Amsterdam Keukenhof Alternative Day Program Spring

You planned a spring holiday in the Netherlands. Everything packed: sunglasses, travel guide, tank tops. You made a little plan: visit the famous Dutch spring garden, see a bit of Amsterdam, maybe an authentic Dutch village, something like Volendam or no, make it Zaanse Schans.  Great! You’re good to go. Then your plane touches ground in Amsterdam Airport, you get out and….uff, it’s terribly cold!  And…it’s raining!  Well, here’s an alternative day program that will still get you to Keukenhof.

Step 1: Check the Weather

Our Amsterdam Keukenhof alternative day program starts in the early morning. That’s when you check the weather. The Dutch use weeronline , buienalarm or buienradar. I use the app of Buienalarm as this gives me live updates and warns me 5 minutes before mild or heavy rainfall, so I know whether I need to find shelter during my bike ride or can just survive the rain and keep cycling.

Step 2: Follow the Amsterdam Tulip Trail

When in Amsterdam, explore the city by foot. This way you can fully enjoy the Amsterdam Tulip Festival. Once upon a time, just a year ago, there was a garden desiger named Saskia Albrechts who had but one goal: to plant one tulip for each Amsterdam citizen, that means 80.000 tulips! You can find tulip arrangements on 60 locations in Amsterdam. Want to see all of them? There’s a special guide with walking routes with names and descriptions of every single tulip you can see in this special spring festival in Amsterdam.

Make a stop at the tulip museum in Amsterdam. A great – and warm- place to get a bit of background information on the Dutch tulipmania.

If you want a break and you’re in for a Dutch snack go to the Eetsalon Van Dobben.

Step 3: Visit Haarlem

After a good two hours wandering through Amsterdam it’s time to take the train to Haarlem. I see you’re getting anxious. It’s one ‘o clock now, will you be able to get to the famous Dutch tulip gardens in time? Don’t worry!

The Netherlands’ most beautiful spring garden only closes at 19:30.

We still have enough time.

What you can do once in Haarlem is visit the Frans Hals Museum with its exquisite bloom exhibition .  After that, have a bitterbal (What! Again?) & a Tulpomania beer at the Jopenkerk.  Don’t drink too much, because I would recommend you to rent a bike at the station of Haarlem and get into the blooming daffodil, hyacinth and tulip fields. The cycle route from Haarlem to Keukenhof is definitely one of my favourites. Scared you might get lost? Book a Haarlem & Keukenhof e-bike tour

Step 4: Become a Daffodil, Hyacinht & Tulip Maniac

And then. Then you get into thé Flower Garden of Europe, the Keukenhof. Some say you have to visit the park once in your life. I say, visit it a couple of times. Each year the tulip park near Amsterdam has a special theme. With the theme come different gardens, all with their own unique themes and designs. Moreover, there are  different events taking place each weekend and because of the innovative way of planting the bulb flowers, there are different flowers blooming every day.

The Dutch spring garden near Leiden is spectacular. But, if you want to see where all these daffodils, hyacinths and tulips come from I would definitely recommend you to visit a bulb flower or tulip farm. And, while you’re finding treasures in the Keukenhof area, don’t forget to stop at the local museum or at one of the many castles which offer great viewpoints and have their own fantastic flower gardens. All these you will see in:

Tulip fields & farm Amsterdam bike tour

Step 5: Tell Me About Your Trip  😀

I wish you a wonderful stay in Holland and hope you enjoy your spring holiday. If you like to read more tips on spring events in the Netherlands follow this link.  Feel free to share your stories & pictures here or on Facebook and  let me know if you need any help organising your trip. You can always contact me.

Leiden tulip bike tour flower farm & windmill stop

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