Discover the Best Flower Spots in the Netherlands! From Tulips to Wonderfull Wisteria

Spring and summer are approaching, and there’s no better time to plan a trip to the Netherlands or enjoy a staycation! The Netherlands is world-famous for its tulip fields, but there are many other beautiful flowers to discover as well. In this article, I’ll share the top must-see flowers and where to find them. The locations are listed in order of the season, from early spring to late summer.

Daffodils (February – May)

These yellow flowers brighten the mood in early spring and are often one of the first signs that spring is on its way! Most daffodils are planted but there is also a native daffodil which can usually be found in rural areas. Some top locations to see them include:

• Castle Oud Groevenbeek – A charming castle with fields of golden daffodils.
• Various Parks and Gardens – Scattered across cities and rural areas.

Cherry Blossoms (Mid -March – Early April)

To see cherry blossoms in the Netherlands, there are two absolutely stunning locations. The first is in the Amsterdamse Bos, where a beautiful cherry blossom park is located just south of Amsterdam. This spot is quite popular and can get quite busy during peak bloom. Alternatively, you can visit Almere Buiten, where two streets in this neighborhood are lined with breathtaking cherry blossom trees. For more information about Almere Buiten and the exact locations of these streets, check out my article!

• Amsterdamse Bos – A beautiful park south of Amsterdam which has a dedicated area with 400 Blossom trees called Bloesempark.
• Almere Buiten – A hidden gem with two streets lined with breathtaking cherry blossom.

Tulips (Mid-April – Early May)

The Netherlands is famous for its tulips! People from all over the world visit the country to see the iconic tulip fields. The Bollenstreek region is the most popular and well-known area for tulip fields. Another famous spot is Keukenhof, a beautiful park filled with a wide variety of flowers and tulips. However, if you prefer quieter locations with fewer crowds, you can explore lesser-known areas like the region called Flevoland. Some of the best tulips spots include:

• Flevoland: Flevopolder and Noordoostpolder – Home to vast tulip fields stretching as far as the eye can see.
• Bollenstreek – The world renowned flower region near Lisse, with spectacular fields.
• Keukenhof – One of the world’s most famous flower gardens, featuring millions of tulips in various colors.
• Tulip Experience Amsterdam – Near the Keukenhof is the Tulip Experience, where you can pick your own tulips and more!
• Other locations, such as picking gardens – Many farms and gardens across the Netherlands welcome visitors to pick their own flowers. For some great locations, keep reading! I’ll share a few fantastic options further down in the article.

hyacint (mid april-early may)

The wild bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) is a stunning spring bloomer that carpets the forest floor with a sea of purple-blue flowers in April and May. These flowers thrive in moist, calcareous deciduous forests and are often an indicator of ancient, undisturbed woodlands. In the Netherlands, you can spot them in the coastal dune forests of South Holland, such as Lentevreugd and Hollands Duin, as well as in south Limburg. But one of the most magical places to witness them is the Hallerbos in Belgium, where the blooming transforms the forest into a fairytale-like scene — well worth the trip!

Rhododendron (april-june)

Rhododendron is a flower that blooms in various places like parks and gardens. It is known for its vibrant colors, including shades of pink, purple, red, white, and yellow.

• Vijver Fontijnbos, Oudemirdum – Last year on my official wedding day we shot some photos at this little lake in the forest, which had loads of stunning purple Rhododenron.
• Belmonte Arboretum, Wageningen – In the student city Wageningen you an find Belmonte Arboretum. The former Belmonte estate, meaning ‘beautiful mountain,’ is situated atop the Wageningen Hill. After World War II, it came into the possession of Wageningen University, which established a botanical garden there. Entrance is free.

Wisteria (May – Mid-June)

Wisteria, or blauwe regen in Dutch, is a stunning purple flowering plant that grows in arches and on buildings. While in Amsterdam, I discovered several buildings beautifully adorned with Wisteria. Lovers of this enchanting plant will adore these spots:

• Amsterdam City Centre – Picturesque streets adorned with cascading wisteria.
• Castle Vanenburg – It’s garden features a stunning Wisteria bow. After the Wisteria is done blooming there are beautiful white flowers to enjoy.
• Castle Staverden – This castle features a beautiful long arch in the garden covered with Wisteria. Afterwards, enjoy a drink on the terrace.
• Castle Oldenaller – A stunning historic castle with beautiful Wisteria growing at its entrance. Unfortunately, the castle is privately occupied, so it can only be admired from a distance.
• Rozenlaantje in Kampen – This lane in a park in Kampen has a beautiful Wisteria bow.

Sunflowers (July – September)

Why drive to France when you can visit Sunflowers in the Netherlands! For a sunflower-filled summer, visit:

• Goudswaard – A beautiful rural area with vibrant sunflower fields.
• Various Picking Gardens have sunflowers as well, for example at Stroeberries

Dahlias (august-september)

Dahlias are stunning flowers that come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. They are most commonly found in dedicated parks and gardens. I highly recommend visiting a so-called picking garden, where you can handpick your own dahlias to create a beautiful bouquet! The photos below were taken at Stroeberries Garden. Scroll down to find a list of more picking gardens.

Blooming heatherfields (August-early september)

Technically heather is not a flower but I still wanted to include it in this list. For breathtaking purple heather landscapes, visit:

• Nationaal Park De Veluwe, Gelderland– A stunning nature reserve with vast heather fields. Rent a bike and explore the biggest national park of the Netherlands.
• Ermelose Heide, Gelderland– A picturesque destination, perfect for hiking and photography. You can even find remnants of a Roman camp here.
• Nationaal Park Dwingelderveld, Drenthe – An excellent choice when visiting the northern Netherlands, easily combined with a trip to the idyllic town of Giethoorn.
• Loonse en Drunense Duinen, Noord-Brabant -In this area you will find loads of sanddunes but beautiful heather as well.
• Brunssumerheide, Limburg – A beautiful heathland offering scenic walking trails and diverse wildlife.
• Various Other Heather Fields – The list above is not complete, check the website in the link for more locations!

Tip: Real-life Flower map

Of course, there are many other beautiful flowers to see in the Netherlands so this overview is not complete (yet).
I recommend visiting the Bollenstreek website, where you can find an overview of the different flowers in bloom, along with a table and an interactive map showcasing the region’s various flower fields and it’s active blooming status.

Why not Pick Your Own Flowers?

Experience the joy of hand-picking flowers at a so called pluktuin (picking garden). A great activity to do alone, with friends or with family. Some fantastic places include:

• Hannekes Pluktuin – A popular picking garden with a diverse array of blooms. It’s best to check their Instagram for current opening times. They welcome visitors for tulip picking in spring and offer flowers like dahlias later in the summer.
• Pluktuin Stroeberries – A charming spot for flower lovers and photography enthusiasts with a small horeca place.
• Pluktuin het Platteland Putten – Another beautiful garden with a terrace which can also hosts parties, and is kidfriendly as well. Besides flowers you can also pick some fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy.
• De Tulperij, Bollenstreek – A fun day out for the family with loads of different activities to choose from including picking your own tulips or dahlias.
• Fam Flower Farm, Lisse, Bollenstreek -Another great location in the Bollenstreek with a big range of dahlias and tulip fields.
• The Tulip Barn, Hillegom/Bollenstreek -Near the Keukenhof you cna find the Tulip Barn. Another location that is a fun day out for all the family.
• Annemieke’s Pluktuin, Hillegom/Bollenstreek – Another tulip picking garden where they sell other garden necessities like compost as as well

Which flower fields are on your bucket list this year? Have I missed any must-visit spots? Let me know in the comments below! 🌸🌷💐

Need more tips for beautiful places to visit in the Netherlands? Check out my Netherlands page!