We intended to see the tulips at Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands in 2020 with friends. The plane tickets were purchased, the hotel reservations were made, and the itinerary was planned. We were ready to go. The pandemic had other ideas. 

Fast forward four years. Now was the time - the 75th anniversary of the Keukenhof Gardens. Touted as the most beautiful spring garden in the world, it lived up to its tagline.

Going to Keukenhof had been on my bucket list for a number of years. When working in the Back Bay, I would venture to the Boston Public Gardens during lunch to view the amazing tulip display and take pictures. As beautiful as it was in Boston, I imagined what it might be like to walk the 79 acres at the Keukenhof and witness the beauty of 7 million bulbs blooming.

The journey was worth the wait. It is almost unimaginable to think that 7 million bulbs were planted by only 100 gardeners - and that those 7 million bulbs were donated by area growers. They are planted using the “lasagna” method with three layers of bulbs — early, mid, and late spring — planted to ensure non stop blooming.

And man, were they blooming! So many different varieties and colors, and when planted with other bulbs like hyacinth, daffodils, and crocus, they created artistic displays. Each one a picture. 

Here are some tips if you plan to go.

1. Prepare for all kinds of weather. Dress in layers, bring a raincoat, and wear comfortable shoes. The weather in April can be a bit fickle. It could be sunny in the mid to high 60s or it could be raining and 45 degrees - and sometimes on the same day! You will be walking a lot and you don’t want the wrong shoes to prevent you from exploring all 79 acres. 

2. Purchase your tickets in advance to ensure entry and to avoid a long line waiting to enter. Tickets have a timed entry. Plan to book your ticket as early in the day as possible. Crowds are a bit lighter in the mornings, and you’ll find you can spend an entire day.

3. Avoid the crowds. There are certain times when the Keukenhof is busier than others. If you want to avoid the crowds, plan your visit before the Keukenhof Flower Parade. Over 1 million people from all over the world flock to this parade. And typically, tickets to Keukenhof sell out before the parade. Another day to avoid is Kings Holiday, which is held on April 27 of every year.

4. Leave your cash at home. Keukenhof is completely cashless. You have to use a debit or credit card - even when buying a coffee. And speaking of food, there are plenty of cafes and places to get food while visiting. Alternatively, Keukenhof allows you to bring in your own food and drinks.

5. Consider visiting a real tulip farm in the area. While you see many beautiful beds of flowers, you will not see farms with tulips growing in perfectly manicured rows like what is shown in travel guides. For that experience, you may wish to visit a farm. A list of some can be found here.

6. Do climb the windmill. The narrow stairs are worth navigating since the platform is the perfect spot to see tulips growing at a nearby farm. The height gives a different perspective.

7. Plan to spend a full day. When planning our trip, there were many blog posts and websites that estimated a time of 2-4 hours as being the optimal amount of time to spend at Keukenhof. We were there over 6 hours, and I could have stayed longer. If you’ve traveled a distance and expect that you’ll not visit again, why not spend the entire day meandering and enjoying all 79 acres?

The Keukenhof is in Lisse and there are hotels that are close to the gardens. We stayed in Leiden at the very comfortable and perfectly located Breathe Hotel. About 30 minutes from Keukenhof, this small city was charming and a perfect place to enjoy a bit of Holland. It was far enough away to enjoy a city without tulip tourists, but close enough for an inexpensive Uber ride. That said, if you want to stay in Lisse, here are some hotels near Keukenhof.

As we found out when staying in Leiden, there is a Leiden/Pilgrim and Mayflower connection. The pilgrims fled England and moved to Amsterdam in 1608, then moved to Leiden the next year. They lived and worked in the city for a number of years, emigrating on the Speedwell through the canals to Southampton, England. Once they arrived in England, they transferred to the Mayflower, since the Speedwell was not seaworthy. In 1620, the Mayflower made the famous voyage to New England. Interesting, right? If you go to Leiden, consider visiting the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum.

Combining our visit to Leiden with a wonderful day at Keukenhof was a Netherlands vacation to remember! Though the pictures cannot possibly show just how beautiful it was, I hope you enjoy a bit of Holland’s springtime magic.