In this local tulip fields guide you will discover the best trips to tulip fields from Amsterdam, when tulip season in Noord- Holland and The Netherlands is, the best place to see tulip fields in Holland, best tulip fields tips by a local and where to find the best tulip fields in Holland. Do you want answers to where you can find tulip fields in Noord- Holland, The Netherlands, without tourists? Here you will find the perfect cycling tulip route of The Netherlands.
Here you will discover where to find tulip fields in the top of (kop van) Noord (North) – Holland, The Netherlands. Including a tulip route for The Netherlands. You will also get to know the best place and best time to see tulip fields in Holland. It also includes tips for day trips from Amsterdam to tulip fields and flower fields near Amsterdam.
You will find the locations and areas in the province of Noord-Holland, The Netherlands where you can see and find the tulip fields like a local. If you want to discover tulip fields in The Netherlands off the beaten path, then this is your place to be.
It’s that time of the year again. Tulip season has reached The Netherlands, and what best way to see the tulips then with the tips of a local resident. I, as a local, will tell you where the tulip fields are located in the top of Noord-Holland, The Netherlands and how to get here.
The surroundings of Lisse and Hillegom are named the bollenstreek area and is most popular with foreign visitors. Most tulip fields aren’t in the bollenstreek in Zuid-Holland. Nowadays the best place to see the tulips in The Netherlands is where I’m from and still live. We call it ‘De Kop van Noord-Holland’, literal translation, the head of North Holland. So, if you’re looking for the best places to see tulips in Amsterdam, I have to disappoint you. You won’t find any tulip fields in Amsterdam or in that part of The Netherlands for that matter.
You can find tulip fields in the Kop van Noord (North)-Holland everywhere. From the small city named Petten to Nieuwe Niedorp. And from Alkmaar till the marine city of Den Helder, this part of The Netherlands is one big tulip field. The horizon is breath-taking. No flats, other huge buildings or highways. Instead, there are dunes, windmills, typical Noord Holland style houses, and rivers. If that doesn’t sound like your place to go to, then I would suggest you to not even start traveling to The Netherlands. Kidding, we love your money. Please come. Here you will see the tulip fields in The Netherlands off the beaten path.
So, because the tulip area used to be in Zuid- Holland (South- Holland) most people will visit De Keukenhof and surrounding areas. But let me tell you a little secret here. Be a little more adventurous and catch a train to Schagen, Anna Paulowna or Den Helder. It is an hour by train from Amsterdam to Schagen and in the province Noord- Holland (North- Holland). But definitely worth the adventure. And worth all the beautiful photos of the tulips you will take here. Here you will find endless tulip fields and not many people. So this is definitely the best tulip adventure in The Netherlands with tips from a local.
If you want to stay a little bit longer in the area of Schagen, it is easy to book a hotel here if you book in advance. The area is quite popular with German people and we don’t have that many hotels. I would book a hotel, bed & breakfast or hostel in Alkmaar, Den Helder or Schagen and from there travel through this area of The Netherlands.
With this information, you will see the tulip fields of Noord-Holland, The Netherlands like the locals do. Tulip fields in The Netherlands without tourists. Doesn’t that sound appealing? Exactly. Keep on reading to experience tulip season in The Netherlands like a local.
When is tulip season and when do tulips bloom in The Netherlands and Holland?
Tulip season in The Netherlands, Amsterdam and Holland is headed our way. In general tulip, or flower, season in Amsterdam and The Netherlands is between mid-April and the few days in the first week of May. Only 2-2,5 weeks. Keep in mind that there are no exact days, as it’s natural. When we have a severe winter, the tulips are two weeks later. Yet, when the winter is mild, the tulip season in The Netherlands starts earlier. But the last weekend of April is generally the absolute best time to visit The Netherlands and Holland for tulips.
So when is tulip season, or how some like to call it tulip time, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and when can you see tulips in Amsterdam? The best time to visit Amsterdam for tulips and tulip fields close to Amsterdam is the end of April.
If you’re looking for tulips or tulip fields in May or June near Amsterdam then you will be often disappointed. The flowers are generally cut off from the tulip fields at last around the end of the first week of May. Don’t be stubborn and think they will still be there. The flowers don’t wait. So off they go.
13th of April 2023 update Dutch tulip fields in Holland and The Netherlands 2023: Our Dutch winter has been cold in December, and after that it has been mild. It’s been pretty warm the last few days. I expect the tulip fields in North Holland in The Netherlands to start blooming naturally around the 15th of April 2023. Note: this does not mean that all of the fields will be blooming suddenly, it’s when they roughly start. It now really depends on the amount of sun and the temperature. Right now there are not many fields just yet (there are a few that are starting, but they’re spread out over the region!). In the Zuid- Holland tulip region, they often bloom a tad earlier than in the rest of the country, due to them having a layer of plastic on top of the fields. This happens in few areas in Noord- Holland (Enkhuizen, Venhuizen, Oostwoud) too.
Are there tulip fields or flower fields in Amsterdam?
There are no tulip fields or flower fields in Amsterdam. So if you’re looking for the best time to see tulips in Amsterdam or where to see tulips in Amsterdam, then you’re in for a disappointment. During the tulip season in The Netherlands you will find tulips spread throughout Amsterdam, however for the real tulip fields you have to be somewhere else in The Netherlands.
There are many trips you can take from Amsterdam to bulb fields and the ones listed below can be easily done as day trips from Amsterdam so you can see the tulips. So where can you see tulips near Amsterdam and which places are the best for bulb or tulip field trips from Amsterdam?
Don’t walk through tulip fields!
What? I cannot take photos in tulip fields in The Netherlands? No. Unless a farmer gives you permission. These tulip fields aren’t here for your Instagram page. They are here because it’s the work and thus food of the farmer and his or her family. If you walk through the tulip fields, sit in the tulip fields or even lay down in the tulip fields, you can easily damage or completely destroy a lot of tulip bulbs. And, you will spread insects, fungus and diseases from one field to another, which will destroy bulbs. This means that the farmer gets no money for that part of the field: and that is not something that you want to do.
How do you know the best places to visit tulip fields in (North- Holland) The Netherlands?
I’m a born and raised Dutch local from the largest tulip region in the Holland region. And, I still live here. I’ve grown up with tulip fields in Noord- Holland and worked in the Dutch tulip industry during my entire teenage years. From beheading the tulip flowers during spring to peeling the roots of the Dutch bulbs, so they can be sold and planted again. I simply have never had a year in my life where I didn’t see tulip fields in Noord- Holland. I am also cycling every morning during tulip season to shoot the best aerial shots of tulip fields in The Netherlands. The Kop van Noord- Holland region is stuffed with tulip fields and here I will tell you where you can see beautiful, blooming tulips in The Netherlands.
Note: I am also the first one to create this visiting tulip fields guide in Noord- Holland. There was literally no article about it on the internet. You’re welcome! Unfortunately, there are people who read my Dutch flower guides and then create their own article about it (that suddenly have some of the exact same locations that were not found anywhere else on the internet, in guides or flyers, etc. and copy my text) and they rarely give me any credit for showing them these locations for tulip fields. Which is rude. My rant is over. But it can get a little bit frustrating.
Anyway, I hope you will enjoy the stunning tulip fields in Noord- Holland. Because it’s truly a spectacular sight, that I still look forward to after seeing them every year for a few decades. I hope you will enjoy your trip to The Netherlands this spring.
Join me on a bike tour along tulip fields in North Holland 2023
This year you can join me on a guided bike tour along the most beautiful blooming tulip fields in Noord- Holland from the 15th of April until the 4th of May 2023. I will cycle daily with just seven people for +- 4 hours. On this tulip tour in The Netherlands, we will see the stunning, hidden flower fields in Noord- Holland, that rarely any tourists see. You can easily join this tulip bike tour from Amsterdam by just taking a train up North. I have created four different routes. If you want to join a few days in a row but see another part of the region, you can also join this tulip tour in Holland again. Bike rental is included!
Whether you want to join my bike tour along the tulip fields from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Alkmaar, Utrecht, Haarlem or beyond: you will love it. We will cycle alongside endless flower fields, see traditional Dutch windmills, wind turbines, meadows with cows and sheep, picturesque villages and more. But, as I said, only seven people can join daily, so take advantage of the availability because it doesn’t last, as tulip season is the busiest time of year!
Where can I find and see local tulip fields without tourists in Noord- Holland, The Netherlands?
Schagen and surroundings
You can join me on a bike tour along the hidden tulip fields in North- Holland this year. We are starting from the city of Schagen (around 1 hour by train up North from Amsterdam Central Station), we will cycle at a relaxing pace with plenty of photo stops, only 7 people can join each day (from 15th of April- 4th of May) and it lasts around four hours. Check the remaining spots below. See you soon!
ROUTE 1
Way to the fields:
Station Schagen – Middenweg, Dirkshorn – Leijerpolderweg, ‘t Veld – Koggeweg, ‘t Veld – Westerweg, Nieuwe Niedorp- Oosterweg, Nieuwe Niedorp (19 km one way)
Way back to the train station:
Oosterweg, Nieuwe Niedorp (opposite side of Hartweg), Moerbeek – Barsingerhorn – Haringhuizen – Snevert, Schagen – Nes, Schagen – Station Schagen (11 km)
OR
Via de Hartweg, Zijdewind and straight on towards station Schagen (9 km)
Take the train towards Den Helder. It’s easy to reach a small city that is surrounded by Dutch bulb fields by train. During rush hour there runs another train and the final destination there is Schagen which is also fine. Get out at Schagen station. On your way towards the city Schagen, you will already see the beautiful and endless tulip fields.
Keep in mind that the specific location of the tulip fields varies every year. It’s not healthy for the soil and for the crops to keep the same produce longer so the farmers will change up the crops to ‘feed’ the soil. So where the tulips in Noord (North)- Holland are depends every year. But when the tulip season of 2023 in Noord (North)- Holland arrives it’s always great to take a train from Amsterdam up North to do a tulip fields tour. This is one of the best places to see tulip fields in The Netherlands.
You can also simply drive your bike from Schagen to Moerbeek and from there on you will also find a lot of fields. This is especially nice if you’re not an avid cyclists!
Where to rent bicycles in Schagen
For bicycle hiring in Schagen, there’s Fred’s verhuur. Sent him an email and be there on time to pick up your bike. Fred’s verhuur is located at de Fok 10, 1742 PD Schagen and opens from 9:00 – 18:00. Email: info@fredsverhuur.nl, www.fredsverhuur.nl and the telephone numbers are the following; mobile: +31-621647341, normal phone +31- 224299874.
If you managed to get a bike, you’re ready to move. Make sure to have Google Maps or Maps.me on your phone, or ask around, we will all be happy to help if you ask us nicely.
Of course, you can also explore this region of The Netherlands with the highest density of tulip fields by car. You will be everywhere way quicker but can also take your time. But, it can be tricky to park your car quite sometimes, and the smell of the countryside is something you shouldn’t miss. So, open the window of your car to smell the fresh grass, tulips, and cows. Unless you have hay fever. In that case, take your meds and good luck. The views are worth it. And you’ll be seeing tulip fields without tourists, like the locals in this part of The Netherlands.
You would need to put the car on the side of the road in the grass, however, if it has rained before it can be really difficult to get out of the grass.
Cycle route to see tulips in The Netherlands off the beaten path
Cycle towards Dirkshorn via the cycle path next to the n241. Usually, you’ll see tulips here already. So, proceed cycling straight forward towards de Middenweg. In the beginning of this road (either before or after the train rails) you will see the tulips too. (Note: the beginning of the road is for Dutch people a km or two cycling, not 20 meters). Then head back and continue going towards Nieuwe Niedorp. It will be a quite long ride, but definitely not too bad.
If you see some fields a bit off these places, don’t be afraid to go there as well. Up next you will pass a village called Zijdewind. It’s small, cute and there’s a river running through the village. It is a common village in the countryside of The Netherlands. That’s all you need to know. Now you have two options. Either you continue cycling to De Weel and have a little picnic at the lake, or you cycle straight towards the village ‘t Veld.
The village ‘t Veld has a bakery named Beemsterboer, a butcher named Broersen and a small supermarket called Superrr. If you would like to buy some stuff for a picnic or lunch break during your cycling tour, these are your best bets in this area.You would have to get a little bit into the village for these stores and go back again towards the Leijerpolderweg. But remember, these shops are in a small village, so none of them are open on a Sunday or after 17:00- 18:00.
As you continue cycling you will see more and more tulip fields in Noord-Holland coming your way. As a local, I know my way around the tulip fields in Noord-Holland. All the way around the route I told you about, there are plenty of fields. Like I mentioned before, don’t hesitate to go off this route if you see other tulip fields, flowers or great scenery. All the way until Nieuwe Niedorp and back via both routes, you will be surprised by the beauty of the scenery.
When I’m talking about Snevert and Nes in Schagen, these are both streets, like you noticed, but they have great tulip fields around. This is one of my favourite routes and tulip fields tour that you can do as a day trip from Amsterdam.
Food/Drinks
You won’t enter the village of Dirkshorn, so if you need to pee then I would suggest you keep it in for a little longer.
After Dirkshorn you will pass a village called Zijdewind. You can use the toilet at the camping that they have here. If you’re exhausted because you cycled around 7 km, then you can have a break at Camping De Rietkraag for a drink and apple-pie as well or ice-cream.
In Nieuwe Niedorp there are several places where you can have a seat and bite as well. For instance, Restaurant De Rijd, but also small cafes as Mauritsbar and Café Beentjes and places for a snack. There is a big supermarket called Jumbo and plenty of other stores. John Bes is the place for fresh fruits and veggies.
On the way back, you are able to pass the village Barsingerhorn. Here you can find Café De Fortuin which can be a great place for you to take a small break.
And that’s it. You will be back in Schagen before you know it. You could either rent a hotel room in one of the hotels in Schagen. Don’t forget to grab a bite at De Markt. Here are all the restaurants and cafes located or head back to where you’re staying.
But I would definitely suggest you stay a little and explore one of my favourite areas of The Netherlands. Stay in Schagen, Den Helder, Anna Paulowna, Alkmaar or one of the smaller places. This way it’s easier to find the tulip fields and you won’t need to travel back to Amsterdam for an hour or an hour and a half.
Don’t forget to get some ice-cream at Picobello in Schagen. You can thank me later.
A beautiful aerial view of tulips in a tulip field near Amsterdam in Noord- Holland.
Route 2
Schagen- Schagerbrug- – Sint Maartensbrug (Ruigeweg) – Sint Maartensvlotbrug- Belkmerweg (street name) – De Stolpen- Bosweg, ‘t Zand – Oudesluis – Schagerbrug – Schagen.
Route 2, 3 and 4 are perfectly suitable for beginners. This will be cycling around tulip fields in Noord-Holland for a few hours, however, you can always go back earlier. This route is absolutely beautiful, and you will be surprised how many tulip fields you will be discovering. Absolutely mind-blowing. And definitely one of the best places to see tulips in Noord-Holland.
Route 3
Nieuwe Niedorp – Oosterweg –Hartweg – Westerweg – Rijderstraat – Koggeweg – De Leijen – Leijerdijk – Nieuwe Niedorp = 9km(and if you didn’t find enough tulips around this cycle ride, then you could add Paadje (this is a road name) between Leijerdijk and Nieuwe Niedorp.
Schagen – Schagerbrug – ruigeweg Sint Maartensvlotbrug – Schagen 16 km
Route 5
Day 1 Station Schagen – ‘t Zand – Schagerbrug – Sint Maartensbrug (Ruigeweg: street name) – Petten – Hargen aan Zee – Egmond aan Zee – Egmond Binnen – Castricum aan Zee – Heiloo- Alkmaar
Day 2 Alkmaar – Schoorl – Krabbendam – Eenigenburg – Het Rijpje- Dirkshorn – Moerbeek – Barsingerhorn – Haringhuizen – Snever, Schagen – Nes, Schagen – Station Schagen
I’m going, to be honest here with you, you will need to rent the bike for two days for route 5. Or you have to cycle at full speed and be close to dead at the end of this ride. You definitely want to explore the surroundings best, and if you have more time to get around then I suggest you take this route. With this cycling route will not only see tulip fields in Noord (North) – Holland but also dunes, windmills and plenty of more. The true The Netherlands is rising. And when you’re in Alkmaar anyway, have a look at this itinerary to spending one day in Alkmaar.
With route 3, you leave from the bike rental and go straight towards the village ‘t Zand. All the places you will pass on this route will have you thinking, ‘People actually live here. This is so cool.’ At least, that’s what my foreign friends said, so I kind of think that they are right, as they are a great bunch of people. The villages look like they stepped out of a fairy-tale. During all of the routes, you will see a different and local part of The Netherlands, and you will love it. Definitely sent me some photos and your stories about how it all went down.
If you have time on the second day, then I suggest you take a small walk through the forest and dunes of Schoorl (your first stop). It will be so worth it. Schoorl is one of the most beautiful places in our country, in my opinion.
Food/Drinks
As you’re passing Schagerbrug you have several options for a tiny break. But I would suggest you go to Brasserie De Keuken.
In Petten, there are several places, as Brasserie Restaurant Zo Gewoon and Zee en Zo. At Strandpaviljoen Hargen in Hargen aan Zee, you will have a place for you to relax and have a look at the beautiful beach.
Around Egmond aan Zee there are plenty of places for you to relax after you finished yet another part of the bike ride. Restaurant Van Speijk, Natuurlijk, Zilte Zoen Egmond aan Zee, D’ Oude Clipper, and Strandpaviljoen de Schelp are all located there. But really, there are so much more places where you can relax, so don’t stress if you find a restaurant that is not on the list. In Egmond Binnen, I suggest you go to Gaterij Nieuw Westert or Het Wapen van Egmond Binnen.
At Castricum aan Zee there are several places where you can relax, as Deining aan Zee and Strandpaviljoen Zoomers (this one is located on the beach).
In Heiloo you can take a seat at Melange7 or Restaurant Herberg Jan before you continue cycling towards your destination for today, which is Alkmaar. There are plenty of hotels in Alkmaar, but also in villages around the city. So, don’t hesitate to go to another city for a hotel or bed and breakfast.
In Alkmaar, I would suggest you walk around Paardenmarkt, Waagplein, and Houttil as there are plenty of places to sit and eat around there. I have too many favourites so then this list will become endless.
Then, the second day you’re heading to Schoorl first. In Schoorl I definitely would say go to Restaurant ‘t Trefpunt. The people are lovely, and the location is to die for. De Klimduin is located right in front of you. For the people who do not know what this is, just google it. This right here is my childhood.
On the way back, you are able to pass the village Barsingerhorn, where Café De Fortuin is a good place for you to take a small break and release your pee.
On the second day, you will be back in Schagen before you know it, with sore legs and grab a bite at De Markt where all the restaurants and cafes are located. Or head back straight away to where you’re staying. But I would definitely suggest you stay a little. Don’t forget to get some ice-cream at Picobello. You can thank me later. Don’t forget to bring back the bike.
Anna Paulowna and surroundings
Where to rent bicycles in Anna Paulowna, The Netherlands
When it comes to renting bicycles in Anna Paulowna and its surroundings I would suggest you rent a bike at Kooij Tweewielers. Be on time with your reservation for the bike as it’ll be busy. You can either call for a reservation to +31 223533320 or send an email to info[@]kooij-tweewielers.nl. They are located at Cornelis Keijzerlaan 2, 1761 CH Anna Paulowna. You won’t get bored when you ride a bike around here.
If you fancy a bite or need to go to the toilet, head to the café called ‘t Ouwe Veer and you’ll feel relieved in no time. If you have a lower budget, then I suggest you head to one of the plenty supermarkets they have there.
Route
When it comes to finding tulip fields in Anna Paulowna, it’s very easy. First you can cycle all around the neighbourhoods. Then explore the village and head towards Julianadorp or Callantsoog. Julianadorp is just found below the maritime city of Den Helder. And between Julianadorp and Den Helder you can also visit tulip fields.
Both Julianadorp and Callantsoog are known for their nature and tulip fields. Especially Callantsoog, which is located at the sea and includes a nature reserve, called Het Zwanenwater. Het Zwanenwater has the biggest natural dune lakes of Europe and is truly breath-taking to walk through. You will see plenty of tulip fields around Callantsoog.
And again, just cycle towards a place you think is great, and if you’re lost we will be able to help you. This is one of the best ways to explore The Netherlands during tulip season.
So, if you’re planning on cycling throughout the villages and enjoy the tulip fields even further North in De Kop van Noord- Holland I suggest you go to the following cities/villages.
Anna Paulowna – Julianadorp -Groote Keeten – Callantsoog – Petten – ‘t Zand – Anna Paulowna.
In this case, you will definitely be occupied in the surroundings of Anna Paulowna in Noord (North)- Holland for at least half a day because then you have enough time to enjoy the tulips, other flowers, and scenery. In most villages, there is a supermarket, and there are restaurants and cafes. Especially around Groote Keeten (search for Brekers or De Princen Keet) and Callantsoog (Grand Café De Foyer, Woest, IJsie Prima (ice-cream)) where they are mostly located and on the beaches. But if I was going to write all of them down in this post it will truly never end. Also, not all supermarkets are open on a Sunday, so in case you’re heading here on a Sunday check their opening hours and bring some of your own food.
If you decide to head towards the station of Anna Paulowna, don’t forget the endless amount of activities they have in and around this village during April. The dates differ every year, but it always comes back.
Bloemendagen
The first thing you shouldn’t miss is De Bloemendagen (the flower days) in Anna Paulowna. There are tons of flower mosaics; plenty of streets and bridges are decorated with flowers. For cyclists and pedestrians, there are special routes that you can look up at their website here. Don’t forget to bring yourself a visit to the Poldertuin, which is located at de Molenvaart (it’s a street name). This is a flower garden in North (Noord)- Holland where you’ll find many plants that grow in this area, as well as tons of colourful tulips and other flowers. Think of it as the Keukenhof flower garden, but then smaller and rarely visited.
Bloeiend Zijpe
Next up you have Bloeiend Zijpe. Bloeiend Zijpe is the most important event for flowers and tulips in the surroundings of the top of/ kop van Noord- Holland. The main goal is to make sure everyone enjoys the beauty and endless colours of the flowers. There are plenty of activities, but there are two things you shouldn’t miss out on. The cycling route throughout the tulip fields and the walking route. Check their website for the exact dates, as this changes every year depending on the growth of the tulips. These activities are some of the best things to do during the tulip season in The Netherlands.
Please notice that walking through the fields is a great experience but also more difficult. You won’t walk between the tulip fields. But on the land of the farmer, where no tulips are. If you are not able to walk a lot or at the rough ground, biking or taking the busses would be a better option. Click here for their website for more information. Like I mentioned before, there are other things to do there as well. Because of that Bloeiend Zijpe is interesting and opened roughly between the 7th of April and the 7th of May.
Although Bloeiend Zijpe isn’t in Anna Paulowna itself, it’s in the area. The activities take place or start from towns and villages as Callantsoog, Schagerbrug (which is very close to the city of Schagen), Petten, Sint Maartenszee and ‘t Zand.
Land van Flower
Another thing you shouldn’t miss out on is Land van Fluwel in Sint Maartenszee. It is located in the heart of the tulip fields and is actually a theme park about tulips. The start and finish of the tour are in a typical Dutch ‘stolpboerderij’. This is a typical house in the Dutch countryside. If you want to know more about Land van Fluwel, then I suggest you head over to this website.
Floratuin
Last thing, the Floratuin in Julianadorp is also worth a visit. You can take tulips fresh from the fields, so you have a nice bouquet of flowers to take home with you. But, there are more than 1500 different species of flowers there. And not only tulips. So, for the indecisive people under us, good luck. There is also no entrance fee. There is also a place where you can have a drink or bite around here. For more information, click here.
HELP OTHERS DISCOVER THESE BEAUTIFUL PLACES! PIN THIS TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS!
Other articles of this travel blog and guide to The Netherlands that you’ll love
Is there anything you’d like to add, or that you’re missing? I hope you enjoyed this article and you get to see tulip fields in Noord-Holland, The Netherlands like a local. I hope you learned when tulips bloom in Amsterdam, whether there is a tulip farm in Amsterdam and when the tulip season in Noord- Holland and The Netherlands starts.
If you have any questions, comment below and I will be happy to answer them all. I hope you will enjoy Noord- Holland, the tulips and the experience of seeing free tulip fields in The Netherlands the local way. Always check the best route by public transport via 9292.nl/en . This is a website we all use here. Share this article!!
Receive extra secret tips about The Netherlands now!
If you’re interested in receiving even more travel tips about my beautiful country (which I know you are), subscribe to my email, and I will send you tips about The Netherlands that won’t see the light on this website.
As a born and raised Dutch local, I know my country better than most people. And because of this, you will travel through The Netherlands beyond the crowds 2.0.
And the best part? 5 secret places you have to visit in Rotterdam will be sent your way immediately! For free! There’s nothing you have to do for receiving free tips and guides about The Netherlands. Except for writing down your email. It’s just a little extra from myself because I’m such a kind human (if I may say so myself). You’re welcome, and I will see you on the other side!
P.S. I won’t be spamming you. I hate those email’s as much as you do. You will receive a monthly email with the latest tips of The Netherlands.
30 thoughts on “Local guide to finding free tulip fields in Kop van / Top of North (Noord)- Holland, The Netherlands”
Hi Manon, first of all let me tell you I am very satisfied after reading this big and so detailed “guide” and suggestions, amazing, great work!!
I am a photographer, love to explore new surroundings, but mainly astonishing views, ideally with none/very few people in the landscape. And this seems to me like one!
I am coming this month to The Netherlands and am planning on putting this on my route. One question I’d like to make you, though, since you mention windmills but not specifically where more precisely they are located, and since I will be relying on public transport and bike, could you please tell me, for 1 day plan, what would be the best of those routes to see molens? Or if you wouldn’t mind, if you could tell, if you know, in more or less which areas there are for sure windmills. I wouldn’t want to miss at least a windmill in my tulip fields composition.
I was reading through your explanation of all the routes and they seem all so awesome that I’m sad I cannot take more than a day to do this.
Thanks so much in advance for your help and keep up with the great work, I am sure this post is valuable to many.
Thank you so much for your compliments, they mean a lot!
When it comes to windmills there is one windmill that you can find at the end of the Oosterweg in Nieuwe Niedorp. It’s located just behind a little bridge and you will find some tulip fields there this year (the exact location of the tulip fields differ every year as they only plant tulip fields on the same field every 6 years or so, so you won’t find tulip fields with windmills on the background every time).
Another windmill that is often behind or in front of tulip fields is a windmill that is located in ‘t Zand, called Molen De Hoop (at Parallelweg 33, ‘t Zand). This location might be great if you’re coming from the train station of Schagen as ‘t Zand is very near Schagen.
Another windmill is the Groenvelder (Groenveldsdijk 12, 1744 GD Sint Maarten) and visiting this one is very easy if you take the easy route 2. Sint Maarten is a village that is very near the other Sint Maartens that I mentioned in the article.
I hope this helped and that you have an amazing time 🙂
Fantastic post…just one question, if you are on foot, is there any place we can visit probably a big enough tulip field? I have been to flower route already but my in-laws are coming and I would like to take them to a place which has a little bit more authenticity and as I don’t drive, we have to be on foot or on public transport…any recommendations?
Is it possible for you to rent bikes and cycle a few kms? Because if you take the train to Schagen, rent a bike at Freds Verhuur and follow a very small part of route 2, you will see tulip fields everywhere. It’s really not that far.
Public transport can be tricky around these areas because not only do the busses go either once an hour or just in rush hour, they also mostly don’t accommodate the areas that you want to visit. As the tulip fields are outside the towns and the busstops are often inside the towns.
You do have an option of taking the train to Den Helder and from there you can take the bus to Julianadorp, but even there it would be great if you could rent a bike to easily get around and see tulip fields fast as they’re located outside the town. Now, there are stops out of the town such as Julianadorp Elsrijk that you can get out of, but I cannot tell you whether they have tulip fields on this specific location this year (as the location of tulip fields differ each year in order to feed the soil. They’re placed on the same field after around 6 years again). This is why bikes are useful.
But you will definitely see tulip fields outside of Julianadorp. So you can try the area of Langevliet, Callantsoger vaart and Nieuweweg for tulip fields (the busstops that are on the Nieuweweg are called Julianadorp Elsrijk, Julianadorp Middenvliet and Julianadorp Mariahoeve). You can always click on the stop button inside the bus when you see tulip fields so you can get out in the surroundings of them. You can also take the bus to Julianadorp, Dorperweerth and from there walk to the Langevliet and Callantsoger vaart.
I hope this somewhat helped answering your question 🙂
Hi Manon
A lovely,informative post. I must congratulate you for writing this wonderful account of your beautiful country. Your photos of beautiful tulips are awesome. I am visiting Netherlands with my husband and 11 yr old daughter in the first week of May, 2020…my exact dates are from 4th evening to 10th noon.
I have taken loads of suggestion from your blog. I seek your help as I am a bit confused about few things-
We have booked accommodation in IJmuiden (do you think it is ok?). I have planned to go to Schagen and then I have planned to bike for the tulip fields, as suggested by you. So we would see the tulip fields on the routes suggested by you and then head towards Hoorn, where we would be staying for one night before going for the steam tram to Medemblik. The routes for the biking to the tulip fields as suggested by you seem to be little cumbersome for my daughter as it is 19+11 = 30 km of biking in a day. Is there any other alternative way to see the tulip fields? We don’t want to drive as we are not comfortable with right hand driving on our first day in Europe. Kindly suggest some alternative route which requires less biking.
Thank you for your compliments! I do have to say that you’re kind of visiting in the end of the first week of May (meaning: when tulip season in The Netherlands finishes), so you’d have to head to the North as soon as you arrive.
I wouldn’t stay in Ijmuiden if you’re planning on visiting and cycling in the surroundings of Schagen, as it’s still quite a bit traveling to Schagen from Ijmuiden. I would stay in Schagen, or its surroundings for a night. This way you can head straight to the tulip fields. Actually, I would
I definitely understand that you’re looking at cycling a bit less, so I created some new routes for you below:)
Nieuwe Niedorp – Oosterweg – Hartweg – Westerweg – Rijderstraat – Koggeweg – De Leijen – Leijerdijk – Nieuwe Niedorp 9km (and if you didn’t find enough tulips around this cycle ride, then you could add Paadje (this is a road name) between Leijerdijk and Nieuwe Niedorp.
Thanks dear Manon…..this is a huge help.
Can I ask for more? 🙂
I have a plan to visit the following places- Day 1–Tulips in Noord Holland (routes suggested by you)
Day 2–Hoorn—Steam Tram- for steam tram to Medemblik–Boat—Enkhuizen and then to Hoorn-Edam-Volendam-Marken (kindly tell whether it would be possible to do it in one day as we would reach Enkhuizen only by 2 pm) (Would it be possible to visit so many places after that?)
Day 3–Amsterdam—Jordaan(early morning); Van Gogh museum(9 am to 12 noon), Zaanse Schans, and then Broek in waterland (evening); Night cruise in Amsterdam
Day 4–Zwolle, Kampen, Emmeloord, Giethoorn
Day- 5–Harlem — Keukenhof—Delft
Day 6–Amsterdam trip–Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank house, Dam Sqaure;
We would be travelling a lot in the NS trains and buses. Which card is suitable for us for this kind of wide travel–OV chipkart? or any other card for travel? Is the OV chipkart suitable for travel in NS, Intercity, metro, EBS, Connexxion, Hop on Hop off buses?
Would it be OK if we not visit Keukenhof and Delft on day 5 and instead just do a relaxed tour of Amsterdam? Many blogs say Keukenhof is worth visiting. What is your opinion about this?
If you can recommend some other places in the itinerary (omit or add some places), that would be highly valuable as you are a local there 🙂
I really appreciate how you make your reader so comfortable. Thanks for all the help. I wish I could help you someday with your visit to India. This place is also worth a visit. Sending you love from India. Take care!
On Day 2 it’s simply impossible to visit so many places. While The Netherlands is a small country, we have a lot of things to offer, and I would want you to make the most out of your visit, but also not rush through cities and towns.
I would stick to Hoorn- steam train to Medemblik (in Medemblik you could also visit the Radboud castle) – Enkhuizen. I would walk through Hoorn in the morning, take the steam train to Medemblik and wander through Enkhuizen in the afternoon and evening. Leave Edam- Volendam and Marken for another visit.
Day 3: I wouldn’t go to Broek in Waterland in the evening, while it’s beautiful there. I think you should slow down your itinerary a little. Because there are a lot of places that you want to see in such a short time, take it easy and relax. Explore the Jordaan in Amsterdam – Van Gogh Museum – Zaanse Schans – Night cruise Amsterdam on day 3.
Day 4: Either choose Zwolle and Kampen or Zwolle and Giethoorn. Four places on one day are going to make you feel stressed out. Plus, you won’t enjoy any of it. If you want to go to Giethoorn, I would recommend you to be there as early in the morning as you can as tourist busses are arriving at around 10:00. And there is a direct train from Zwolle to Kampen which makes it easy to see the small town of Kampen in half a day.
Day 5: Stay either in Haarlem or Delft for the entire day.
Day 6: Perfect the way it is.
For travelling within The Netherlands, you can buy an OV Chip Kaart at a kiosk when you arrive at the airport. It is valid for all public transportation within The Netherlands, but Hop on Hop off buses aren’t part of our public transport system so you’d need to buy tickets for that specific bus itself. For your Ov chip kaart, you always have to have 20 euros on it to be able to use it for train travel.
When it comes to De Keukenhof, I think it’s overrated. Hundreds of thousands of visitors go to the Keukenhof in a very short amount of time; I don’t think it’s worth it. While the colourful patterns are beautiful to see, I think that skipping the Keukenhof is a good idea.
I’m always happy to help 🙂 I would love to visit India one day, your country has a lot to offer!
Thanks for the wonderful and detailed blog this helps a lot.
I would like to see tulip fields which route you recommend best reachable via car?
I will be staying in Tuitjenhorn and i can keep one day to see tulip fields via CAR, please suggest.
From Tuitjehorn I would recommend you to go something like this: Tuitjehorn -Burgervlotbrug – Parallelweg (the road next to the Rijksweg at Burgervlotbrug) – Belkmerweg – Petten aan Zee (this is a beautiful beach) – Sint Maartenszee – Callantsoog – Julianadorp – Korte Ruigeweg – Moerbeek – Oosterweg (Nieuwe Niedorp) – De Leijen – Tuitjehorn.
Just make sure that you need to be careful if you want to park somewhere with you car; it is sometimes not the best idea to park at the side of the road (due to narrow roads, important roads and 80km/h roads). But, I suspect that you will use a brain and see for yourself where it’s save or not haha.
Hello Manon,
I travelled last week on the route suggested by you and it was awesome. I was looking for this kind of fields tourist free and lot of flowers blooming at same time. I enjoyed a lot thanks a lot.
Loved the detailed itinerary for the tulip fields. We would be visiting next week, and wish to see the tulip fields in the North around Schagen. We have half a day to spend and wish to capture some views with windmills. Could you kindly suggest some fields for this year easily accessible by car. Once again, thank you for the valuable information.
I can highly recommend you to drive from Schagen to Keinsmerbrug – ‘t Zand (windmill for instance, Molen De Hoop)- De Stolpen- Petten – Sint Maartensvlotbrug and then Parallelweg (next to the Rijksweg, there you can find another windmill)
You cannot park everywhere; so please be careful with that. There are tons of narrow roads and 80km/h roads. So please look carefully where it’s safe to do so; we don’t want any accidents 🙂 And do not park in front of the entrance to the field even though that is sometimes the widest part of the road: farmers need to enter the fields whenever they can. And, of course as always: Enjoy the beautiful flowers, but please stay out of the fields!
Your blog is awesome! I have been devouring it word for word the past few days. It has been so helpful in planning my first tulip field bike trip.
I want to do Route 2 as it seems fairly easy and straight forward. However, I’m a bit confused when I plug-in the places on google map. Like is Ruigeweg a street name in Sint Maartensvlotbrug? As well as Belkmerweg? Or are those towns/villages within Sint Maartensvlotbrug?
Also I would like to continue from Bosweg to t’Zand to se the Molen de Hoop (thanks for the exact address) and then go directly to Schagen without passing anymore in Schagerbrug. Is that possible?
I so wanted to join your tour but I don’t trust my bike skills as its been a while since I have ridden a bike and I might not be able to keep up with the group.
Thank you so much for the kind words, I really appreciate it:)
Basically Ruigeweg and Belkmerweg are both street names that are actually part of several towns and villages, so which town it exactly belongs to all depends on whether you want to cycle the entire streets or not haha. Also, you could cycle directly to Schagen from Molen de Hoop without passing Schagerbrug if you cycle via Keinsmerweg back to Schagen.
With the bike tour I will always ride the tempo of the person that cycles the slowest, there’s definitely no one left behind and we have plenty of photo stops and such to have a bit of rest. So, there’s no need to worry about that. But, of course, if you do not feel comfortable then you should simply follow your gut feeling 🙂
Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate it! To be honest, I really prefer biking with a guide especially as I am not only unfamiliar with the area but to do so via bikes is daunting. I am just afraid that I’m going to hold up the group as I’m not a cyclist, at all!!
But with your reassurance, I think I might give it a try.
If you’re afraid that you’ll really hold up the group, I could also reserve an e-bike specially for you; the bikes are generally regular Dutch bikes, but if it makes you feel more comfortable and at ease to have a little help, then I can also easily arrange that.
I stumbled upon your YouTube channel just today and I love it so much! I am already digging into your blog posts and I can’t wait to read more! We are heading to Lisse end of April and will have 4 days in the area. I wish I came across your blog earlier so that I won’t book our accommodation in Lisse and instead head to the Schagen area! Well we can’t cancel our accommodation now since it was already paid for. My question is : we are arriving on April 22nd (which is the flower parade day and I didn’t realize it till few weeks ago!) I understand that it’s going to be very packed on the route of the parade so we decided to avoid it all together. We are arriving around 1.30pm, so we were thinking of heading straight north to Alkmaar from the airport and we have a car. Do you think traffic wise, we will be good? From Alkmaar, do we follow your recommended tulip route (Alkmaar – Landgoed Nijenburg – Heiloo – Egmonderbinnenvaart – Egmond aan den Hoef – Egmond aan Zee – Alkmaar)? Also, I know this is a silly question, but where do we find tulip fields with windmills in the area? Can you also suggest any pretty and authentic, yet not touristy Dutch villages in the area as well (preferably not too far from Alkmaar and Schagen)?
Thank you so much for your nice comment, I really appreciate it (and so sorry for the late reply, I had tons of spam comments to go through!). To answer your questions:
– Traffic wise you’ll be fine if you head straight north to Alkmaar from the airport. Rush hour lasts often from 16:00 until 19:00, so you’ll be alright!
– So from Alkmaar I recommend you to do that sort of route yes, you could go: Alkmaar – Hoeverweg (Egmond aan den Hoef) – Kromme Hogedijk (Egmond aan den Hoef) – Hogedijk (Egmond Binnen), etc. Honestly, as soon as you make it passed the first street you’ll see plenty of fields. Also no, it’s not a silly question about the tulip fields and windmills, if you’re here anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone? You can find tulip fields with windmills in two parts. Schermerhorn; which on the other side of the route that I created but great to visit. And, you’ve got ‘Bosmolen’. The fields are in the surroundings there (not at the exact location), but also remember that the exact location of the tulip fields differ every year so the soil stays healthy. You also have the Wimmenumer Molen and Philisteinse molen.
– And when it comes to pretty and authentic Dutch villages. Nearby Alkmaar you have De Rijp, West Graftdijk, Driehuizen, Graft, De Woude, Noordeinde, Grootschermer and Schermerhorn. Nearby Schagen you have Kolhorn, Barsingerhorn, Nieuwe Niedorp and Haringhuizen.
Hallo Manon!
Thank you very much for your useful tips! It helped us a lot.
We’re going to Holland next weekend. I’m a bit dissapointed that it is too early for tulips. Are there any hyacinth fields in North Holland to see? We would like to avoid crowds around Lisse.
Thanks again,
Kytka
There may be a field or two that are starting to bloom around that time – if the weather keeps this sunny – but generally not no.
Hyacinths and daffodil fields can be mainly found around Julianadorp, Petten, Callantsoog, ‘t Zand, Schagerbrug, Sint Maartenszee and Sint Maartensvlotbrug. Hyacinth and daffodil fields cannot be found in the Niedorp area.
I hope this helps, and that you have a great trip!
I leave this comment because I admire your efforts and kindness! Been following you on Tiktok, Instagram, and Youtube, and your invaluable information helped me a lot. Sadly, I am an international student with a tight budget, so I cannot join your bicycle tour, but I will def tell more people who can afford your tour so they can reach out to you and have wonderful experiences with tulip fields.
You are doing a good job! Have fun with this tulip season 🙂
You have no idea how happy these kind of comments make me: thank you so much for your kind words, I appreciate them very much!
I will take you all along during tulip season with video’s on TikTok and Instagram – as well as longer form content on Youtube. So you hopefully still get a bit of the feeling of joining me on my tours – and on my early drone mornings.
Again, thank you for the lovely comment! I really appreciate you 🙂
Hi Thank you for this amazing post. I am planning to take route 1 this Saturday- however I heard that this year farmers didn’t place tulips near the cycle route – is that true or just a fake news? I have almost no time to change my plan and I am panicking to be honest . Any help or guidance is much much appreciated. Many many thanksin advance. Richa
Who is telling you that exactly? Because they are wrong. Yes tulip farmers change the exact fields every year (so fields are on the same piece of land every 3-5 years), but you will see plenty of blooming tulip fields on route 1. On the way back, I do recommend you to go from Moerbeek straight to Haringhuizen (via Hoogbieren) and then follow the rest of the route. And on the way to the fields they are working at the Leijerpolderweg, so you can’t enter that road from the village ‘t Veld. Instead of the Leijerpolderweg you could go Rijdersstraat, Koggeweg, Kanaalweg and then Westerweg. Have fun tomorrow!
thank you so so much for your guide here. I took route 2 – we were late and i also have a 3 year old with me but found plenty plenty of fields on route 2. and they were gorgeous 🙂 as suggested by you – dont be afraid to go if see fields here and there and thats what we did and cannot thank you enough.
Hi Manon, first of all let me tell you I am very satisfied after reading this big and so detailed “guide” and suggestions, amazing, great work!!
I am a photographer, love to explore new surroundings, but mainly astonishing views, ideally with none/very few people in the landscape. And this seems to me like one!
I am coming this month to The Netherlands and am planning on putting this on my route. One question I’d like to make you, though, since you mention windmills but not specifically where more precisely they are located, and since I will be relying on public transport and bike, could you please tell me, for 1 day plan, what would be the best of those routes to see molens? Or if you wouldn’t mind, if you could tell, if you know, in more or less which areas there are for sure windmills. I wouldn’t want to miss at least a windmill in my tulip fields composition.
I was reading through your explanation of all the routes and they seem all so awesome that I’m sad I cannot take more than a day to do this.
Thanks so much in advance for your help and keep up with the great work, I am sure this post is valuable to many.
Kind regards,
FG
Hi Francisco,
Thank you so much for your compliments, they mean a lot!
When it comes to windmills there is one windmill that you can find at the end of the Oosterweg in Nieuwe Niedorp. It’s located just behind a little bridge and you will find some tulip fields there this year (the exact location of the tulip fields differ every year as they only plant tulip fields on the same field every 6 years or so, so you won’t find tulip fields with windmills on the background every time).
Another windmill that is often behind or in front of tulip fields is a windmill that is located in ‘t Zand, called Molen De Hoop (at Parallelweg 33, ‘t Zand). This location might be great if you’re coming from the train station of Schagen as ‘t Zand is very near Schagen.
Another windmill is the Groenvelder (Groenveldsdijk 12, 1744 GD Sint Maarten) and visiting this one is very easy if you take the easy route 2. Sint Maarten is a village that is very near the other Sint Maartens that I mentioned in the article.
I hope this helped and that you have an amazing time 🙂
Fantastic post…just one question, if you are on foot, is there any place we can visit probably a big enough tulip field? I have been to flower route already but my in-laws are coming and I would like to take them to a place which has a little bit more authenticity and as I don’t drive, we have to be on foot or on public transport…any recommendations?
Hi Ullas,
Thank you for your lovely compliment!
Is it possible for you to rent bikes and cycle a few kms? Because if you take the train to Schagen, rent a bike at Freds Verhuur and follow a very small part of route 2, you will see tulip fields everywhere. It’s really not that far.
Public transport can be tricky around these areas because not only do the busses go either once an hour or just in rush hour, they also mostly don’t accommodate the areas that you want to visit. As the tulip fields are outside the towns and the busstops are often inside the towns.
You do have an option of taking the train to Den Helder and from there you can take the bus to Julianadorp, but even there it would be great if you could rent a bike to easily get around and see tulip fields fast as they’re located outside the town. Now, there are stops out of the town such as Julianadorp Elsrijk that you can get out of, but I cannot tell you whether they have tulip fields on this specific location this year (as the location of tulip fields differ each year in order to feed the soil. They’re placed on the same field after around 6 years again). This is why bikes are useful.
But you will definitely see tulip fields outside of Julianadorp. So you can try the area of Langevliet, Callantsoger vaart and Nieuweweg for tulip fields (the busstops that are on the Nieuweweg are called Julianadorp Elsrijk, Julianadorp Middenvliet and Julianadorp Mariahoeve). You can always click on the stop button inside the bus when you see tulip fields so you can get out in the surroundings of them. You can also take the bus to Julianadorp, Dorperweerth and from there walk to the Langevliet and Callantsoger vaart.
I hope this somewhat helped answering your question 🙂
Hi Manon
A lovely,informative post. I must congratulate you for writing this wonderful account of your beautiful country. Your photos of beautiful tulips are awesome. I am visiting Netherlands with my husband and 11 yr old daughter in the first week of May, 2020…my exact dates are from 4th evening to 10th noon.
I have taken loads of suggestion from your blog. I seek your help as I am a bit confused about few things-
We have booked accommodation in IJmuiden (do you think it is ok?). I have planned to go to Schagen and then I have planned to bike for the tulip fields, as suggested by you. So we would see the tulip fields on the routes suggested by you and then head towards Hoorn, where we would be staying for one night before going for the steam tram to Medemblik. The routes for the biking to the tulip fields as suggested by you seem to be little cumbersome for my daughter as it is 19+11 = 30 km of biking in a day. Is there any other alternative way to see the tulip fields? We don’t want to drive as we are not comfortable with right hand driving on our first day in Europe. Kindly suggest some alternative route which requires less biking.
Thanks heaps for all the guidance. God bless!
Hi Rupali,
Thank you for your compliments! I do have to say that you’re kind of visiting in the end of the first week of May (meaning: when tulip season in The Netherlands finishes), so you’d have to head to the North as soon as you arrive.
I wouldn’t stay in Ijmuiden if you’re planning on visiting and cycling in the surroundings of Schagen, as it’s still quite a bit traveling to Schagen from Ijmuiden. I would stay in Schagen, or its surroundings for a night. This way you can head straight to the tulip fields. Actually, I would
I definitely understand that you’re looking at cycling a bit less, so I created some new routes for you below:)
Nieuwe Niedorp – Oosterweg – Hartweg – Westerweg – Rijderstraat – Koggeweg – De Leijen – Leijerdijk – Nieuwe Niedorp 9km (and if you didn’t find enough tulips around this cycle ride, then you could add Paadje (this is a road name) between Leijerdijk and Nieuwe Niedorp.
In Nieuwe Niedorp you can rent bikes at Koks Tweewielers. https://kokstweewielers.nl/wp-content/uploads/Schermafbeelding-2016-04-18-om-15.31.34.png
You can have a look at places to stay in Nieuwe Niedorp here: https://bit.ly/2S8Efkv
Schagen – Schagerbrug – ruigeweg Sint Maartensvlotbrug – Schagen 16 km
You can have a look at places to stay in Schagen here: https://bit.ly/2tqlA9p
I hope this helps!
Have a great day,
Manon
Thanks dear Manon…..this is a huge help.
Can I ask for more? 🙂
I have a plan to visit the following places- Day 1–Tulips in Noord Holland (routes suggested by you)
Day 2–Hoorn—Steam Tram- for steam tram to Medemblik–Boat—Enkhuizen and then to Hoorn-Edam-Volendam-Marken (kindly tell whether it would be possible to do it in one day as we would reach Enkhuizen only by 2 pm) (Would it be possible to visit so many places after that?)
Day 3–Amsterdam—Jordaan(early morning); Van Gogh museum(9 am to 12 noon), Zaanse Schans, and then Broek in waterland (evening); Night cruise in Amsterdam
Day 4–Zwolle, Kampen, Emmeloord, Giethoorn
Day- 5–Harlem — Keukenhof—Delft
Day 6–Amsterdam trip–Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank house, Dam Sqaure;
We would be travelling a lot in the NS trains and buses. Which card is suitable for us for this kind of wide travel–OV chipkart? or any other card for travel? Is the OV chipkart suitable for travel in NS, Intercity, metro, EBS, Connexxion, Hop on Hop off buses?
Would it be OK if we not visit Keukenhof and Delft on day 5 and instead just do a relaxed tour of Amsterdam? Many blogs say Keukenhof is worth visiting. What is your opinion about this?
If you can recommend some other places in the itinerary (omit or add some places), that would be highly valuable as you are a local there 🙂
I really appreciate how you make your reader so comfortable. Thanks for all the help. I wish I could help you someday with your visit to India. This place is also worth a visit. Sending you love from India. Take care!
You’re very welcome; I’m glad it helped!!
On Day 2 it’s simply impossible to visit so many places. While The Netherlands is a small country, we have a lot of things to offer, and I would want you to make the most out of your visit, but also not rush through cities and towns.
I would stick to Hoorn- steam train to Medemblik (in Medemblik you could also visit the Radboud castle) – Enkhuizen. I would walk through Hoorn in the morning, take the steam train to Medemblik and wander through Enkhuizen in the afternoon and evening. Leave Edam- Volendam and Marken for another visit.
Day 3: I wouldn’t go to Broek in Waterland in the evening, while it’s beautiful there. I think you should slow down your itinerary a little. Because there are a lot of places that you want to see in such a short time, take it easy and relax. Explore the Jordaan in Amsterdam – Van Gogh Museum – Zaanse Schans – Night cruise Amsterdam on day 3.
Day 4: Either choose Zwolle and Kampen or Zwolle and Giethoorn. Four places on one day are going to make you feel stressed out. Plus, you won’t enjoy any of it. If you want to go to Giethoorn, I would recommend you to be there as early in the morning as you can as tourist busses are arriving at around 10:00. And there is a direct train from Zwolle to Kampen which makes it easy to see the small town of Kampen in half a day.
Day 5: Stay either in Haarlem or Delft for the entire day.
Day 6: Perfect the way it is.
For travelling within The Netherlands, you can buy an OV Chip Kaart at a kiosk when you arrive at the airport. It is valid for all public transportation within The Netherlands, but Hop on Hop off buses aren’t part of our public transport system so you’d need to buy tickets for that specific bus itself. For your Ov chip kaart, you always have to have 20 euros on it to be able to use it for train travel.
When it comes to De Keukenhof, I think it’s overrated. Hundreds of thousands of visitors go to the Keukenhof in a very short amount of time; I don’t think it’s worth it. While the colourful patterns are beautiful to see, I think that skipping the Keukenhof is a good idea.
I’m always happy to help 🙂 I would love to visit India one day, your country has a lot to offer!
Have a lovely day,
Manon
Hello Manon,
Thanks for the wonderful and detailed blog this helps a lot.
I would like to see tulip fields which route you recommend best reachable via car?
I will be staying in Tuitjenhorn and i can keep one day to see tulip fields via CAR, please suggest.
Hi Parag!
I’m so glad it has been helpful:)
From Tuitjehorn I would recommend you to go something like this: Tuitjehorn -Burgervlotbrug – Parallelweg (the road next to the Rijksweg at Burgervlotbrug) – Belkmerweg – Petten aan Zee (this is a beautiful beach) – Sint Maartenszee – Callantsoog – Julianadorp – Korte Ruigeweg – Moerbeek – Oosterweg (Nieuwe Niedorp) – De Leijen – Tuitjehorn.
Just make sure that you need to be careful if you want to park somewhere with you car; it is sometimes not the best idea to park at the side of the road (due to narrow roads, important roads and 80km/h roads). But, I suspect that you will use a brain and see for yourself where it’s save or not haha.
And, of course, to stay out of the fields 🙂
I hope this helps, enjoy!!
Hello Manon,
I travelled last week on the route suggested by you and it was awesome. I was looking for this kind of fields tourist free and lot of flowers blooming at same time. I enjoyed a lot thanks a lot.
Hi Parag,
You’re very welcome and I’m truly so glad to hear that you’ve had such a great time!
Hi Manon,
Loved the detailed itinerary for the tulip fields. We would be visiting next week, and wish to see the tulip fields in the North around Schagen. We have half a day to spend and wish to capture some views with windmills. Could you kindly suggest some fields for this year easily accessible by car. Once again, thank you for the valuable information.
Hi Antara, thank you for the nice compliment!
I can highly recommend you to drive from Schagen to Keinsmerbrug – ‘t Zand (windmill for instance, Molen De Hoop)- De Stolpen- Petten – Sint Maartensvlotbrug and then Parallelweg (next to the Rijksweg, there you can find another windmill)
You cannot park everywhere; so please be careful with that. There are tons of narrow roads and 80km/h roads. So please look carefully where it’s safe to do so; we don’t want any accidents 🙂 And do not park in front of the entrance to the field even though that is sometimes the widest part of the road: farmers need to enter the fields whenever they can. And, of course as always: Enjoy the beautiful flowers, but please stay out of the fields!
I hope this helps!!
Hi Manon!
Your blog is awesome! I have been devouring it word for word the past few days. It has been so helpful in planning my first tulip field bike trip.
I want to do Route 2 as it seems fairly easy and straight forward. However, I’m a bit confused when I plug-in the places on google map. Like is Ruigeweg a street name in Sint Maartensvlotbrug? As well as Belkmerweg? Or are those towns/villages within Sint Maartensvlotbrug?
Also I would like to continue from Bosweg to t’Zand to se the Molen de Hoop (thanks for the exact address) and then go directly to Schagen without passing anymore in Schagerbrug. Is that possible?
I so wanted to join your tour but I don’t trust my bike skills as its been a while since I have ridden a bike and I might not be able to keep up with the group.
Thank you for your answers.
Joy
Hi Joy!
Thank you so much for the kind words, I really appreciate it:)
Basically Ruigeweg and Belkmerweg are both street names that are actually part of several towns and villages, so which town it exactly belongs to all depends on whether you want to cycle the entire streets or not haha. Also, you could cycle directly to Schagen from Molen de Hoop without passing Schagerbrug if you cycle via Keinsmerweg back to Schagen.
With the bike tour I will always ride the tempo of the person that cycles the slowest, there’s definitely no one left behind and we have plenty of photo stops and such to have a bit of rest. So, there’s no need to worry about that. But, of course, if you do not feel comfortable then you should simply follow your gut feeling 🙂
Anyway, I hope this helps!
Best,
Manon
Hi Manon!
Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate it! To be honest, I really prefer biking with a guide especially as I am not only unfamiliar with the area but to do so via bikes is daunting. I am just afraid that I’m going to hold up the group as I’m not a cyclist, at all!!
But with your reassurance, I think I might give it a try.
Thanks again!
Joy
Hi Joy!
Anytime, not a problem at all!
If you’re afraid that you’ll really hold up the group, I could also reserve an e-bike specially for you; the bikes are generally regular Dutch bikes, but if it makes you feel more comfortable and at ease to have a little help, then I can also easily arrange that.
Have a great day!
Best,
Manon
Hi Manon!
I stumbled upon your YouTube channel just today and I love it so much! I am already digging into your blog posts and I can’t wait to read more! We are heading to Lisse end of April and will have 4 days in the area. I wish I came across your blog earlier so that I won’t book our accommodation in Lisse and instead head to the Schagen area! Well we can’t cancel our accommodation now since it was already paid for. My question is : we are arriving on April 22nd (which is the flower parade day and I didn’t realize it till few weeks ago!) I understand that it’s going to be very packed on the route of the parade so we decided to avoid it all together. We are arriving around 1.30pm, so we were thinking of heading straight north to Alkmaar from the airport and we have a car. Do you think traffic wise, we will be good? From Alkmaar, do we follow your recommended tulip route (Alkmaar – Landgoed Nijenburg – Heiloo – Egmonderbinnenvaart – Egmond aan den Hoef – Egmond aan Zee – Alkmaar)? Also, I know this is a silly question, but where do we find tulip fields with windmills in the area? Can you also suggest any pretty and authentic, yet not touristy Dutch villages in the area as well (preferably not too far from Alkmaar and Schagen)?
Hi Jess!
Thank you so much for your nice comment, I really appreciate it (and so sorry for the late reply, I had tons of spam comments to go through!). To answer your questions:
– Traffic wise you’ll be fine if you head straight north to Alkmaar from the airport. Rush hour lasts often from 16:00 until 19:00, so you’ll be alright!
– So from Alkmaar I recommend you to do that sort of route yes, you could go: Alkmaar – Hoeverweg (Egmond aan den Hoef) – Kromme Hogedijk (Egmond aan den Hoef) – Hogedijk (Egmond Binnen), etc. Honestly, as soon as you make it passed the first street you’ll see plenty of fields. Also no, it’s not a silly question about the tulip fields and windmills, if you’re here anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone? You can find tulip fields with windmills in two parts. Schermerhorn; which on the other side of the route that I created but great to visit. And, you’ve got ‘Bosmolen’. The fields are in the surroundings there (not at the exact location), but also remember that the exact location of the tulip fields differ every year so the soil stays healthy. You also have the Wimmenumer Molen and Philisteinse molen.
– And when it comes to pretty and authentic Dutch villages. Nearby Alkmaar you have De Rijp, West Graftdijk, Driehuizen, Graft, De Woude, Noordeinde, Grootschermer and Schermerhorn. Nearby Schagen you have Kolhorn, Barsingerhorn, Nieuwe Niedorp and Haringhuizen.
I hope this helps and that you’ve a great trip!
Have a great day!
Hallo Manon!
Thank you very much for your useful tips! It helped us a lot.
We’re going to Holland next weekend. I’m a bit dissapointed that it is too early for tulips. Are there any hyacinth fields in North Holland to see? We would like to avoid crowds around Lisse.
Thanks again,
Kytka
Hi Kytka!
There may be a field or two that are starting to bloom around that time – if the weather keeps this sunny – but generally not no.
Hyacinths and daffodil fields can be mainly found around Julianadorp, Petten, Callantsoog, ‘t Zand, Schagerbrug, Sint Maartenszee and Sint Maartensvlotbrug. Hyacinth and daffodil fields cannot be found in the Niedorp area.
I hope this helps, and that you have a great trip!
Have a great day!
Hi Manon,
thank you for your reply and advice a lot. It is really very nice of you!
Have a lovely day,
Kytka
I leave this comment because I admire your efforts and kindness! Been following you on Tiktok, Instagram, and Youtube, and your invaluable information helped me a lot. Sadly, I am an international student with a tight budget, so I cannot join your bicycle tour, but I will def tell more people who can afford your tour so they can reach out to you and have wonderful experiences with tulip fields.
You are doing a good job! Have fun with this tulip season 🙂
You have no idea how happy these kind of comments make me: thank you so much for your kind words, I appreciate them very much!
I will take you all along during tulip season with video’s on TikTok and Instagram – as well as longer form content on Youtube. So you hopefully still get a bit of the feeling of joining me on my tours – and on my early drone mornings.
Again, thank you for the lovely comment! I really appreciate you 🙂
Hi Manon,
Such a lovely blog. We followed Route 2 and had loads of fun 😁. Thank you for the amazing time we had😊
Hi Harumi! I’m so glad you had fun – thank you for the nice comment!
Hi Thank you for this amazing post. I am planning to take route 1 this Saturday- however I heard that this year farmers didn’t place tulips near the cycle route – is that true or just a fake news? I have almost no time to change my plan and I am panicking to be honest . Any help or guidance is much much appreciated. Many many thanksin advance. Richa
Hi Richa,
Who is telling you that exactly? Because they are wrong. Yes tulip farmers change the exact fields every year (so fields are on the same piece of land every 3-5 years), but you will see plenty of blooming tulip fields on route 1. On the way back, I do recommend you to go from Moerbeek straight to Haringhuizen (via Hoogbieren) and then follow the rest of the route. And on the way to the fields they are working at the Leijerpolderweg, so you can’t enter that road from the village ‘t Veld. Instead of the Leijerpolderweg you could go Rijdersstraat, Koggeweg, Kanaalweg and then Westerweg. Have fun tomorrow!
Hi Manon,
thank you so so much for your guide here. I took route 2 – we were late and i also have a 3 year old with me but found plenty plenty of fields on route 2. and they were gorgeous 🙂 as suggested by you – dont be afraid to go if see fields here and there and thats what we did and cannot thank you enough.
Have a lovely day 🙂