Visiting Keukenhof Gardens: 15 Tips From Experience

Keukenhof had to close to visitors in 2020, but you can still experience it virtually! Visit Keukenhof virtually.
Just want pictures? I’ve got photos galor!

In 2021, Keukenhof Gardens will be open from March 20 – May 9. Buy tickets on their website! They follow all mandated protocols and should anything happen (new protocols or travel bans) on the government level, they will honor changes and cancellations for any tickets.

I was a senior in high school, doing a sociology project, and I fell in love. There, I said it.

But I didn’t fall in love like you might think. I fell in love with an idea. An image, an experience. And honestly, I didn’t think it would ever get past that point – the love of an abstract place filled with beautiful flowers. My project was on the Netherlands, and I researched all about the culture, things to do, big attractions, and social/politics views. Did you know the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage? On April 1, 2001 the first legal marriages were performed in Amsterdam. The Netherlands is arguably one of the most progressive countries in the world, and I was enraptured. But I knew I was in love when I saw images of the famous Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse.

I went and told my parents immediately. I wanted to visit hell or highwater, and lucky for me we were planning a graduation trip to Europe that next year!

Then, I found out something horrible. The gardens are only open two months out of the year! Which honestly makes sense when you think about it. That wasn’t the bad part though – we would be in the Netherlands (Amsterdam) less than a month after the Keukenhof Gardens closed for the season. I was devastated, but what could we do? (Still enjoy the heck out of Amsterdam and Apenheul, that’s what! Anyway.)

I thought my dream was over. Why would I ever go back to Amsterdam or the Netherlands, at least in the near future? Well, turns out having a friend in your study abroad apartment who wants to go to Amsterdam can be a pretty darn good reason.

Two years later with a friend in tow, I was able to visit the beauty Keukenhof Gardens I had so fallen in love with during my project, and here’s what I learned. I hope it helps some of you! If you want to see more pictures for inspiration, I’ve got those too!

1. Bring your own food

Food there is priced as you would expect. In my opinion, it’s expensive for the return and I would rather find a bench and eat my own food (which is what we did!). I recommend bringing food not only because it’s cheaper, but also because you can sit among the beautiful flowers as you eat. Sure, there are some take-away options, but it is more special when it feels like a personal picnic. Additionally, vegan options weren’t exciting… fries and carrots, anyone? In the coming years, it may change, but that was my experience. (Cut me a break on the picture, I didn’t take pictures of my food! But I did get to enjoy these flowers while we ate quinoa salad for lunch.)

A plethora of tulips in all shapes, sizes, and colors fill the screen. Blue hyacinth (I think) blooms cluster with dark purple tulips at the bottom, while red, yellow, pink, orange, and white tulips fill out the flower bed at the top. Dark purple tulips speckle the image throughout. — *A plethora of tulips in all shapes, sizes, and colors*.

2. Take a bus from the airport (make sure to buy a combo ticket)

Keukenhof was our first stop from Schipol Airport, and we pre-bought an open bus ticket and entrance combination to Keukenhof. Signs were plentiful, and we easily made it to Keukenhof Gardens, so I would by far recommend this form of transport if you do not rent a car. Biking from the airport (or anywhere that isn’t Lisse) would be far, and a taxi would be expensive, so round-about combination tickets are reasonably priced. Plenty of people also take a day tour from Amsterdam with a company, but I prefer the independence of a combo ticket. (Again, I didn’t take pictures of tickets!)

A warm hued field of tulips dominates the image in hues of deep burgundy, vibrant ruby, pale yellow, a mix of pale and brilliant pink, and spots of white. Cool blue and clean white clouds fill the background with long-limbed trees spotting in between. — *A field of tulips in hues of deep burgundy, vibrant ruby, pale yellow, a mix of pale and brilliant pink, and spots of white*.

3. Buy your tickets in advance even if you don’t need a combo (slightly cheaper and no line waits)

We didn’t have the money, means, or desire to rent a car, but that’s also an option to reach Lisse from anywhere. If you do rent a car, calling a taxi or staying in a town within walking distance for you is the best choice because parking fills quickly at the Gardens. We saw many cars waiting, circling, and being directed to overflow. We would have bought our tickets in advance regardless because it was a euro cheaper (which can add up), and we did not have to wait in long lines to get into the gardens. We passed a huge hoard of people waiting to buy tickets, and I am so glad we did not have to join them. Ticket sales open every autumn for the next year’s season.

In focus is a tulip with a yellow base. It begins streaking into coral before becoming fully crimson along the edges. A frilled magenta tulip, bubblegum and pearl tulips , and marigold and banana yellow tulips blur in the back. — *A yellow and red tulip with a frilled magenta tulip, bubblegum and pearl tulips , and marigold and banana yellow tulips in the back*.

4. Go early

If you do not see yourself staying all day (most people only stay about half a day), then I would suggest going right at 8am when it opens or getting there late enough to stay until they close. Going early brings soft morning light (or, as you can see in the image, softer light)and slower people. You also do not have to worry about the gardens closing anytime soon!

An eggplant colored flower (of unknown species) cuts through the image. They are bell shaped and hanging from their stems, and each petal is separate. In the background, tiger orange and fuchsia flowers are blurred. — *An eggplant colored flower of unknown species*.

5. Stay late

Staying late gives you perfect afternoon light (my preference), and the park gets relatively quiet after 6pm. I would go in the afternoon and stay late if given the option, but all of my photos are from mid-morning and mid-afternoon (to give perspective – one of my dark(er) images is below) because of our flight time.

Denim and cobalt blue hyacinths and mulberry flowers fill up most of the image. Candy red and hot pink flowers spot the image. A couple of bright white tulips are also dotted. — *Denim and cobalt blue hyacinths and mulberry flowers*.

6. Be respectful

Even if you go at a “slower” time, there will be many other people! It’s important that who keep in mind everyone is there to have a good time. If we can all respect each other’s space, picture taking, and general needs, we can all have the pleasurable experience we dreamed of! By that I mean wait for someone to finish a picture before walking across the screen. Be respectful of personal space, even if it’s different in your culture. Be kind! I feel like this can apply to travel in general, but because there are dogs, kids, and luggage all trapping in one area, I felt the need to mention it. (Yes, dogs are allowed on leashes. Just look at these mops!)

Two dogs with mop-like hair stand on a brick road with grass growing between the bricks. One, buttermilk-colored, stands facing away while the other, onyx with a few amber ends, faces the camera and the other dog. — *Two dogs with mop-like hair*.

7. Be patient

Going off being respectful, being patient is just as important, especially in a garden setting. Not only are hundreds of people wanting a gorgeous memory, but hundreds of people also need to take care of their belongings and family. Be patient with someone if they need to take care of their child because they freak out. Be patient if it takes ten seconds to snap a picture instead of five. And try to remember not everyone is as 100% as they seem 😊 (referring to invisible illnesses as an example). Even a frequent traveler like me struggles with things like number 6 & 7 at times, so don’t beat yourself up if you get frustrated. I try to remind myself often that we experience the world in different ways, and that can go far.

A child dressed in a traditional Dutch-style costume pretends to pick a wine-hued tulip (do not pick the flowers at Keukenhof!), which are interspersed with light pink tulips in the foreground. The costume has a white hat, navy skirt, white apron, and red-checkered sleeveless shirt. The child has tanned skin and dark brown hair in two braids, tied at the ends with red, white, and blue bows. Behind the child, periwinkle and fuschia flowers grow in rows. — *A child dressed in a traditional Dutch-style costume pretends to pick a wine-hued tulip (do not pick the flowers at Keukenhof!).*

8. Remember it’s a “tourist destination” (but it didn’t actually bother me)

For some reason, I assumed the gardens would not be super popular. Probably because I didn’t find out about them until I was almost an adult, so I assumed no one else would know about them either – but trust me, they are well known. This honor can be detrimental sometimes because it turns something gorgeous into something kitschy, but I wasn’t bothered by it here. Classic Dutch décor, cows with cheese, wooden shoes, and cheesy souvenirs abound. It’s kind of fun to look at though! (Excuse the blurry image – I thought it did a good job conveying the “cheese” factor.)

A pale person with purple hair fading into red-ish pink and orange smiles at the camera wearing a pink and black hat reading "Keukenhof" in the front. The person wears a butterfly necklace with a green and white flannel. — *Excuse the blur.*

9. Grab a (free) park map

It’s a huge park. We made the mistake of not grabbing one when we first entered, and less than ten minutes in, I trekked my way back to get a map because there were so many paths. I am not one to plan my route before I go, but that is also an option if you want a concrete idea of the park. I prefer to go where my interests take me, but make sure not to miss anything great using the map! With that said, many people do see the buildings last and the windmill first…

A map of Keukenhof Gardens, including the mill, water, buildings, and greenery helps people navigate inside the park. — *A map of Keukenhof Gardens*.

10. If you want pictures with the windmill, go early.

Most of the day, I wasn’t bothered by the number of people – I could move freely without touching (and I had a large backpack). But we made it over to the windmill later in the afternoon, and I couldn’t even get near it. Didn’t even try. We decided not to try with the boat rides either, especially since we were on a budget. So, if the windmill is something you would like to photograph, or if a whisper boat tour (about 45 minutes) is something you want to purchase tickets for, go early. Tickets for the boat tour can be purchased day-of at the mill. FYI, the boat cruises the surrounding area with tulip fields, not the park itself!

Keukenhof's famous mill peeks through baby pink blossoms, chartreuse green leaves, and blood-hued leaves from different trees. A bronze orange bush is in the lower left corner. The sky is light blue and filled with puffy white and grey clouds. — *Keukenhof’s famous mill*.

11. Avoid holidays (like King’s Day) and weekends if you want to avoid the biggest crowds

We arrived in the Netherlands the day after King’s Day, which wasn’t the best choice. However, it was our only choice due to previously planned trips and classes. Despite missing King’s Day but being stuck with the aftermath of high costs (we camped because places were still so expensive!), Keukenhof Gardens were not as packed as I was expecting. Like I mentioned, I could move pretty freely (that being said, we sat in traffic on the bus for nearly an hour until we reached the freeway). But I have no doubt it would’ve been even more busy and uncomfortable if we had gone a day later or earlier. If you are averse to crowds and people like me, but still want to see the flowers, I highly recommend avoiding the holidays and weekends.

A vibrant red tulip is the focus of this image. It's petals curl into itself and it has canary yellow highlights. A few similar tulips are in the background with green leaves. — *A vibrant red tulip*.

12. Don’t miss out on the buildings

Seriously. When I was researching, I found a few people who didn’t care much for the buildings, but I am of the opposite opinion. I think the installations and buildings were just as breathtaking, albeit in a different way. Even if you stop in at the end of your visit, you should still stop in. In addition to having art like the hearts below (and orchids!) inside, we saw flower themed dresses and more unique installations worth checking out. They change every year, too. They tend to be highly “Instagrammable” if you are into that.

Concentric metal flowers hang over a pool of water, which is surrounded by fluffy greenery. The hearts have hundreds of dark lime flower pots hanging from them. The flowers in the closest heart are all white, but the flowers behind the first ones are a mix of yellow, pink, orange, and red. The installation is housed inside a building of glass, so sun shines bright and the pale blue-grey sky is seen above. — *A metal installation with buckets of flowers*.

13. You can explore the tulip fields around Keukenhof (I mean, it’s an option)

You don’t need a ticket to Keukenhof to see these, so if you are on a budget, want to avoid the crowd, or generally aren’t interested in a flower park, the tulip fields are the way for you. But BE CAREFUL walking in these fields. These fields aren’t actually grown for tourist enjoyment; they are farmer’s livelihoods. I would err on the side of recommending you not go into the fields because you can destroy some income for farmers (also, more signs are sprouting up prohibiting walks), but I know some people will do it anyway, especially when they learn about it as I did. So, if you do, please be careful.

Also, keep in mind these fields are typically rows of tulips… straight rows. They might be what you picture when you think of tulips in the Netherlands because pictures abound on the internet, but these straight rows lack the visual care, thought, and expertise that has gone in to planning the Keukenhof Gardens (generally because they are grown for the bulbs, not prettiness while growing). Beautiful, but strikingly different.

Rows of yellow, orange, and purple tulips are seen in a huge stretch. In the distance, buildings are visible. The sky is a bright cerulean and has tons of clouds in it. In the foreground, there is a patch of green grass and bushes interrupted by a pond. — *Rows of yellow, orange, and purple tulips*.

14. Utilize the free WiFi

But only you really need to! I am in full support of turning off technology to enjoy the present time, but if you do need the internet or your phone, it’s free, so don’t wait until you leave to get online. Just remember to look at the details :).

A sharp-petaled magenta tulip is taken from a bird's eye view. The pale yellow stamens are obvious inside. — *A sharp-petaled magenta tulip*.

15. You really won’t be disappointed whenever you choose to go (assuming you enjoy flowers)

This “tip” isn’t truly a tip, but I feel it’s important to include. I guess the tip would be try not to stress! So many things I read included people worrying about seeing flowers bloom, but I promise you don’t need to worry. The gardeners and planners at the Keukenhof Gardens are professionals through and through. They do their absolute best to ensure every visitor sees blooms throughout their season. Flowers will be blooming, and you will not be disappointed even if you go outside of “prime time!” Even the baby blooms/not-yet-blooms are cool to see. If you are still worried, you can check Keukenhof’s flowering report when they open.