Tulip Festival & Keukenhof

When the tulips actually bloom

Keukenhof publishes fixed opening dates for 2027, 18 March to 9 May, but the flowers do not follow the calendar. The park is planted in a sequence designed to look different from week to week, so you will see flowers on any date in the season, just not always the same ones.

The fields around it behave differently. According to the regional tourism site Bollenstreek.nl, most flower fields bloom between the end of March and the beginning of May. Crocuses and daffodils come first, followed by hyacinths and early tulips, and the exact timing depends on the weather in February, March and April. A cold spring can delay the peak by days or weeks, and a warm one can bring it forward. From the beginning of March, the site publishes a weekly Flower Map update on the state of the fields.

If you can choose your dates, look at that update in the week before you travel. If you cannot, the park itself is the safer bet, because it is planted for the whole season while the open fields are simply a snapshot of what farmers happen to be growing and when.

Getting from Amsterdam to Keukenhof

Keukenhof is in Lisse, south-west of Amsterdam, and there is no direct train. The practical routes change from year to year, so confirm the latest on keukenhof.nl before you book.

Until recently, many visitors used the Keukenhof Express bus 858 from Schiphol. According to Bollenstreek.nl, which last checked this on 13 October 2026, that bus is almost certainly not running from Schiphol in 2027 because of major construction works at the airport, with the 2027 public transport services expected to be published around mid-January. Do not plan around bus 858 until it is confirmed.

• Tulip Festival Shuttle from Schiphol: a coach service run by an official Keukenhof partner, sold as a combination ticket that includes your Keukenhof entrance. Bollenstreek.nl lists the journey at about 30 minutes and the price at 42.50 euros for adults and children aged 4 to 17 at the time of checking, with children up to 3 free. You choose your return time and can return to Schiphol or to central Amsterdam. Book in advance, as seats per departure are limited. Prices and times can change.
• Public bus: Qbuzz line 361 from Schiphol to Lisse, getting off at Lisse, Meer en Duin, within walking distance of the park. Bollenstreek.nl says it runs twice an hour. You buy your Keukenhof ticket separately, and you may have to stand.
• Line 859 from Hoofddorp station ran in 2026; whether it runs in 2027 is expected to be announced in mid-January.
• From central Amsterdam, you first need to reach Schiphol by train, then continue with the options above.

Booking, timing and the day itself

Keukenhof sells tickets online in advance, and during the 2026 season the number of daily visitors was limited, so assume 2027 follows a similar approach and book early for weekends and the peak weeks of April. The park is open daily from 08:00 to 19:00. Arriving at opening time, or in the late afternoon, usually means fewer people at the main beds and viewpoints.

Allow most of a day. The grounds are large, with indoor flower pavilions that are useful when the weather turns, and the path network is easy to follow. Wear shoes that cope with damp paths, and bring a light waterproof layer; April weather changes quickly.

The shuttle and bus options above are designed around a single outing, so build your plan around the return time you choose rather than trying to see everything. If you are travelling as a small group or want a more flexible day, you can compare the options on our Keukenhof day trip page.

Alternatives to the park: the Bollenstreek fields

The commercial fields lie mainly between the dunes and the villages of Lisse, Hillegom, Noordwijkerhout and Voorhout. Many visitors prefer to see them from a bicycle, since the area is flat and the lanes are quiet compared with the park. Bollenstreek.nl lists signed cycle routes around Keukenhof, as well as routes from Leiden and from Haarlem, and walking routes along the bulb fields. A guided bike tour from Lisse, about two and a half hours, is also listed, in group, small-group and private versions.

The Bloemencorso Bollenstreek flower parade is the best-known spring event in the region. In 2026 it was held on a Saturday in April; the 2027 date is not confirmed in our sources yet, so check Bollenstreek.nl before planning around it.

Photography and respecting the fields

The open fields are working farmland, not a public garden. The tulips are grown to sell as bulbs and cut flowers, and the people who tend them rely on the crop. Treat them accordingly: photograph from the edge of the path or lane, never walk between the rows, and never pick flowers. Stepping into a field to get a closer picture damages the plants and the farmer's income.

Park carefully if you drive. Narrow rural lanes are not car parks, and blocking a farm track for a photograph makes life harder for the people who use it. Drones are regulated in the Netherlands, so check the current rules and any local restrictions before flying one over fields or the park.