Netherlands, Keukenhof again

If you want to have any chance of seeing the tulips, the later the better. So you should start in Belgium. But even then your chances of seeing the tulips in bloom in the flower fields are small. The Keukenhof should have flowers in bloom though, but even for that the later the better.

Made this trip last year and LOVED IT…….left 4/21 and came home on 5/9……but I understand your time constraints. We were Leiden (Amsterdam), Bruge, Brussels, Bastogne and then Brussels again to fly home. Cannot recommend enough the places we stayed and enjoyed….just DM me if you are interested in any questions.

Thanks for the quick replies!

So, I just turned the trip around to keep the Keukenhof till the end - and then we’ll see how it goes. Thanks for the confirmation, Dutch_traveler. I wish I could move it later, but alas.

Jane, thanks for the trip list. I’ll have to make some hard decisions on specific cities to stay as a next step. I have had an ongoing list of places of interest for a while, so hopefully that helps.

We loved the charm of Ghent and seeing the Ghent altarpiece at St Bravo's; that's worth at minimum a day trip from Brugges. They do plant the tulips at Keukenhof to bloom throughout the time period the gardens are open; but the later the better.

Thanks, KD! I have had the Ghent alterpiece in my head - but not yet down on my spreadsheet. So adding it now, let I forget!

Climate change has pushed the tulip blooming season earlier, resulting in the flower parade to be pushed to mid April in 2026 (one week before you return): https://bloemencorso-bollenstreek.nl/en/programma/. The Keukenhof would be a great display with a significant chance of the surrounding fields blooming. Starting in Belgium and finishing in the Netherlands would be the right option as others have suggested.

I agree with the two Dutch contributors

And we have an old Bavo (or the Grote Kerk: (https://www.bavo.nl/en/) en new Bavo (https://koepelkathedraal.nl/) in Haarlem as well!

You might look at Michelle Damiani's blog post called something like: Ignore the guidebooks, choose Ghent. She compares it to Bruges. One woman's view, but I'm headed to Ghent next spring after reading her post. (I've already been to Bruges, but it was only a day trip and years ago.)

Thanks, Barney! I have all those links copied. It’s possible that I can sneak a few extra days in before my daughter arrives - I may need it!

Nigel, you can send me your pointers! :)

Janet, I have the blog pulled up. Thank you.

I will also be going back through the forums here, for tips.

And I am glad to know that, while I may be a little earlier than optimum, I probably won’t be TOO early.

quoting Barney_NL

And we have an old Bavo (or the Grote Kerk: (https://www.bavo.nl/en/) en new Bavo (https://koepelkathedraal.nl/) in Haarlem as well!

with a spectacular organ - a truly spectacular one. Try and get there when it is being played. It was previously played by Handel and a 10 year old Mozart - and I've heard and seen it played.

I had the privilege several years ago during the September Historic Open Days to go up in the attics and see things from a completely different angle.

link to the organ in the old Bavo https://www.bavo.nl/over-de-bavo-en-de-nieuwe-kerk/grote-of-st-bavokerk/orgels/

Ah, Nigel, I would love that! (*furiously scribbling notes….. - ok, adding more to my spreadsheet)

It is worth remembering that Keukenhof's bulbs are not a "natural" phenomenon. They have beds planted with multiple layers, and many beds are changed-over at night, as old blooms fade and need to be replaced. Are you familiar with the term "forcing bulbs"? It is not correct to assume that Keukenhof will be a disappointment on the first day of operation.

It is true, however, that Keukenhof has beds of annuals that they set out, and a fair amount of mature perennials and broad-leafed evergreens, which bloom naturally, and only once a year. Annuals can also be forced for earlier bloom, since they have to be replaced ... annually.

It's perfectly true that it's nice to look over the perimeter fences at Keukenhof and see some commercial bulb fields, if they happen to be in bloom.

The Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Bavo (different one from the erstwhile Catholic cathedral but a Protestant church after the Spaniards left Haarlem in 1577 on the Grote Markt) is one of the few with a choir school in the Netherlands. At Easter, the choir will partake in the various sung Masses with the bishop celebrating and this may be an interesting experience as well when you are around at that time. If up your street, check their website for timings.

Thank, Tim! There’s not anything I can do about my dates (except to visit Belgium first) so I am loving the reassurance that there will be flowers to see.

Barney, that is definitely down my alley - I’m not Catholic but I love choral music (and worked with a local children’s choir for a number of years “back when”). That would be a real Easter treat.