Tulips in the Netherlands!

I'm also going to Keukenhof this April. As I understand it, the gardens are only open in the period when the flowers are in bloom. So, there isn't much difference from April to May, unless you visit near the end of the blooming season.

I will be attending as well, the second week of May. I found it humorous that this years theme is New York City (New Amsterdam). 400 year anniversary of the first Dutch settlement on Manhattan.

We were there several years ago in early April. We saw daffodils and crocus blooming but tulips bloom later. Going in May would be to your advantage. There are some indoor growing buildings at Keukenhof that are like green houses and within these covered areas there were some tulips blooming and many varieties of daffodils. There is a charming gnome garden, ponds, etc. These gardens are definitely worth a visit--just a gorgeous place. Have a great trip!

Opening days this year are 3/19 - 5/21. Different varieties of tulips peak at different times during the spring so there are blooms to see during the whole period. The advantage of going in April is that the surrounding fields are still in bloom, whereas in May most of the blooms have been lopped off for the bulb harvest. I think Keukenhof is Europe's number 1 'Must See' in the spring. fyi - shuttle buses to Keukenhof operate from Leiden, Haarlem, and Schipol airport.

Hello,
I am also going to Netherlands(staying in Amsterdam). What would be the good way to see Keukenhof Gardens? Do we need to take tours from Amsterdam?
Thanks,

Here's information on getting to Keukenhof Gardens from Amsterdam (and other locations):

http://www.keukenhof.com/accessibility.php

We took the tour bus and I can recommend it.

I'd advise going in April. We tried to go in early May in 2007 and the flowers had all bloomed out by then.

I think the best way to see the tulips is to rent a bike in either Leiden or Haarlem and ride through the fields to Keukenhof. It is a lovely, flat, easy ride and you can picnic along the way in the beautiful scenery. If anyone is interested in bike directions I would be happy to provide them.

what a coincidence, last night a friend was telling me about visiting the Keukenhof Gardens and how beautiful they were. I don't know when he went, but he mentioned all the tulips.

I flew into Amsterdam on April 24, 2004, and from the plane we could see wide stripes of colors on the ground that I guess were actually the tulip blooms. We were there for a layover and got to see the colors again when we took off. I don't know if they bloom the same time every year.

The flower shops here in Frankfurt are already filled with tulip, hyacinth and daffodils, so they must be blooming already. Driving past all those fields of flowers in the Netherlands is one of my all time favorite experiences. Keukenhof is gorgeous. Does their website recommend a good time to visit?

From Amsterdam. I am more concerned as to how much time I should allot for the gardens.

Thank you.

Does anyone know how much time I should spend at the gardens; how long is the bus ride; etc.? Wondering if I should plan for a full day or a half day.

For the busride question, it depends on where you're coming from.

Well, if you can wait until early April after I make my visit, I will gladly answer your question...

Sally,
I am going in April also. From talking to friends it seems that 3hours is about right. One friend, who is a florist spend 2 days and another was ready to go after and hour! guess it depends on your pace and whether you want to sit and enjoy the beauty of it. We are driving but I am planning on a half day with the gardens and bulb fields

Thank you,Paula. Trying to convince my husband to fit the Garden into our 2-1/2 days in Amsterdam. Half day there will work for us, as it will still allow us the rest of the day to explore Amsterdam.

We visited these gardens last year at the end of April and they were sensational. Everywhere you turn there are gorgeous vistas and gazillions of blooms. You really should go....even my non-gardening partner was blown away. Be sure your camera is warmed up and ready! And, BTW: Pay attention to Queens Day (I believe 30 April) when prices in Amsterdam can skyrocket and crowds overwhelm. We got a packet transport/admission from the Tourist Office in the Amsterdam train station and went on our own (from Leidseplein bus to airport, transfer to Keuk' bus and same return). Just a guess but based on the flowers we saw I would say maybe early May better than early April for peak tulips.

April 30th - May 5th will be busy as the 30th is Queen's Day and the 5th is Liberation day, making it a 6 day weekend for most people.

Also April 10-13th will be busy because of the Good Friday and the National holiday of Easter Monday.

However, the garden is open for all of these holidays.