Keukenhof 2026 Guide – Visiting the Tulip Gardens from Amsterdam

Keukenhof is the most famous tulip garden in the Netherlands, located in Lisse about 26 km from Amsterdam. Open for only eight weeks each spring during the tulip season, the gardens attract over a million visitors each year.

This Keukenhof 2026 guide explains how to visit the gardens and includes ticket options, transport from Amsterdam, the best time to see the tulips and tips for planning your visit. Keukenhof is open for the 2026 season from 19 March to 10 May.

We visited Keukenhof on the opening day (19 March 2026) to keep this guide up-to-date.

Where is Keukenhof located?

The Keukenhof gardens are located in the small town of Lisse in the province of South Holland. This is in the heart of the Dutch flower-growing region known as the Bollenstreek.

The distance from Keukenhof to Amsterdam is:

• about 26km (16 miles) south-west of Amsterdam as the crow flies (straight line)
• about 37km (23 miles) by road from Amsterdam via the A4 motorway – a trip which takes 45-60 minutes

The following map shows the location of the Keukenhof Gardens with respect to Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Haarlem and Leiden.

Keukenhof day trip from Amsterdam

Visiting Keukenhof is one of the most popular spring day trips from Amsterdam. The gardens can easily be visited in half a day, although many visitors combine the trip with nearby tulip fields and other Dutch cities or attractions. Compare Keukenhof ticket options here

A classic half-day visit from Amsterdam will take around 4-5 hours all-in. An example itinerary is to:

• take the shuttle bus from Amsterdam in the early morning
• spend around 3 hours exploring the main spots at the park
• have lunch at one of Keukenhof’s restaurants
• take the shuttle back to Amsterdam, arriving in the early afternoon

Here is a summary of ticket and shuttle options for Amsterdam travellers:

• Standard Keukenhof admission (without transport) starts from €21.00 for adults, €10.00 for children 4-17. Free entry for children 0-3. Book entrance tickets here
• Keukenhof tickets at-the-door cost more – €25.00 for adults, €14.00 for children 4-17 – however these are subject to availability and can often be sold out. It’s therefore essential to book your ticket in advance.
• The Keukenhof coach shuttle service runs from Amsterdam Noord and offers guaranteed timeslots and guaranteed seats. Secure your combi shuttle + entrance timeslot here
• In terms of public transport, KeukenhofBuzz runs daily services to Keukenhof up to 8x hourly – bus 852 from Amsterdam Europaplein, bus 859 from Hoofddorp, bus 850 from Haarlem and bus 852 from Leiden.

Note the bus does get busy and you might find yourself having to stand-up on board, especially the 852 return service to Amsterdam. For that reason we therefore recommend the coach shuttle.

The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is valid on all public transport in the greater Amsterdam region. This includes the KeukenhofBuzz 852/859/850 bus trips.

Alternatively, you could consider taking a full day guided tour with guide and coach transport – especially good for first time visitors.

You can also reach Keukenhof by car – there is a large parking facility on site. Book a car rental here

For more info on Amsterdam-Keukenhof transport see our detailed guide: How to get to Keukenhof from Amsterdam

When is Keukenhof open in 2026?

Keukenhof is a springtime flower park and is only open for 53 days (7 weeks and 4 days) in 2026.

Keukenhof 2026 (77th edition) is running daily from Thursday 19 March to Sunday 10 May 2026 (08:00-19:00).

The park can sell out on some popular days so it is always highly recommended to book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

When is the best time to visit Keukenhof?

We’ve visited Keukenhof at all points during the season.

The best time to visit Keukenhof depends on what flowers you want to see.

This table calendar shows when the tulips and other flowers bloom in the Netherlands:

At the beginning of the season you will see early bloomers such as daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses and some short-stemmed tulip varieties.

Mid-to-late April is an excellent time to visit the gardens with the widest variety of flowers:

• Daffodils and hyacinths still in bloom in mid-April
• middle and long-stemmed tulips on show
• trees are beautifully green

• Keukenhof is least busy Monday to Thursday.
• From April expect the park to be crowded Friday to Sunday – the peak hours are between 11:00-15:00.
• The park is less busy if visiting before 10:30 or after 16:00.
• If sunny, the light is at its very best in the early morning or just before evening closing time – particularly in late spring.
• See Keukenhof’s latest flower report here

Keukenhof Map and Park Layout

The Keukenhof Gardens are beautifully landscaped and contain some 7 million flowers – all hand planted by 40 gardeners the previous October-December. Each year brings a new design layout to the park.

There are an amazing 800 varieties of tulips including some from the 16th and 17th century – when Holland went through its ‘tulip mania’ where prices for tulip bulbs reached incredible levels.

The garden also has 2,500 trees with over 100 different species.

There are 15km of walking paths around the gardens and you can easily spend a few hours if not the the whole day exploring the park – particularly if the weather is pleasant.

You can pick up a free Keukenhof map from the baskets near the entrance. The map looks like this:

See our Keukenhof park map page for a downloadable map.

There is a special park guide book available for purchase.

Top things to do at Keukenhof in 2026

Here is a brief summary of what you can do during your visit to Keukenhof. For more details see Tulip Wonderland: 15 Essential Things To Do at Keukenhof (2026)

Visit the pavilions

The park has 6 indoor exhibition pavilions named after the Dutch royals – Willem-Alexander, Oranje-Nassau, Wilhelmina, Juliana, Beatrix and Irene.

For 2026 you will find floral displays in 3 of the pavilions the – Juliana, Oranje-Nassau and Willem-Alexander.

These host colourful floral displays which change on a weekly basis and there are plenty of selfie spots for social media.

The other 3 function as a restaurant areas.

In 2026 the Juliana pavilion hosts the The Anthurium and Orchid Show exhibition.

Climb the windmill

On the right-hand (northern edge) of the park is found Keukenhof’s picturesque windmill (Keukenhofmolen).

The former pumping mill dates from 1892 and was built in the Dutch city of Groningen. In 1957 it was purchased by Holland America Line and donated to Keukenhof.

It is possible to enter the mill and climb up to the rear part of the viewing platform.

There is a nice view of the windmill from the nearby bridge.

Get lost in the maze

Also on the right-hand of the park (near the Oranje Naasau pavilion) is a small maze where you can try to reach the viewing platform.

See the flower fields at the Vantage Point

Nearby is an elevated vantage point which gives nice views over the adjacent flower fields through the surrounding pine trees.

Take a ride in the Whisper Boat

Near the windmill you can take the whisper boat ride. This is a 45 minute trip around the adjacent bulb fields and there is an audio guide available in 4 languages (Dutch, English, German and French).

The Whisper boat ride is only available to those who have an entrance ticket to the park. It costs an extra €11.00 for adults, €5.50 for children 4-11.

Walk on water

You can walk across the ever-popular stepping stones at the lake.

Art and Sculptures

The Keukenhof tulip gardens is home to over 100 artworks and sculptures which are dotted around the park. It has a permanent art collection supplemented by temporary pieces.

Keukenhof Facilities

There are café/restaurant facilities at each pavilion with outdoor terrace seating and some mobile food outlets. These are not particularly cheap (as you would expect) and there can be long queues. Payment is accepted by card/contactless only.

Some locals bring their own packed lunches to save a bit of money.

There are many benches placed throughout the park where you can sit down and take a break. Free WiFi is available around the pavilions.

There are a number of stores around the park selling various gifts and souvenirs. You can purchase flower bulbs near the entrance which can be shipped worldwide.

Free luggage storage lockers are available to visitors at the entrance with dimension 25x55x45cm.

Is Keukenhof worth visiting with kids?

Yes, there are plenty of activities for keeping the little ones occupied. You can find:

• a small petting farm (including goats, rabbits and peacocks)
• a Miffy (Nijntje) themed playground
• a treasure hunt activity available

Keukenhof Events Calendar 2026

Over the season Keukenhof organises themed events and activities.

Other Keukenhof & tulip field activities

For a different perspective, there are a number of flower-themed activities you can do.

You can rent a bike and cycle around the surrounding fields with various cycle routes ranging from 5 to 25km.

You could take a bike tour or a Landrover tour (both 2.5 hours) of the tulip fields in the Keukenhof area.

There is a self-drive tour (includes GPS navigation) in a 2-seater Renault Twizzy on a 20km fixed route around the tulip fields.

For the ultimate experience there are private helicopter tours of the tulip fields running daily from 30 Mar to 3 May 2026. These depart from the Amsterdam Heliport (Westpoort area).

The 60 minute tour flies over the Keukenhof area – note, the 30 minute tours fly over other tulip fields in North Holland.

Keukenhof origins

The Keukenhof site originates back to the 15th century, home of the Slot Teylingen (Teylingen Castle) – where fruit, herbs and vegetables were grown at the Keukenduin (kitchen dunes) by Countess Jacoba van Beieren (1401-1436). The name ‘Keukenhof’ literally means kitchen gardens.

The Keukenhof Castle was built in 1641 and the estate covered an impressive 200 hectares.

In 1857 the castle gardens were completely redesigned in English style by landscape architect Jan David Zocher and son Louis Paul Zocher, who also designed Vondelpark in Amsterdam.

In 1949 a group of 20 Dutch flower bulb growers came together with a plan to use part of the estate to exhibit spring-flowering bulbs. Subsequently, Keukenhof opened its doors for the first time in 1950 and received 325,000 visitors in its first year.

Today Keukenhof is the world’s most famous tulip and flower garden park set in 32 hectares (79 acres). It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in The Netherlands attracting around 1.4 million visitors during springtime.

Keukenhof is very popular with both tourists and locals alike. About 80% of visitors do come from abroad with the top visitor countries being Germany, USA, France and UK.

Discover more fascinating facts and stats on Keukenhof visitor numbers: Keukenhof by Numbers 2026 & Historic Statistics

For flower and garden lovers the Keukenhof Gardens is an absolutely must-visit experience.

Keukenhof Guide FAQ

When is Keukenhof open?

Keukenhof is open daily between 19 March and 10 May 2026, 08:00-19:00.

How long should you spend at Keukenhof?

Most visitors will spend something between 3-5 hours at the Keukenhof gardens. This includes 1-2 hours walking around the gardens, 1 hour for visiting the pavilions as well as time for a coffee break or a spot of lunch.

This means you can easily make a half-day visit from Amsterdam.

Are tulips guaranteed in March?

You may well see some early tulips in March but the main flowers on show will be hyacinths and daffodils. However there are beautiful flower displays in the indoor pavilions.

The main tulips in the gardens typically appear from early-to-mid April.

Can I bring my dog to Keukenhof?

Dogs are allowed into the Keukenhof gardens (one dog per person) but they must be kept on a leash at all times. Note that dogs are not permitted inside the indoor pavilions or restaurants. Due to the crowds and noise it could be stressful for some dogs.

Do I need to buy Keukenhof tickets in advance?

Yes, it’s strongly recommended to buy Keukenhof tickets online in advance. Entry slots can sell out during peak bloom weeks in April. It’s not worth the risk of travelling to Keukenhof only to find tickets at-the-door are sold out.

Can you visit Keukenhof without a tour?

Yes, you do not need to join a tour to visit Keukenhof. You are free to visit independently within the park and see exactly what you like at your own pace.

Booking entry+shuttle bus gives you the convenience of transport and guaranteed entrance – but still allows an independent visit around the park.

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Keukenhof Address

Keukenhof, Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse, The Netherlands
T: +31(0)252 465 555

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Last checked and update 6 March 2026, first published in 2010.

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