Tulip fields in Holland

From the perspective of a tourist and a local

Lumi: This winter was longer than usual for many of us. My partner Matthijs and I spent it in The Netherlands, his home country. Even though he was born and raised here, he insists that he is still not used to the cold winters, with dark skies and short days. I was born and raised in the Yucatan Peninsula, a place that I claim feels like summer all year round.

This is my first year living in this beautiful country, so Matthijs kept reassuring me through the winter that when spring would finally arrive the landscape would turn into a beautiful everchanging display of colors; every week a different flower blooming; a different tree greeting us with its new leaves, giving us something to look forward to.

The day finally came and we found ourselves on a sunny spring morning, having tea and no plans for the day, when suddenly we decided to visit the tulip fields in a city close to Amsterdam, called Noordwijk. Looking out the car window I confirmed what my partner said, all the grass that once was brown and lifeless during winter had come alive and was now a green carpet stretching as long as the eye could see, topped with little white daisies. All the trees that were once leafless were finally showing off their bright foliage.

Did you know: The Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa, Canada, in gratitude for having hosted the future Queen Juliana and her family during World War II.

Field of hyacinths, Noordwijk
Photography: Lumi Lara 

Matthijs: I was very excited for our adventure, I knew there were tulip fields in some provinces, but I did not know where and when they bloomed before this trip. After almost a two hour drive from our home

in the south of the Netherlands, the green landscape presented us with endless rows of bright orange, purple, pink, yellow, red and white.

Keukenhof
Photography: MabelAmber – Pexels

First, we stopped at a field of hyacinths and daffodils, then we continued driving around and stopping at every different colored tulip field we would come across, until we found a field full of red tulips. We got out of the car and started taking photographs, carefully walking along the flowers and taking in their sweet smell.

Keukenhof
Photography: MabelAmber – Pexels 

We finally understood why so many people want to see the tulips in full bloom: it is breathtaking! It is such a unique experience we hope everyone can have one day.
This year we are both so grateful for nature and all it has provided during this very different and at times challenging year. In nature we have found refuge and peace. We hope you have found the same as well.

Keukenhof
Photography: MabelAmber – Pexels

Some advices:

1. If you are visiting Amsterdam, the places close by where you can find flower fields are Lisse, Hillegom and Noordwijkerhout.
2. You can also spend a day at Keukenhof, the world’s largest flower garden with more than 7 million flower bulbs planted every year.
3. The best time to see the tulips in full glory is from mid-April to the beginning of May. Be careful whilst taking pictures and walking through the fields to not damage the flowers.