10 Ways to View Colorful Dutch Tulips

The magnificence of Holland’s vibrantly-colored tulip fields is an experience not to be missed. Here are 10 different ways to take in the enchanting views…

1- BICYCLE

Cycling through the tulip fields is the quintessential Dutch experience! Not only does it allow you to see the multi-colored fields in close proximity, but also offers a healthy day out. You can ride your own bike or rent a bicycle at the nearest train station (OV-Fiets). Some of the stations located in or near the bulb region are Sassenheim, Voorhout, Hillegom and Nieuwe-Vennep. You can follow a circular route, ending back where you started, or a linear route that hooks up with a different train station.

2- SCOOTER

Another 2-wheeler option is the scooter. Don’t own one? It’s easy enough to rent one through a shared-scooter provider like GO Sharing, Felyx or Check. The nice thing is all shared scooters are electric, so non-polluting. The additional benefit here is that you don’t have to worry about becoming too tired to cycle back to the train station.

3- TRAIN

A convenient way to view colorful tulip fields is by train as many routes run right through tulip-growing areas. For example, a train ride from Leiden to Haarlem or vice-versa will take you right past many colorful tulip fields. Find the train schedule at 9292.nl

ways to see Dutch tulip fields - by train

4- BUS

There are many bus routes that can also offer terrific views of Holland’s tulip fields in bloom. For example, Arriva bus 50 from Leiden to Haarlem takes you through the colorful fields of the Duin en Bollenstreek while Connexxion bus 160 from Almere to Zeewolde runs through Flevoland’s tulip fields. Find the bus schedule at 9292.nl

5- PLANE

Nothing beats an aerial view of Holland’s magnificent tulip fields in bloom. Sightseeing plane rides are available that fly directly over the fields during the peak blooming window from mid-April to early-May. It won’t be a cheap day out, but the experience will last a lifetime. Here is an option flying from Rotterdam-The Hague Airport over South Holland’s tulip-growing region.

6- HELICOPTER

If a whirlybird is more your speed, you can book a helicopter tour out of Lelystad Airport that flies over the Almere tulip fields in Flevoland (about 25 mins) or one from Hilversum that flies over the Keukenhof and Lisse tulip fields (about 75 mins).

7- CRUISE

A spring cruise through the Green Heart will provide glimpses of many tulip fields in bloom. Rederij van Hulst offers a sightseeing cruise that departs from Lisse and heads east onto the Kaag lakes and connecting waterways. In addition to colorful bulb fields you pass numerous windmills

ways to see Dutch tulip fields - by electric flat-bottom boat

8- ELECTRIC BOAT RIDE

When visiting the Keukenhof flower park, there is an option to take a 45-minute flat-bottom electric boat ride on the canals that cut through the colorful tulip fields, providing the best up-close views one could ask for. The boarding/de-boarding point is near the Keukenhof windmill. The boat ride requires a separate ticket purchase. For the 2023 season, an adult ticket is €10, while a child’s ticket (age 4-11) is €5.00

9- HOT AIR BALLOON

A hot-air balloon ride is a pretty amazing experience no matter the location or time of year. So imagine how incredible it can be to balloon ride over colorful tulip fields within the short window of the blooming season! Like the other aerial view options, this won’t be cheap, but an incredible journey is worth paying for.

10- COACH

Want to see more than just the colorful tulip fields? Then take a windmill and countryside coach tour which visits iconic Dutch towns like Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volerdam and all the sights in between. Easy departure from Amsterdam and travel aboard a modern air-conditioned coach. The tour takes around 5.5 hours..