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When to visit Keukenhof in 2023 – best time to visit for blooming Tulips

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Edited by: Rekha Rajan
Fact checked by: Jamshed V Rajan

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Keukenhof Gardens is open to the public only during the eight-week long spring or tulip season – from mid-March to mid-May.

Since it is a show of the beauty of nature, and so much of the flower bloom is dependent on the weather, many tourists wonder when they must visit Keukenhof for the best experience. 

This article shares the best time to see the tulips in bloom at the Keukenhof Gardens in 2023.

Blooming Tulips in Keukenhof

Best time to avoid the crowd at Keukenhof in 2023

If you want to enjoy the Keukenhof Gardens with as little crowd as possible, you must reach the attraction before 10.30 am or after 4 pm.

It is often much less crowded, and you can snap beautiful photos with the morning or evening sun. 

Usually, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday get fewer visitors, and as the weekend nears, it starts getting crowded.

In 2023, all visitors must book their Keukenhof Garden tickets online. This has been made mandatory to avoid crowding in ticket lines.


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Best time to visit Keukenhof in 2023 for flower blooms

Since the Tulip blooms are so dependent on the weather, it is almost impossible to recommend the best time is to visit Keukenhof in 2023.

However, based on how the weather has been in the last few years, your best chance of seeing the blooming at the Keukenhof is during the last two weeks of April and the first week of May.

The viewing season consists of two halves – early springtime and peak springtime.

The flowers are better during peak springtime, but this is also when Amsterdam’s Keukenhof Tulip Gardens are also the most crowded.

If you also plan to explore the Tulip flower fields outside the Keukenhof Gardens, you must visit in the last two weeks of April because the flowers are harvested on 30 April or a couple of days later. 

The best way to explore the massive flower fields is by renting a bike at Keukenhof Gardens

Or, if you don’t want the hassle of waiting in line to rent a bike, book a guided Keukenhof Bike Tour.

Keukenhof Tour TicketsCost
Only Keukenhof Entry Tickets€20
Keukenhof Entry + Transport from Amsterdam€43
Keukenhof Entry + Transport from Amsterdam & Night Flower Parade€85
Keukenhof Entry + Transport from Amsterdam Central Station€40
Keukenhof Admission + Bus Tour from Amsterdam€53
Windmill Cruise + Keukenhof + Transport from Amsterdam€53
Keukenhof + Flower Fields Tour from Rotterdam€99
Transport from Amsterdam€25
Keukenhof + Flower Fields Tour from The Hague€99
Keukenhof visit from Katwijk, Noordwijk or Noordwijkerhout€29
Keukenhof admission + Zaanse Schans Tour + Boat Trip in Amsterdam€145
Keukenhof + Tulip Fields + Windmill + Farm Visit€85
Keukenhof + 6-course Michelin-Star Dinner at Bolenius€149

If you don’t want to travel as a group, check out how to travel from Amsterdam to Keukenhof Gardens.

Visual Story: 15 must-know tips before visiting Keukenhof Gardens


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Status of Keukenhof Garden flowers every month

Blooming Tulips in Keukenhof Gardens
Russaquarius / Getty Images

No matter when you visit Keukenhof’s Tulip Gardens, you will get to see something beautiful. 

However, some times are better than the others. 

Keukenhof in March 2023

Keukenhof Tulip gardens open for the public only in the last two weeks in March.

Since it is early springtime, quite a few buds of the tulips will be up and getting ready to bloom. 

But daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths and other flowers will be fully up.

The indoor greenhouses will be home to perfectly open flowers throughout the eight weeks.

All the Tulips and other flowers are labeled in the greenhouses, making it more enjoyable. 

However, Keukenhof isn’t just about the Tulips.

The world-famous Tulip gardens also offer plenty of other distractions such as flower art, windmills, playgrounds, bike tours, petting zoo, food carts, Instagram selfie spots, etc.

Keukenhof in April 2023

Usually, the Tulips are fully bloomed by the second half of April, but since it is difficult to predict when the flowers are at their best, it’s better not to stress over it. 

If you are visiting in April, there can be no wrong time to visit Keukenhof.

The garden ensures everyone has a great visit, which is why Tulips are planted in layers.

Some are already in full bloom in the first half of the month, while most start blooming in the latter half.

This also ensures that the same area looks different every time you visit Keukenhof. 

Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, one of the most popular flower parades in Holland, happens in the second half of April.

April is the most crowded time as international tourists visit the garden during this time.

Keukenhof in May 2023

The Tulips and other flowers inside Keukenhof Gardens are still in full bloom during the first two weeks of May. 

But by that time, the adjacent tulip fields are topped by then, which is unfortunate because tourists lose out on witnessing miles of vibrant, brilliant blossoms.

Topping is the act of cutting the flower from the stem. Growers top the tulips about three weeks after blooming. 

Bicycle tours through the Tulip fields are thus less exciting in May. 

Have you decided on when you want to visit Keukenhof in 2023? Check out the different kinds of tickets available.


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FAQs about visiting Keukenhof

While everyone wants to enjoy the beauty of the Tulip Gardens, some wonder if the trip to Keukenhof Gardens is worth it.

If you have already decided on going, here are some questions you may have about your visit to Europe’s best flower garden.

  1. When will Keukenhof Garden open in 2023?

    Keukenhof is only open for two months in the spring. In 2023 the flower garden will open on 23 March and close on 14 May.

  2. What are Keukenhof Gardens' timings in 2023?

    In 2023 Keukenhof in Amsterdam will open its doors from 23 March to 14 May. During this period, it will open daily at 8 am and close at 7.30 pm.

  3. When is Keukenhof Flower Parade in 2023?

    Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, the most popular flower parade in Holland, will take place on 22 April. Since it passes through Keukenhof Gardens, many refer to it as the Keukenhof Flower parade.

  4. Is Keukenhof Gardens open on weekends?

    Keukenhof Tulip Garden begins on 23 March and closes on 14 May, and in between, it is open every Saturday and Sunday.

  5. When do the tulips bloom best in Keukenhof?

    Weather plays a significant role in the blooming of the flowers in Keukenhof. That’s why the gardeners opt for crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, and early-blooming tulips for flowering at the beginning of the season. The larger Tulips, the highlight of the Keukenhof experience, bloom in the latter part of the season.

Recommended Reading: Keukenhof Castle in Lisse

Sources

# Tulip-garden-tickets.com
# Tulipsinholland.com
# Solosophie.com
# Tiqets.com

The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.

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