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.)
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!)
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.
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!
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.
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!)
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.
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.)
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…
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 :).
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.
Want more photo inspiration for Keukenhof travel? I can do that.
Do you have a place you fell in love with and want to visit – or maybe you have visited? Let me know in the comments!
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We had a wonderful visit to Keukenhof a number of years ago. At the time I found an option to purchase tickets in advance for a “pre opening tour of the gardens” The number of tickets are limited and thus the gardens only allow very few people. It was absolutely worth every penny. We had the gardens to ourselves for several hours. I do not see that option any longer? Anyone else familiar with that advantage and whether it still exists?
Hi Helen, thanks for your question. I don’t believe anything like “early bird” tickets are offered anymore. However, they are less busy early in the mornings and on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. They also claim to be less busy after 4pm, but I would be wary of that since you are pushing up against closing time. I don’t think you’ll be alone as in previous years, but early on a weekday might be the best option nowadays!