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.
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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,
Contents
- 2 Option 1: Take the bus to Keukenhof and walk to the tulip fields in the Netherlands near Keukenhof for free!
- 2.1 Step 1: Go to Schiphol Airport by train and exit the airport
- 2.2 Step 2: Buy a one-way ticket to Keukenhof (the bus station)
- 2.3 Step 3: Get off at Keukenhof and walk until you see some beautiful Dutch fields
- 2.4 Step 4: Walk towards Hillegom Station
- 2.5 Step 5: Take the NS train from Hillegom back to Amsterdam Centraal
- 3 Option 2: Take the Train to Leiden and rent a bike to cycle to the fields
- 3.1 Option 2 (Step 2): Rent a Bike
- 3.2 Option 2 (Step 3): Exercise
- 4 Enhance Your Tulip Experience with These Amsterdam Tours
- 5 Have you visited the tulip fields anywhere in the world? Any plans to come to the Netherlands?
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 bollenstreek.nl 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 858bus 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.
Enhance Your Tulip Experience with These Amsterdam Tours
While the tulip fields near Amsterdam offer a mesmerizing sight for free, there are other unique experiences in the city that you shouldn’t miss. As a local, I recommend exploring the Dutch countryside on an electric bike tour, where you can visit traditional farms, picturesque villages, and learn how local cheese is made from scratch. If you’re up for a different kind of adventure, embark on a self-guided Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game in the heart of Amsterdam. For those who love cycling, the Countryside Bike Tour offers a chance to explore fishing villages, country fields, and learn about the windmill industry of old Holland. Dive deeper into Amsterdam’s history with a guided tour of the Jordaan District, or discover the Port of Amsterdam with a 2-hour cruise. These tours provide a richer understanding of Amsterdam’s culture and heritage, making your visit even more memorable.
Have you visited the tulip fields anywhere in the world? Any plans to come to the Netherlands?
Click for more locations of real tulip fields in the Netherlands,includingfieldsthatyoucanpicktulipsin(forafee).
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