Keukenhof Gardens 2024 | Guide to the Amsterdam Tulip Festival (2024)

If there’s one spring travel experience that sparks the imagination, it’s exploring the tulip fields in the Netherlands. Amidst this colorful patchwork is Keukenhof Gardens, the iconic Amsterdam tulip garden that draws over 1.5 million visitors every spring. A visit to the Garden of Europe, as Keukenhof Gardens is often referred to, makes for an excellent day trip from Amsterdam.

Visiting the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens is a flower park experience like no other. However, in order to enjoy the iconic Dutch flower fields to the fullest, you need to plan ahead. That’s where this guide comes in. Learn all about the best time to visit Keukenhof Gardens 2024, where to score skip-the-line Keukenhof tickets, how to get to Keukenhof from Amsterdam and how to visit Keukenhof in 2024.

Plus, find out how to combine your visit to the Amsterdam tulip garden with other interesting must-sees such as the cheese market in Gouda, the tulip fields in the wider area or the windmills at Zaanse Schans.

…
Affiliate linksare sprinkled throughout the site content. Clicking on such a hyperlink and booking on the accommodation platform it refers to, may result in a commission for CosmopoliClan at no additional cost to you. As Amazon Associates, we also earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit theDisclaimerpage.
…

Short on time? Then check out our Web Story about visiting Keukenhof Gardens (a.k.a. the Amsterdam Tulip Gardens) and beyond.

Planning your visit to the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens 2024

The word Keukenhof means Kitchen Garden. That’s exactly what it was in the 15th century, the vast vegetable garden of the nearby castle. In the 19th century, a father and son landscape architect duo redesigned the garden. It wasn’t until the mid-20th century that the bulb farmers saw the Keukenhof’s potential to become their exhibition ground. To this day, the flower fields of Keukenhof are among the most popular places to visit in The Netherlands during the Amsterdam tulip season.

When to visit Keukenhof Gardens

In 2024, Keukenhof Gardens will be open from Thursday 21 March up to and including Sunday 12 May.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that you can get to see the tulip fields in all their glory during this entire period, though. The Keukenhof dates overspan the blooming period for all bulb flowers on display, not just the tulips. If the tulips are the focus of your visit, then take into account that the Amsterdam tulip season reaches its peak in the second half of April. Unsurprisingly, the second half of April is also the busiest period.

The exact timing of the Dutch flower season depends on the weather conditions. We findthis flower forecastto be a convenient tool.

Keukenhof opens at 8 am and closes at 7.30 pm. It’s recommended to arrive before 10 am or after 4 pm.

the crowds can make or break your Keukenhof Gardens experience. Therefore, we would also strongly advise against visiting Keukenhof on these days:

• The Easter weekend of 29 March, 30 March, and 1 April 2024.
• Flower Parade on 20 April 2024.
• King’s Day on 27 April 2024.
• All weekends but especially those in the second half of April.

Other flowers in the Keukenhof Gardens

Luckily, the Amsterdam flower garden is about more than just tulips. These may be the hero of the season but their entourage of other bulb flowers is just as fragrant and bright. This is also why we prefer to visit Keukenhof in early April, a bit before the Amsterdam tulip season’s peak.

Here’s an estimation ofwhich bulb flowers to expect around which timein Keukenhof:

• Crocuses from the mid-March to the end of March.
• Daffodils from the end of March to mid-April.
• Fragrant hyacinths in the first half of April.
• Tulips from mid-April until the beginning of May.
• Dahlias from June to October.

Check out theflower forecastfor a more accurate result based.

Keukenhof tickets excluding transportation

Keukenhof ticketscost €19,50 per adult and €9 per child over 4 years of age. These single Keukenhof tickets are perfect if you plan on driving to Keukenhof.

You can purchase your Keukenhof tickets:

• online e-ticket via the Keukenhof website
• online e-ticket viathis trusted Dutch activity ticketing agency or via GetYourGuide

Theonline Keukenhof tickets specify a day and time slot.

The one thing that’snot included in the Keukenhof entrance fee is the whisper boat tour: Tickets for this tour boat canonlypurchased at the windmill inside the park. These cost €9 per adult and €4,50 per child over 4 years of age.

Since we live just a few hours away, we always drive to the Keukenhof flower fields. The route is signposted and there’s a parking lot in front of the park. Take exit 4 from Highway A4 and exit 3 from Highway A44. On busy days, you may want to take traffic into account. Traffic jams can occur even well before you reach your highway exit.

The Keukenhof address is Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse.

Keukenhof tickets including transportation

You could also visitKeukenhof on a combi ticket. Itincludes transportation on the Keukenhof Express and the entrance ticket. Busses operate every 15 minutes. Expectqueues at the bus stop, most certainly during the weekends.

A specific date and time slot applies for all Keukenhof skip-the-line tickets and the same goes for the bus. The time slot is only required for the drive to Keukenhof. For the return drive, no time slot needs to be booked.

Combined individual Amsterdam to Keukenhof tickets depending on where you stay in Amsterdam

Suggestions for organized group tours from Amsterdam to Keukenhof Gardens:

Combined individual Keukenhof tickets from other Dutch cities

Suggestions for organized group tours from other Dutch cities to Keukenhof Gardens:

Coming soon.

Inside Keukenhof Gardens

You know that feeling of inner joy when spring has arrived and nature finally revives? That’s essentially the atmosphere in the Keukenhof flower park. And if you’re lucky, a bright shining sun may make the colorful gardens and flower fields look even more spectacular.

What’s it like to visit Keukenhof Gardens

The Keukenhof Tulip Gardens cover an area of no less than 79 acres (32 hectares). Ameandering pathwaywill take you around the gorgeous manicured flower gardens with flowers arranged in picture-perfect formations. Plenty of wooden benches dot the park.Find the map here.

Even on busy days, there are some areas in the Keukenhof park that are usually not too crowded. Other areas, like the windmill or the stepping stones at the lake, are often overly crowded.

See Also

A 2024 Guide to visiting Amsterdam Tulips’ and Keukenhof Gardens

Depending on the crowds, a visit to the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens takes about half a day. If you have the time, don’t just rush through it. With more than 7 million flower bulbs, of which more than 800 different tulips, dotting an area of32 hectares(79 acres), there’s plenty of reason to take it slowly. And the longer you stay, the lesser the number of visitors in the park. This is the perfect time to take pictures.

Do note that thefirst weeks of spring can be quite chillyin Holland, especially towards the evening.

Keukenhof 2024 theme

Every year, the Keukenhof Gardens’s flower beds are centered around a theme. The Keukenhof theme 2024 is “The future has already begun”.

Keukenhof Gardens whisper boat

The whisper boat is a 60-minute silent boat tour around the flower fields that border the park. Boat tickets are not included in your Keukenhof entrance ticket. You canpurchase your ticket at the windmill inside Keukenhof Park, where boarding takes place as well. These cost €9 per adult and €4,50 per child over 4 years of age.

Glass pavilions and art installations

Apart from the uniquely designed flower beds that adorn Keukenhof, there are 6 pavilions dotting the park. Each hosts its flower show or exhibition.

The Keukenhof Tulip Garden also displays several artworks in cooperation with the iconic Kröller-MüllerMuseum.

Visit Keukenhof with kids

Kids love Keukenhof and I don’t believe it’s just a girl-thing. Yes, there are the flowers but there’s so much more for them to enjoy: There’s a petting zoo, a Miffy-themed playground, a Miffy house, a maze, and even a treasure hunt to keep them involved.

Plus they’ll love the typical Dutch accents that dot the park such as the cow and the windmill. Keukenhof with kids is a match made in heaven. Those little legs will have walked miles before they even realize it.

Note that kids’ scooters and skates are not allowed into the park. And do inform your kids not to walk on the grass and not to pick the flowers, no matter how tempting they look.

Remember, the more than 7 million flower bulbs that dot the Keukenhof grounds? It reminds us of our favorite family travel quote “There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” by Walt Streightiff. Who knows, maybe this gentleman was actually talking about the Amsterdam Tulip Gardens?

Picnic at Keukenhof Gardens

Various eateriesdot the Keukenhof grounds. We love the fresh strawberry stand near the entrance (not sure if it’s there every day, though) and the poffertjes concession at the petting zoo.

Especially on busy days, we’d recommend bringing your own lunch and blanket to enjoy a picnic at the designated picnic area near the Mill. The other grass lawns are off-limits.

Outside Keukenhof Gardens

As beautiful as Keukenhof is, a visit can be pretty exhausting, especially on a busy day. But that’s okay since there are plenty of options to escape the crowds without compromising on flowery fun. Here’s a selection of places to visit outside of Keukenhof that are just as easy on the eyes.

Keukenhof Castle

A little-frequented gem just past the Keukenhof Gardens’ entrance is the Keukenhof Castle and its public park. It’s the perfect place to escape the crowds before heading back to your hotel. And if you happen to visit Keukenhof on a Wednesday or during the weekend, you can even indulge in a treat at the farmhouse restaurant Hofboerderij (open until 5 p.m.).

Amsterdam tulip fields nearby

Keukenhof Gardens is located in the heart of the so-called Flower Strip between the cities of Leiden and Haarlem, home to the world-famous tulip fields in Holland. So actually, you don’t even need to access the park in order to get your dose of fragrant flowers. There are several active ways to explore the Dutch tulip fields:

• You couldrent a bikeat the Keukenhof entrance (children’s bikes, tandems, and trailers are available too). Have a look at the differentcycling routesthat lead you along some of the most gorgeous flower fields in the Netherlands. Advance booking is recommended.
• Several walking trails meander the colorful landscape. Find themhere.
• A new and fun way to explore the tulip fields in the region is by GPS Audio Tour in a cute Renault Twizy cart (2 persons per vehicle). Check out this carefree tour and buy yourtickets here.

Flower Parade

The highlight of festivities, for the locals for one, is the Flower Parade orBloemencorso Bollenstreek. This 25-mile (42-km) long festive parade runs from Noordwijk to Haarlem. Literally dozens of floats, all uniquely decorated with tulips and other bulb flowers, paint the local streets to welcome spring.

The Keukenhof Flower Parade 2024 will be held on 20 April and pass by Keukenhof at 2.45 pm.Clickhereto find out more.

Insider tip: Instead of attending this ever-busy parade, you could watch the floats being decorated in the town of Sassenheim near Lisse. Find out more about this behind-the-screens experience here.

Black Tulip Museum

Did you know that The Netherlands thanks its tulip success to Turkey? And that, during the Golden Age, a Dutch tulip was worth more than gold and more than a house? Also, what happens to the tulips after they are harvested? Learn all about the history of tulips and their cultivation in the Black Tulip Museum. Plus, admire their impressive collection of flower-adorned glasses.

This museum is located in Lisse, near the Keukenhof Tulip Garden. There’s another one in Amsterdam, which is called the Amsterdam Tulip Museum.

Picking your own flowers near Keukenhof Gardens

The wider region around Keukenhof is dotted with actual tulip-picking farms. Apart from the picking aspect, these farms offer the perfect opportunity to take pictures of you and your loved ones amidst a field of Dutch tulips. Pluktuin Noordwijkerhoutis the picking garden closest to the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens. Other picking gardens nearby are The Tulip Barn, De Tulperij, Annemieke’s Picking Garden, and Tulip Store Show Garden.

Amsterdam tulip festival

Even Amsterdam joins in on the flower fun: The mission of theAmsterdam Tulip Festivalis to reintroduce the Dutch tulip in the Amsterdam cityscape. Throughout April, tulips are on display at dozens of locations around the city. You’ll see them at public spaces, hotels, and museum gardens but might also spot this iconic flower at private properties since local residents are also encouraged to participate. Check all locations for this festivalhere.

Where to stay near the Keukenhof Tulip Garden

Why rush if you could linger in this gorgeous Dutch bulb region? Surprisingly, there aren’t that many hotels in and near Lisse, along the so-called Flower Strip. But don’t despair because there are plenty of amazing alternatives.

This is by far our favorite one: De Groene Bollenschuur, a lovingly restored barn amidst the bulb fields.

This wonderful tiny house and this gorgeous B&B are located within walking distance from Keukenhof and perfectly located to explore the tulip fields in the surrounding area.

Another option is to stay in Noordwijk, a lovely seaside town very close to the flower fields and Keukenhof Gardens. The hotel we have our eye on for some time is theVesper Hotel. There are two ways to go from the hotel to Lisse:

• By bike, since the hotel offers bike rental.
• By bus, line 90 stops at Pickeplein and accepts the combi-ticket to see the Keukenhof Flower Gardens.

How to combine your visit to Keukenhof Gardens

Chances are you won’t be traveling to Holland for Keukenhof alone, no matter how spectacular the tulips look. Here is some inspiration to combine your visit:

• The classic experience includes 2 days in Amsterdam, a day trip to Keukenhof, a day trip to the Gouda cheese market (which takes place from 14 April onwards) and a day trip to the Zaanse Schans windmills.
• Other noteworthy itinerary suggestions are a jaunt to The Hague and a day trip to Haarlem. Fun fact: The decorated flower floats can actually be admired in Haarlem after the Flower Parade. You can take pictures with the floats there until 5 p.m. Find out more here.

That’s it for this practical guide on visiting Keukenhof Gardens in Holland. We can’t wait to learn about your Amsterdam tulip garden plans or your personal Keukenhof experience. The comment box is all yours.

…
Affiliate linksare sprinkled throughout the site content. Clicking on such a hyperlink and booking on the accommodation platform it refers to, may result in a commission for CosmopoliClan at no additional cost to you. As Amazon Associates, we also earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit theDisclaimerpage.
…