Spring is in the air! Now is the best time to visit the world-famous Keukenhof gardens.
Keukenhof is recognized as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. With over seven million bulbs planted annually in October, this floral heaven is often referred to as the Garden of Europe.
If you’re planning a trip to Keukenhof, you’re probably wondering about the best time to visit Keukenhof gardens in 2025. Visitors can expect to see the iconic Dutch tulips, carnations, daffodils, lilies, irises, and dozens more floral species from March 20 to May 11, 2025.
Whether you’re looking for that Instagram-worthy pic or hoping to avoid the crowds, make sure you’re clued up on the best time to visit Keukenhof gardens in 2025.
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Keukenhof opening times and events
Opening date: March 20, 2025
Closing date: May 11, 2025
Opening hours: daily from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM (including Sundays and the Easter holiday – Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Easter Monday)
Last entry time: 6:15 PM
March 20 – May 11: Various indoor flower shows
No matter when you decide to visit Keukenhof this spring, the Willem-Alexander Pavilion will host a rotating line-up of the best blooms in the country with something new to see every week of the Keukenhof season.
March 20 – May 11: Anthurium and orchid show
Step into the Beatrix Pavilion and walk amongst hundreds of blooming orchids in a rainbow of colors. Delicate petals and glossy green leaves are on full display at this tropical indoor venue.
April 10-15: Daffodil and special bulbs show
Another indoor venue, the Oranje Nassau Pavillion, is hosting a showcase for the best Dutch growers to strut their stuff. Sunny and bright, the daffodils are sure to put a spring in your step.
April 12: Flower Parade (Bloemencorso)
Snag a seat to the Bollenstreek Bloemencorso, a 42km (26mi) parade that stretches from Noordwijk to Haarlem. Dozens of floats made exclusively of flowers celebrate a kick-off to spring in the Netherlands. Because the parade route passes near Keukenhof, try to get to the park before 11:00 AM to avoid traffic.
When is the best time to visit Keukenhof?
There’s never really a bad time to visit Keukenhof, but the blooming season can vary year by year. It’s a good thing the expert gardeners at Keukenhof planned ahead – there’s always something in full bloom every time you visit!
If strolling through the gardens with minimal crowds is your goal, plan to arrive at the gardens before 10:30 AM or after 4:00 PM. For the most peace and quiet, get up early, grab a coffee and enter when the gardens open at 8:00 AM – you’ll have the whole place to yourself!
Additionally, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays offer a more peaceful visit with less crowds. As the days grow longer, an evening visit between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM allows you to linger in the gardens and enjoy a sunset until 7:00 PM.Visiting Keukenhof early in the season may cause you to miss prime tulip action, but will provide a calmer visiting experience with equally beautiful hyacinths, crocuses and daffodils, plus a windmill and indoor pavilions full of blooms (and less people!).
How can I avoid crowds at Keukenhof?
With 800,000 projected visitors at Keukenhof and 32 hectares of gardens to see, you may want to plan your visit to avoid peak crowds.
Most visitors and tour groups will arrive 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM, so try your best to avoid these times. And, as you can expect, Keukenhof is more crowded on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
While you may be dreaming of the perfect portrait among the tulip blooms, so is everyone else – a mid-to-late season visit will yield the most blooms… and the most crowds.
Don’t forget – the gardens are at their most crowded during school holidays and the week of Easter.
When is the best time to see Keukenhof in peak bloom?
Since no two seasons are the same, peak bloom varies each year. There are three different flowering seasons at Keukenhof: early spring, mid-spring and late spring.
Early Spring (March to early April): The first 2-3 weeks feature indoor-blooming tulips and outdoor blooming daffodils and crocuses. When the daffodils are in bloom, spring has officially arrived!
Mid-Spring (early to mid-April): The middle few weeks showcase hyacinths, early-blooming tulips, and exciting indoor flower shows.
Late Spring (late April to early May): The last weeks will arguably be the best time to visit Keukenhof gardens in 2025. During peak bloom, visitors can expect luscious green trees and larger tulips at their most vibrant.
You can check for weekly flower updates starting mid-March, so follow the Keukenhof flower report to get the latest flower details with real-time pictures.
When is the best time to take photos at Keukenhof?
Keukenhof not only signals the start of spring but also offers the chance to take once-in-a-lifetime photographs. The park purposely designs several flower displays for social media pics.
However, if you don’t want to photoshop strangers out of your pictures, then early in the day or the evening will likely be the best time to visit Keukenhof gardens in 2025.
If you want your photos to pop with color, then aim to arrive during peak bloom, which is the last two weeks of April and the first week of May.
When is the best time to see the Flower Parade at Keukenhof?
The parade days can get really crowded but for a good reason! The Flower Parade is one of Keukenhof’s most spectacular exhibitions. If you are staying in the surrounding towns of Lisse, like in Noordwijk and Haarlem, the Flower Parade is a wonderful outing for residents and visitors.
The parade takes place the weekend of April 12. It will start at 09:30 in the town of Noordwijk. At around 15:00, a car procession decorated with incredible flower arrangements will make its way to Keukenhof before arriving in Haarlem.
The parade floats are free to see as they pass through each village and are definitely worth the watch. There are more kid-friendly activities at Keukenhof, like a scavenger hunt, meandering maze, petting zoo, and playground!
Remember – if you are visiting Keukenhof on April 12, please budget time for detours due to the parade route.
When do the tulips bloom in Amsterdam?
The Keukenhof gardens are located 45-minutes south of Amsterdam, but if you are staying in Amsterdam for the tulip season, there’s plenty more places to catch tulips in bloom in and around the Dutch capital!
The best time to visit Amsterdam for tulips is in the spring, from mid-March to mid-May. While you won’t see rainbow-colored fields of tulips in the city, there are plenty of tulip displays scattered throughout Amsterdam, and lots of opportunities to buy a fresh bouquet.
- Bloemenmarkt (Floating Flower Market): Located on the Singel canal, the Bloemenmarketl is a great place to buy a tulip bouquet and see a variety of flowers.
- Tip: Avoid buying bulbs here if you are visiting from another country – you likely won’t be able to bring them back with you.
- Vondelpark: This gorgeous park in Amsterdam is known for its beautiful tulips in the spring, along with a rose garden and sculptures.
- Canal District: You can spot tulips planted along the canals in the city center.
- Museumplein: Around 300,000 tulips are placed on the museum square in Amsterdam with a beautiful backdrop of the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and Moco Museum.
- Tulip Museum: Explore the history of the tulip at this unique museum in Amsterdam.
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