Best Place to see Tulips in the Netherlands Without Tourists (2024)

Tulip Season in the Netherlands

With over 11000 hectares, the tulips are a big export product of theNetherlands. Right before winterhits, between October and January,the bulbs are planted. These bulbs need that cold period to be able to bloom.

Of course, this all depends on the weather. For example, in 2018, the tulips were still there in the second week of May, whereas by the end of April 2019, everything was already cut.

After cutting the tulips, it’s not over. The energy that used to go to the tulip now goes into the bulb, which makes it grow better. The tulip bulbs are the export product of the farmers.

About Tulips in The Netherlands

The best place to see tulips for free in the Netherlands is in the southwestern part of the country. An island called ‘Goeree-Overflakkee’, where we both were born and raised, has one of thebest Wind and KiteSurf beaches in the Netherlands and massive tulip fields.

Goeree-Overflakee and its tulip fields are a 35-minute drive from Rotterdam. Other than Keukenhof, Lisse, or Amsterdam, these tulip fields are only known to locals who visit the tulips on the weekend or after their day at work. There are so many fields around that it won’t be hard to find tulip flowers without any visitors.

Fun fact: Tulips were originally brought to the Netherlands from Turkey.

Best Tulip Field Locations

Across the entire island of Goeree-Overflakkee, you’ll find tulip fields in all colors and sizes. The largest fields are outside the villages in the central and eastern parts of the island. The exact location of the fields changes every year, but with dozens of tulip fields around, they won’t be far!

A yearly returning event is the Tulip Walking Tour called ‘Tulpenwandeltocht’. You can sign up and walk a route along with all the tulip fields.

Tulip Locations Route

Find the majority of the tulip fields on our map below or in this Google Maps map. Please remember that the tulip fields in the Netherlands are only in bloom in April and possibly May. The map may be older, but the fields will be close to these locations.

Taking Photos at the Tulip Fields

It’s important to know that farmers sell these flowers and need to make a living off of that. Different from the tulips in Amsterdam, Keukenhof, or Lisse, these tulip fields remain unfenced or protected. It is your responsibility not to harm the tulip flowers.

There are a handful of wider paths in each field that can be used to take photos. You can take so many beautiful images even if you are not walking in the tulip fields. Sometimes, it’s all about perspective.

How to Visit the Tulips in the Netherlands

Getting to Goeree-Overflakee and the tulip fields is best done by rental car. This way, you have the freedom to drive around to all the tulip fields and the enormous beach area on the west side of the island. Driving around the whole island can be done in a maximum of 60 minutes.

Tulip Fields 2019: A few of the picturesque tulip fields are located here. Spend a night or an entire weekend in the area. There are loads of B&Bs available on Goeree-Overflakkee.

The best options are:

1. An easy 35-minute ride by rented car from Rotterdam.
2. A 90-minute drive by rented car from Amsterdam.
3. Take the 25-minute express train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. Rent a car in Rotterdam and drive 35 minutes to the island.

When is the Tulip Season?

A common misunderstanding of the tulips in the Netherlands is that they are there year-round. Tulips in the Netherlands are only in bloom in tulip season during the last two weeks of April and the first week of May. Tulip season is during the spring in the Netherlands, which usually is a period of pleasant sunshine and a comfortable breeze.

Staying Near the Tulip Fields

Wandering at the tulips during sunset is a must-do! Spend the night at one of the many guesthouses or B&Bs in the area so you have more time to do this and even see the beach.