are private commercial tulip fields and the farmers allow people in on the condition that they are respectful, so please don’t pick the tulips. Avoid stepping on any tulips.
Step 4: Walk towards Hillegom Station
We ended up stopping off for a coffee in Hillegom at the one of the many local cafes that we saw. It’s a cute typically Dutch town.
Step 5: Take the NS train from Hillegom back to Amsterdam Centraal
You can buy your ticket at the train station in the machine! You just need a one-way ticket to Amsterdam, which should cost about 5 euros. You might need to transfer in Haarlem for a train in Amsterdam, so it’s best to check google maps on how to get back.
Below, you’ll find a downloadable map for a free Dutch tulips walking route from Amsterdam.
Option 2: Take the Train to Leiden and rent a bike to cycle to the fields
If the tulips are in bloom, it’s a very pretty train ride between Haarlem and Leiden. It’s possible to also bike from Haarlem, however the fields I visited were physically closer to Leiden (10 km) and I found a cheaper bike rental in Leiden.
Click for my guide to Haarlem. You can combine seeing the tulips with visiting Haarlem for one day if you take the train.​
You can save money if you can buy a “Dagkaart” from a store, which means you get unlimited travel on a train for the day for a fixed price (usually 16 euros and under). People who don’t live in the Netherlands will be unable to buy one online, but if they’re being sold in Blokker, Hema, Albert Heijn, Etos, or Kruidvat, you can buy one in cash as long as they don’t sell out (OP=OP!).
*Just be aware that there are typically conditions about traveling after rush hour or only on a weekend and the valid dates, but it’s good to check with a clerk at the store about the specific conditions of your card before you buy it. The linked website shows day ticket deals on a monthly basis. Click for more budget train travel tips in the Netherlands!
Option 2 (Step 2): Rent a Bike
Do you live in the Netherlands? Use OVFiets, which is the public bike share program. It’s 10 euros a year to pay about 3 euros per 24 hour bike rental, but you will need a personal OVcard or a week to wait for it. You can rent two bikes with one subscription. It’s an amazing deal.
Just visiting? Sorry, OVFiets is NOT an option. I used EasyFiets in Leiden for my rental. It was 7.50 euros for the day with a 50 euro deposit for all three bikes after the guy decided we weren’t likely to steal the bikes. A pretty good deal for only a ten minute walk from the train station.
Option 2 (Step 3): Exercise
It depends on the field. The one I found was close to the one on the map, however it was about 25km round trip. This sounds really terrifying to non-bikers, but it was about 40 minutes each way.
Prone to getting lost? Download maps.me beforehand, drop a pin down on your preferred field(s), and follow the signage until you get to the nearest city to your fields. From there, let the map bring you the rest of the way.
A lot of the roads with the tulips are country roads, so watch out for cars/scooters/pedestrians. Not all fields will be accessible as some will have a ditch protecting people from walking onto them, so pick a field close to other blooming ones, just in case your first one fails (like mine). You’ll pass through some cute traditional Dutch towns worth enjoying with some traditional architecture.
Have you visited the tulip fields anywhere in the world? Any plans to come to the Netherlands?
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OMG sweet! Seattle has the tulip festival up north and I’m not sure if it’s as grand as what you saw there, but it’s basically the same I guess. I should go visit this one for comparison 🙂
Great article with some good tips. I’m from Belgium and even for me this was helpful. I wanted to visit the fields this year but I guess I’m late 😉 Better luck next year and I will keep this tips in mind. Lovely photos too !!
ahh I used to have Keukenhof so high on my bucket list until a Dutch friend told me how overrated and crowded it was. I’ve been to one tulip festival back home in BC and it was SO pretty, but really just full of people trying to get the perfect gram haha. I think I’d definitely do it your way if I make it to the Netherlands for tulip season. Thanks for the inspo! <3 Great guide as always.
ahh I used to have Keukenhof so high on my bucket list until a Dutch friend told me how overrated and crowded it was. I’ve been to one tulip festival back home in BC and it was SO pretty, but really just full of people trying to get the perfect gram haha. I think I’d definitely do it your way if I make it to the Netherlands for tulip season. Thanks for the inspo! <3 Great guide as always.
Money saving and pleasure to eyes… Will surely try these options…
Thanks for the info…
Money saving and pleasure to eyes… Will surely try these options…
Thanks for the info…
Love your site, so full of great info. We are visiting the middle of May which may be to late for the tulip fields but keeping my fingers crossed. I read that these fields after tulip season are planted with other flower varieties, is this true? I live in CT and in Rhode Island a Dutchman married an American an started growing tulips, it’s called Wicked Tulip Farm. Each year they plant more and more bulbs and the fields are open to the public. Check out there web site, if they built a windmill you would swear you were in the Nertherlands. I’m using all your info to plan our trip, Thank You!!!
Hi Linda,
Thanks for reading and the kind words! Mid-may is a bit dicey and I think that it might be too late. I recommend checking Bloemen Radar and MAYBE there’s one field blooming a bit late, but most of the tulips will be gone by then unfortunately. Usually after the tulip season is over, you sometimes see other plants put there just to help with keeping the soil in good condition, but they’re not always flowers. One of the fields that I visited a bit late last year (first week of May) had some other varieties of flowers, but it’s not a guarantee. I’d recommend certainly trying.
The Rhode Island farm sounds amazing! I’ll have to mention it to my family.
I hope you have a great trip and you’ll see quite a few new posts coming out this week on the Netherlands. Please let me know if you have any further content that you’d love to see here. I try to make my content as helpful as possible and I’m always open to new ideas. 🙂
Best,
Karen
We’re there other travelers going down this path as well? I’m traveling solo and i don’t necessarily want to talk down a random pathway by myself. Also, I’m going two days after Keukenhof garden closes. Do you think there will be tulips left to see?
Hi Darian,
There will be locals and tourists taking photos along there, especially if you go on the weekend. You’ll be fine solo and the Netherlands is pretty safe, but I’m not sure there will be tulips remaining then…. Check Bloemenradar 1-2 days before you go. It’s been cold, so maybe you’ll get lucky.
Best,
Karen
Your pictures are just amazing and I am dreaming about taking some like these, that’s I’m planning a trip to The Netherlands for the mid of April of this year and found the information in your article very useful! I hope I’ll be lucky enough to have great weather and no crowds. Where would you recommend going if traveling from Belgium?
Karen,
I’m an expat as well, currently working and living in the Middle East. I’ve managed to convince a friend of mine to run away to Amsterdam for a few days. Your site has been a great help in planning. We are looking forward to our April trip. Thank you for taking the time to put this out there for fellow wanderlusters.
Thank you so much for this information. I went to Lisse this past Wednesday, March 20 – a day before Keukenhof opened. It is still a bit early in the season but I saw red and yellow and purple…… Beautiful! Please be very careful on the roads because they are very narrow. Not much in Hillegom but it was an easy train back to Amsterdam. Crossed this off my bucket list 🙂
Hi Karen,
Your website is incredibly useful – thanks so much for sharing all this. I have a question though. Next week, my sister and I will visit the Netherlands – we will be staying in Rotterdam and from there we were thinking to take the bus/ train to Leiden, Lisse and Hillegom and to walk through the fields there, following some of the paths you suggested. However, I’ve heard that this year many of the farmers have closed down access to the fields due to the fact that tourists are not so careful with the flowers. Do you recommend we still go there, or should we take some of the guided tours available from Amsterdam? My sister is a blogger and photographer, and she wanted to have a close up opportunity to photograph the fields. We will be both on foot, as I can’t bike.
Hi Adela,
So glad to hear that. 🙂 I’d recommend looking up the FAM Flower Farm. You can pay for access and if your goal is to take this kind of photos, it might be the best option!
Kind regards,
Karen
I’m a planner and have been looking into our trip to Amsterdam in April. Your website has quite possibly given me more information than all the other websites I’ve read combined. Is it also possible/easy to take the train to Hillegom and walk from the station and back? We were thinking of combining a morning of tulips with an afternoon in Haarlem before heading back to our houseboat rental in Amsterdam. Thanks again for posting all of this amazing information.
Very glad to hear that Molly. It is very possible to do that, but I’d recommend taking the bus to Keukenhof from Amsterdam as I recommend in the blog, so you don’t need to backtrack. See the tulips then take the train from Hillegom to Haarlem. 🙂
I think that it’s a shorter walk doing Keukenhof -> Hillegom and you add 2km in if you start in Hillegom when I just checked
Hi. Anything new to add for those of us going in 2020 to Amersterdam specifically for tulip visit? Also, any favorite restaurants you would recommend for adventurous eaters? Specifically the Indonesian feast?
If you check other posts of mine, you’ll find food recommendations! I have a food guide to Amsterdam and will be adding new posts within the next month. Blauw is well-known for rijsttafel. I will be updating this in about a month when I do a tour of the tulip fields 🙂
My husband & I will be in Amsterdam from 22 April 2020 to 28 April 2020.
We want to spend one day in Lisse.- visit Keukenhof (it has been on my bucket list for a long time); visit a tulip farm & the tulip fields & then return to Amsterdam.
Q1. Which is the closest tulip farm to Keukenhof ?
What is the address of this FAM Flower Farm that you mentioned in your blog ?
Can we walk & do all this ?
Thank you, Karen.
They do not post the address of FAM Flower Farm, but if you book a time slot with them, they will send it 🙂 They are trying to keep it off the internet to protect the flowers.
Thank you for the info Karen.
Do you have a list of tulip farms very close to the Keukenhof entrance, that we can walk to ?
Is there a train/bus option to Hillegom from Lisse instead of walking all the way to the Hillegom station ?
Thank you
Hi, Thank you your information about Keukenhof.
Just one point of note.. The Bus for Keukenhof from Schipol is on the Left as you exit the Airport and you walk along through the Concrete pillars following the signs.
I had thought about doing the walk above but would have been very disappointed had I not visited Keukenhof; it is an excellent afternoon out.
Thanks again.