Every year we try to make a trip to the tulip fields around the Keukenhof in Lisse. It’s very impressive to see all the beautiful colours of the flowers. The landscapes in Lisse look like real life paintings. The tulip fields in the Netherlands are famous all over the world attract a lot of visitors but we usually manage to find a nice quiet spot on back farmers roads . This year in 2020, the start of the quarantine in the Netherlands directly coincided with tulips harvest season. Many of the farmers cut down their tulips to try and keep local visitors away trying to keep the infection from spreading amongst the communities. Normally these fields are flooded with tourists, but because the borders were closed it was primarily Dutch families looking to outside when the spring weather had arrived. Due to their being no tulips growing when the quarantine ended, we found ourselves in a lonely hyacinth field instead.
When visiting the tulip fields it’s important to respect the flowers. Walking through the fields can cause bruising and ultimately destroy the crops. There are many fields where you can pick your own and snap some of your own photos standing in the field. The tulips are grown to bloom in someones home so when harvested they need to be in pristine condition. In some fields you are allowed to go to take photos, some of the fields are fenced off or have signs asking to not walk into the fields.
The flowers our kids are holding, we buy at a farm nearby the fields. It’s great to be both holding something in your hand and support the local farming community. So no picking :) The self picking flower fields are never too difficult to find, also a very nice activity when you are visiting Lisse with kids.
If you are ever in the Netherlands in April you have to go see the flowers in real life! Tulip season runs from the end of March until mid May, but the best time to visit is halfway through April.