Its spring! The period of the year which transforms the countryside into a mesmerizing sea off vibrant colors. From early April to mid-May, visitors from around the world come to marvel at the stunning beauty of tulip fields in the Dutch Bollenstreek.
The Dutch Bollenstreek is a picture-perfect landscape with, small villages, tulip fields and beaches. In this article we show you the best scenic drive of the tulip fields in the Netherlands and show you all the must-see spots along the way. Think vibrant colors, massive sand dunes and picture-perfect windmills.
Renting a car
After we arrived at Amsterdam airport Schiphol it was time to pick up our car. We rented a car with Discover Cars. The pickup process was smooth and hassle-free, with friendly staff guiding us through the paperwork and getting us on the road quickly. I would really recommend having a rental car, it gave us the freedom to explore off the beaten path and discover hidden gems that we may have missed otherwise.
Starting our route
Driving in the Netherlands is well organized, so in just a twenty minute drive from Schiphol we arrived at the beginning of our route. Hillegom is the first village you encounter if you are driving from Amsterdam. Just outside of Hillegom we see the first beautiful tulip fields. A must visit in Hillegom is the Tulip Barn a great experience to see the tulips up close, learn about the proces and make pictures.
Next stop is Lisse for one of the most famous and beloved attractions in the Netherlands, De Keukenhof. This world-famous garden is known for its stunning display of flowers and is attracting millions of visitors each year. Its the perfect spot to make the most amazing photos of the tulip fields and they even have a working windmill you can visit.
Next stop, Oestgeest where we find castle Oud-Poelgeest a manor build in 1668 on the foundation of a medieval castle. From Oestgeest we drive with the tulip fields on both sides in the direction of the beach. Here we stop at Katwijk, an old Dutch fishing village for a lunch in the dunes.
From Katwijk we follow our route through the sand dunes to the villages of Noordwijk. Just above Noordwijkerhout we hit the beach for a relaxing hour. The beaches hear are huge, clean and almost empty. Swimming in the sea is less tempting, because the water is freezing!
After a nice dinner at one of the many beach clubs we went to our place for the night, an amazing tiny house in de Zilk. We had an amazing stay and woke up with the sunrise above the tulip fields.
Start planning your trip!
- Best car rental agency for The Netherlands: Discover cars
- The most unique holiday houses in The Netherlands: Vipio
- Tickets with discount for all attractions: Tiqets