Honeymoon round trip to the tulip blossom in Holland

We have wanted to visit our neighboring country for the tulip blossoms for a long time, but unfortunately the pandemic got in the way. In 2022 the time had finally come. A journey through a sea of ​​flowers – what could be more romantic? If you want to spend your spring honeymoon in Holland, you have a huge selection of activities and places to choose from.

In addition to the blooming tulip fields, you can also look forward to culinary highlights such as cheese and wine tastings - perfect for a romantic tour. We have put together a selection of possible destinations and activities for your honeymoon during the tulip blossom in Holland. And of course where and when you can expect tulip fields.

Tulip blossom Holland 2023: The best time to travel

The best time to travel to Holland for the tulip bloom is from mid-April to early May. However, the beginning of the flowering period can also vary slightly every year, depending on how long the winter was in the respective year, but also in the previous year. Due to a mild weather forecast, we were there in mid-March last year. Hyacinth fields tend to be the main focus at this time, but they are no less impressive than their big, famous sisters, the tulips. Unfortunately, they only showed up sporadically, if at all. Towards the end of the trip, however, we were lucky and found two more tulip fields. Since the exact flowering time can vary depending on the weather conditions, it is advisable to find out about the inflorescence in advance in order to be able to plan the period of your trip flexibly. 

Where are the tulip fields in Holland?

If you are looking for tulip fields in Holland, you should definitely visit the regions around Noordoostpolder and Bollenstreek. In Noordoostpolder you will find the largest contiguous flower field complex in the world, consisting of over 2.000 hectares of flower fields. In Bollenstreek, also known as the “Flower Riviera”, you will find a picturesque landscape lined with endless tulip fields and charming villages. However, the location of the tulip fields changes every year, so there are no reliable maps with exact locations. If you want to visit the famous Keukenhof, it is also located in the Bollenstreek region. There you can not only admire tulips, but also other flowers and plants. We tested this park for you.

Honeymoon round trip to the tulip blossom in Holland: The world famous Keukenhof in Lisse

Near Lisse, a small town in South Holland, is one of the most famous attractions in Holland: the world-famous Keukenhof, a flower garden originally laid out in 1949 as a palace garden. With more than 7 million flower bulbs planted, Keukenhof is also the largest spring garden in the world, covering an area of ​​more than 32 hectares and 15 kilometers of walking paths you can easily spend a day here.

It was founded by a group of flower growers to exhibit their products. By the way, literally translated “Keukenhof” means “kitchen courtyard”, due to the castle built in Keukenhof in 1641.

By the way, in the whole area there are very many flower growers of tulips and other types of flowers. We have collected the places with the most beautiful flower fields for you.

Important: The flower fields are private property. Therefore, please ask the owners in advance if you are allowed to enter the property. Please remember that it is forbidden to pick tulips. However, there are also some flower farms that offer guided tours. There you often have the opportunity to pick flowers yourself. 

Opening hours & prices Keukenhof 2023

Keukenhof is open from March 23, 2023 to May 14, 2023. In order to save some money, it is advisable to buy the tickets online in advance:

If you come by car, there are still parking fees, €6 for a normal car and €10 for a mobile home.

Our experience at Keukenhof

Overall, the Keukenhof as a destination did not particularly convince us. Perhaps it is because we are surrounded by many beautiful parks and castle gardens in Baden-Württemberg, some of which can even be visited free of charge. The Keukenhof is also very pretty to look at. In particular, the largest tulip exhibition in the world is more than impressive. We didn't know that there are thousands of varieties of tulips (around 4200 in all). Nevertheless, in our opinion, the price is a bit excessive and the Keukenhof as a whole is simply too touristy for us to really be able to enjoy the flowers. It is much nicer to jump on a bike and look for beautiful fields and photo opportunities on your own. 

Honeymoon Tour of Tulip Blossoms in Holland: The places with the most tulip fields in Holland

Bollenstreek – One of Holland's most famous tulip regions

The Bollenstreek is a magical area in South Holland and is considered a traditional growing area for various flower bulbs. In the region between Haarlem and Leiden you will find a variety of colorful tulip fields that look like colorful carpets. If you would like to marvel at the fields from a bird's eye view, there is even the option of flying over the flower fields in a helicopter. Of course, this rather short pleasure costs a proud price of about 100 € per person.

Those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground can also take advantage of the numerous hiking trails that are over 100 km long. Between the fields you will encounter sheep and of course one or the other picturesque windmill. The starting point for the world-famous Bloemen Route is the city of Haarlem. The approximately 40-kilometer route leads through fragrant seas of flowers. Depending on the travel time, hyacinths, dahlias, tulips, daffodils and daffodils bloom here. However, you can also expect the biggest tourist rush on this route. 

Noordwijk - Between flowers, dunes and sea

What we always love about tours is the opportunity to see so many different places and landscapes. For us there was no question that we also want to go to the sea for a few days. Noordwijk is a cute, charming seaside town in South Holland known for its long sandy beaches. Every year in spring, colorful flower fields around Noordwijk enchant visitors from all over the world and the town is therefore often referred to as the "flower bathing resort of Europe".

The sand dunes of Noordwijk are another highlight. Not only do they offer breathtaking views, they are also the perfect starting point for long hikes, cycling or just relaxing and enjoying the fresh sea air. The panorama with Noordwijk's lighthouse on Koningin Wilhelmina Boulevard is also beautiful. But wrap up warm! The North Sea wind should definitely not be underestimated here. Luckily we also had winter clothes with us, otherwise the onion look is popular.

Noordwijk is also easily accessible. Whether for a short trip or a longer holiday, the bathing town has a very special charm. We were particularly impressed by the many restaurants in Noordwijk. First and foremost the famous beach clubs Tulum, Branding and Witsand, which bring a boho feeling and Caribbean flair to the rough North Sea. If you're ever in Holland, be sure to try the Surinamese cuisine. We initially wondered why there were so many Surinamese restaurants in the Netherlands until we did a bit of research.

The Surinamese cuisine originally comes from the South American country of Suriname and is at least as diverse as the population of the state. As a northeastern country in South America, Suriname has many cultural influences. Until 1975, the state was a colony of the Netherlands, which means that many Surinamese still have close ties with the Netherlands, and many of them have emigrated here.

Ever eaten Surinamese?

Surinamese cuisine is an exciting mix of different cultural influences such as African, Indian, Chinese, Dutch and Javanese that have mingled in Suriname over the centuries. This is particularly reflected in the flavors and ingredients of dishes such as roti, saoto soup, bami and nasi goreng. Surinamese cuisine is also known for fresh, intense spices. The numerous Surinamese restaurants definitely made us curious and so we went to the super cozy and modern small restaurant Nani in Noordwijk. And wow we weren't disappointed. The food at Nani is a real taste explosion and the price is unbeatable. We also liked the pleasant, informal ambience. Perfect for dinner after a long walk on the beach.

Noord-Holland - Of fishing villages, a cheese town and the scent of tulips

In the province of Noord-Holland, numerous flower fields bloom every year. In Noord-Holland you can take a city trip to Amsterdam and explore the canals, museums, culture and nightlife of Amsterdam. But there is also a lot to discover outside of Amsterdam. The northern part of Noord-Holland, also known as the Kop van Holland, is particularly noteworthy. This tip is surrounded by the North Sea, the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer and offers breathtaking scenery. It is said that this is also where the most hours of sunshine a year should be found. 

The Noord-Holland coast stretches over 100 kilometers and offers miles of sandy beaches as well as charming fishing villages such as Volendam, Marken and the famous cheese town of Alkmaar. In Alkmaar, however, there is not only cheese, but also some tulip fields. Some of them, together with the picturesque windmills, make a wonderful photo motif. 

Flevoland - The taste of tulip bulbs 

Flevoland is a region in the east of the Netherlands and is also known for its impressive bulb fields, of which there are more than 3.500 hectares! Here you can explore various tulip routes on your own, including the famous Bollenroute, which takes you 100 km through the colorful landscape. There are numerous opportunities throughout Flevoland to explore the tulip fields by car, bike or scooter, to discover them on foot or even to admire them from the air. In addition, numerous activities are offered along the Tulip Route. 

If you've always wondered what tulips taste like, you can even eat tulip bulbs at Restaurant Flantuas at Lelystad Airport! Farmer chef Gerard Flantua from Flevoland has even created an entire menu that includes tulip bulbs.

The annual Tulip Festival takes place in Flevoland between mid-April and early May, just in time for the tulips in bloom. Here you can be enchanted by the beauty of the flowers and make your camera glow. Note, however, that the festival also falls during the Easter period and can therefore be very busy. So if you prefer a quieter experience, you should plan your visit outside of this time. 

Noordoostpolder - The largest flower bulb growing area in the Netherlands

Would you have thought that the province of Flevoland is home to the largest flower bulb growing area in Holland? The magnificent tulip fields in the Noordoostpolder benefit from the fertile soil offered by the land, which was only diked in the last century. Between the fields there are different routes for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers to discover. It is best to plan a lot of time for your visit, because a trip here can easily last several hours.

Guided tours through the tulip fields

If you would like to go into the tulip fields, there is the possibility to book guided tours. At tuliptoursholland.com in Venhuizen or famflowerfarm.com in Lisse you can safely enter the fields and admire the beauty of the flowers under expert guidance. This is a great opportunity to have an unforgettable trip, capture wonderful memories in photos and support flower farms at the same time. 

Tips for planning your honeymoon trip to see the tulips in Holland

If you don't want to leave your trip to Holland when the tulips are in bloom and want to look specifically for the most beautiful tulip fields and photo motifs, then we have some useful websites for you here that helped us a lot with the planning.

The flower card

A very useful site for planning a visit during the tulip blooms in Holland is the Floral card. The flower fields are represented weekly with updated photos on the Flower Map from March to the beginning of May. The most beautiful dahlia show gardens are also listed on the map for the period from August to mid-October.

Windmill map Holland

Holland without windmills? Inconceivably! On the practical windmill map you can see where there are windmills. Perfect for planning photo motifs. 

Honeymoon round trip to the tulip blossom in Holland: Cities worth seeing in spring

Not only the tulip fields are real highlights in spring, the many cities and charming towns in Holland are also worth seeing at this time of year. 

Utrecht: Romance & History in Holland

We fell in love with Utrecht during our last trip to Holland. The historic city in the heart of the Netherlands is known for its medieval city center, which is criss-crossed by many photogenic canals. The history of the city dates back to Roman times - today Utrecht is a cultural center with many museums, theaters and galleries. What we particularly liked is the large number of super cute little cafes and bars. We also remember the many nostalgic second-hand shops, including bookshops, where we stocked up on a few antique books.

Leiden – Romantic Little Amsterdam

No less picturesque than Utrecht is the enchanting city of Leiden in the south of Holland. Leiden is home to the oldest university in the Netherlands and has many museums and art galleries - one of the most famous Dutch artists, Rembrandt, was born in Leiden.

When we visited Leiden for a day trip, we were greeted by mild spring weather. In almost every corner there are charming cafés and restaurants that invite you to linger. Some of them are located directly on the bridges overlooking the water. The city center is criss-crossed by many canals. So we didn't miss it and booked a small boat trip.

Honeymoon round trip to the tulip blossom in Holland: Extension to the Caribbean?

Honeymoon between tulips and palm trees? A honeymoon trip to the tulip blossoms in the Netherlands followed by an extension to the Caribbean sounds like an unusual mix at first, but it's definitely doable. There are regular direct flights from Amsterdam to the Caribbean paradise. Possible destinations include the ABC Islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. We were able to get to know Aruba last year and are still blown away by the island, which is rightly called “Happy Island”. You can find out what we experienced there and information about Aruba in our article Vacation in Aruba. As the saying goes, “After the trip is before the trip.”