Keukenhof Opening 2026

With spring right around the corner, the new tulip season awaits with Keukenhof 2026 as its main attraction! Keukenhof is one of the world’s most famous gardens, open only during spring when the flowers are in bloom. In 2026, visitors are welcome from Thursday, March 19, 2026, to Sunday, May 10, 2026. This allows you a total of 53 days to experience this marvellous spectacle! Given the 1,4 million visitors last year, a visit does require a bit of planning. Therefore, we’ll give you all the important information to make the most of your visit in this article!

Best Keukenhof tickets & tours

There are several tour agencies that organise excursions to Keukenhof. Something to consider when booking is the tour’s departure point. Tours depart from Amsterdam Central Station and Amsterdam Noord. Depending on the location of your accommodation, one of the two might be more convenient to reach. Also, some tours do not include a visit to the Keukenhof gardens; instead, they include only a visit to the tulip fields in the area and the Tulip Experience. So please make sure to read carefully which tour you’re booking to avoid disappointment!

Keukenhof 2026 dates

The Keukenhof Tulip Festival will take place from Thursday, March 19, 2026, to Sunday, May 10, 2026. It is strongly recommended that you book your tickets promptly. Timeslots must be chosen to spread visitors during the day. We strongly recommend booking a tour including transfer from Amsterdam through our partners, Tours-tickets.com or Tiqets.com, as traffic around the park tends to get congested.

National Holidays

Keukenhof is also open during the following national holidays;

• Easter – April 5 & 6; expect Keukenhof to be extra crowded, as many locals visit during Easter.
• King’s Day – April 26; Keukenhof will be less crowded as many locals and tourists prefer to celebrate King’s Day.
• Liberation Day – May 5; not an official holiday, no influence on traffic to Keukenhof expected.
• Meivakantie – April 25 through May 3; national school holiday; extra domestic traffic to Keukenhof.

Keukenhof opening hours

Keukenhof Gardens can be visited from 8:00 in the morning till 19:00 in the evening. The latest admittance to the tulip gardens is at 18:15, 45 minutes before closing. On average, people spend 2-4 hours in order to see all of the tulips, hyacinths, and narcissus. So, if you have the last timeslot, you will have to rush a bit, or you will not get to explore the entire park.

Foto credit: Marlene Vink

Flower parade – 18th of April

The “Bloemencorso” in Dutch, or flower parade, is an independent event that is not organised by Keukenhof. It’s an annual event in collaboration with local flower farms and around 1500 volunteers. It features amazingly pretty floats, fully decorated with spring flowers from the region. The parade is held on Saturday, the 18th of April 2026, and a limited number of tickets are available. If you’re not able to get tickets for the event itself, curious visitors can instead visit the hall where volunteers are building the floats at a very accessible price of under €10! The halls can be visited in the days leading up to the event from Wednesday, April 15, to Friday, April 17 12:00. For more information on taking a look behind the scenes, make sure to visit: https://bloemencorso-bollenstreek.nl/.

Keukenhof park map

If you’re going to Keukenhof, bringing a map of the park might be handy, so you don’t miss anything. The park is quite big, and you don’t want to get lost or miss your favourite spot. Click on the image below to enlarge it, or download a PDF version of the map here.

Keukenhof area map with flower fields

It’s good to know that the Keukenhof gardens are the go-to attraction for seeing tulips bloom, thanks to their size, accessibility, and worldwide fame. However, the area itself is just as interesting to visit if you like to see flowers. You can explore the area by bike, for instance, and witness miles of flower fields at flower farms that supply the world with some of the prettiest spring flowers! Below, you’ll find a map of interesting places around the Keukenhof gardens.

 Activities near Keukenhof in the flower bulb region

As one of the most famous flower gardens in the world, the Keukenhof gardens are highly appreciated. However, the region where it’s situated, “De Bollenstreek,” or flower bulb area, also seems to appeal to many visitors. In the region, you’ll find around 600 different flower farms that produce flowers that are exported worldwide. Therefore, it can be a thrillingly colourful experience to explore this area by bike, for instance. Below, we’ve listed some tours that visit Keukenhof and some surrounding areas.

Keukenhof Bollenstreek area bike tours

Visit the beautiful surrounding area of Keukenhof by bike. These tours will take you away from the somewhat crowded Keukenhof Park and take you into the rural surrounding areas, where you can shoot some of the most magnificent photos. A live tour guide will take you by the hand and show you some of the prettiest flower fields. You can use the formerly mentioned buses to get to Keukenhof and make your way to the meeting point, where you will be equipped with a comfortable bicycle.

• Keukenhof highlights bike tour (2,5 hours)
• Small group highlights bike tour (2,5 hours)

Keukenhof Bollenstreek area car adventures

If you’d like to explore the bulb area but you’re not really into cycling, don’t worry! There are car tours available. This way, you’ll still get to see and experience the pretty flower fields, but instead of cycling, you’ll enjoy it comfortably from your car.

• Drive yourself GPS tour in small electric car (2 hours)
• Land Rover Tulip Safari (2,5 hours)

FAQ’s based on your topics (via Reddit)

Is Keukenhof worth it?
Yes, if you love flowers & don’t mind crowds. No, if you want a quiet experience.

Can I see tulip fields without visiting Keukenhof?
Yes! Bike around Lisse or visit Noordoostpolder.

What happens if I visit too early/late?
Check bloom updates before going.

Based on Reddit’s reactions, we conclude that some people love it, while others find it touristy. Many travellers on Reddit compare Keukenhof with Noordoostpolder, Lisse, and other tulip fields. We made the comparison below to help you decide:

Best time to visit Keukenhof gardens

The best time to visit Keukenhof Gardens is mid-April to early May. At this time of the year, the flowers are blooming and have the brightest colours. With a little bit of luck, you might also catch a little bit of sunshine, which ensures the best pictures. It’s the peak of the spring season, and it shows. On another note, everyone knows it’s the best time to visit Keukenhof Gardens, and it can be crowded. Luckily, the park is big enough for everyone to enjoy the tulips.

The best time of day to visit Keukenhof, if you want to avoid the crowds, is either early morning, 8:00 a.m., right after opening, or alternatively after 14:00. The busiest moment in the park is between 10 a.m. and 13:00. Especially weekends and during holidays, these are the peak hours.

Hotels in the “Bollenstreek”

Would you like to explore the “Bollenstreek” (Bulb area) for a bit longer? Consider booking a hotel in the area. Apart from the park Keukenhof, the area is scattered with flower farms and tulip fields! Rent a bike to explore the area and enjoy the flowers to the fullest.

Keukenhof: photos of previous years

Find below some of the best photos that we gathered over the previous editions of Keukenhof.

Both the flowers and the tree are blooming beautifully while the sun shines through on a perfect spring day

Perfectly aligned red and yellow tulips in bloom

These photos were taken on Saturday, the 13th of April 2019. Most of the flowers are already in full bloom and will get even better coming weeks.

Photography Tips for Keukenhof

• Arrive early (right at opening) for the best shots.
• Use a zoom lens to isolate flowers without including crowds.
• Look for quiet corners (avoid the main entrance areas).
• Visit on a cloudy day, because colours pop more, and fewer people!