Keukenhof 2027: When to Go and What to Know
The world's largest flower park is open only 8 weeks a year. 7 million bulbs, 32 hectares – and if you come in the wrong week, you won't see the tulips. Here's everything you need to plan your visit.
Key facts
2027 dates
18 March – 9 May 2027
Opening hours
daily 8:00–19:00
last entry 18:15
Tickets
from €21.50 online
€25 at the gate
Where
Lisse, Netherlands
~40 km from Amsterdam
Tickets are valid for a specific date and time slot and are bought in advance at keukenhof.nl. Presale for the 2027 season starts in mid-October 2026 – the popular April weekends sell out first.
When to go so the tulips are actually blooming
second half of March Crocuses and daffodils
The park has just opened and is half empty. Crocuses, daffodils and early hyacinths bloom outdoors; tulips are mostly still in the pavilions. A good choice if you want peace and cheaper accommodation.
mid-April Peak season ⭐
The safest time – the outdoor tulip beds are usually in full bloom, and so are the surrounding production fields, striped in purple and red. The famous flower parade (Bloemencorso) also passes through the region in April. Expect the biggest crowds, though – arrive right at 8:00 in the morning.
late April – 9 May Late tulips
Early varieties fade and late tulips and cherry-tree avenues take over. Still beautiful, but the surrounding fields are often already "topped" – growers cut the flowers to strengthen the bulbs. If you want photos of the fields, go earlier.
The exact bloom peak is dictated by that spring's weather – a warm March moves it forward, a cold one pushes it back. Check the park's website before your trip; it posts regular bloom updates.
What you'll see in the park
🌷 7 million bulbs planted by hand every autumn
Over 800 tulip varieties plus daffodils, hyacinths, grape hyacinths and fritillaries. The entire park is replanted every year – what you see was planted by 40 gardeners between October and December.
🏛️ Flower pavilions
The indoor pavilions (Willem-Alexander, Oranje Nassau and others) host rotating exhibitions – orchids, lilies, floral arrangements. The advantage: they bloom in full regardless of the weather outside, so even a March visit has plenty to offer.
🌊 The windmill viewpoint and boat rides between the fields
The gallery of the historic windmill offers a view over the surrounding tulip fields. Quiet electric "whisper boats" leave from the mill for a 45-minute cruise along the canals between the fields – buy tickets as soon as you arrive, the slots go fast.
How to get there
✈️ By plane (easiest)
Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol – the direct Keukenhof Express bus (line 858) runs from the airport in about 35 minutes. A combined bus + entry ticket is available in presale. Keukenhof works perfectly as a day trip from Amsterdam.
🚗 By car
Driving makes sense if Keukenhof is part of a longer trip through the Netherlands. Parking at the park is reserved online together with your ticket. Watch out for heavy traffic on April weekends – arrive before 9:00.
🚌 On a tour
Many operators run "Amsterdam + Keukenhof" coach tours in late April and early May – no ticket hassle, but no control over hitting peak bloom either.
🌷 Want a tulip bed at home?
Plant Dutch bulbs in October and November. You'll find a complete guide – planting depth, feeding, what to do after flowering – in our tulip profile. Our garden calendar keeps track of planting dates for all bulbs.