When is Keukenhof open in 2026?

Keukenhof is open approximately 19 March – 10 May 2026. Exact dates are announced each autumn. The garden is completely closed for the rest of the year.

Keukenhof complete guide: everything you need to know

What Keukenhof actually is

Keukenhof is the world’s largest bulb flower garden: 32 hectares of parkland in the South Holland municipality of Lisse, planted each autumn with approximately seven million bulbs by a permanent team of gardeners. It opens for roughly eight weeks each spring — the only period when bulbs are in flower — and closes completely for the rest of the year.

The name means “kitchen garden” in Dutch (keukenhof = kitchen + garden), referring to the 15th-century garden of Countess Jacoba van Beieren, whose hunting estate occupied the land. The modern Keukenhof was created in 1949 by the Dutch bulb industry as a showcase garden to promote Dutch flower exports, which is still partly its purpose — hundreds of Dutch bulb companies have display plots inside the park, each planting their finest new varieties.

The result is a garden of competitive beauty: 800 varieties of tulip, hyacinth in 60 varieties, daffodils, narcissi, alliums, muscari, fritillaria, and ornamental grasses, all planted in dense sweeping colour combinations across a landscape of gentle hills, ponds, canals, lawns, and mature trees.

Opening dates and season 2026

2026 season: approximately 19 March – 10 May 2026

Exact dates are announced by Keukenhof in late autumn each year. The season has been 8 weeks long consistently since 2010; assume late March to mid-May. Check the official Keukenhof website (keukenhof.nl) for the precise 2026 opening and closing dates.

Keukenhof is completely closed outside this window. There is no winter garden, no partial opening, and no exceptions.

Annual themes

Keukenhof adopts a different theme each year, which influences the show garden designs and glasshouse displays. Past themes have included Romanticism, Renaissance, and specific countries. The theme does not change the outdoor bulb planting significantly but shapes the curated exhibition areas.

What is in bloom when

The bulb varieties bloom in sequence. Knowing what peaks when helps you choose your visit date:

Period	Dominant flowers
Late March – early April	Crocus, snowdrops, early daffodils, some early tulip species
Early to mid-April	Hyacinths (peak fragrance), early and mid-season tulips, narcissi
Mid to late April	Peak tulip season (widest variety simultaneously in bloom), late daffodils
Late April – early May	Late-season tulips, alliums beginning, fritillaria
First week of May	Alliums, late tulips, ornamental grasses

Peak visit for maximum variety: The third week of April (approximately April 17–25) is when the most bulb varieties are simultaneously in flower. This is also the most crowded week.

Largest crowds: Easter weekend and the weekend of King’s Day (27 April) are consistently the two busiest windows. Both can mean 2-hour queues at the gate for walk-up visitors.

Best value visit: Early April (10–15 April) or early May (1–5 May) offer good gardens, manageable crowds and full park operations.

Tickets: how to book and what they cost

Book in advance. Keukenhof operates a fully pre-booked timed-entry system. During peak April weekends, same-day tickets are routinely unavailable. The following booking routes are all valid:

Direct via Keukenhof website (keukenhof.nl): Cheapest booking channel. Adults approximately €24–26; children (4–17) approximately €12–13; under 4 free. You choose a date and entry window (morning or afternoon). Once inside you can stay as long as you like.

Via shuttle package: Combined shuttle bus + entry tickets are sold from Amsterdam and from Schiphol. Usually marginally more expensive than buying separately but more convenient.

An Amsterdam Keukenhof tulip tour includes hotel pickup, transport and entry — the full package for first-time visitors who want no logistics.

The flexible Keukenhof shuttle bus option lets you choose your departure time from Amsterdam and is a good middle ground for independent travellers.

Print or download your ticket — Keukenhof entry is entirely QR code based; paper or mobile.

Getting to Keukenhof

From Amsterdam via Schiphol (fastest independent route)

Train from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiphol (15 min, ~€4.40)
Bus 858 (Keukenhof Express) from Schiphol Plaza to Keukenhof (30 min, ~€6 return for shuttle)
Entry with pre-booked ticket

Total journey: approximately 45 minutes from Amsterdam.

From Amsterdam Centraal or Leidseplein (direct shuttle)

Pre-booked shuttle coaches depart from Amsterdam city-centre pickup points. Journey time 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. This avoids the Schiphol connection.

From Haarlem (for cycling visits)

Haarlem is 10 km north of Keukenhof, and the cycling route through the bulb fields of the Bollenstreek is outstanding in April. Rent a bike at Haarlem station (€10–15/day) and cycle south on the N208 via Hillegom. Total cycling time approximately 40–50 minutes; the route passes through several kilometres of commercial tulip fields.

By car

Parking at Keukenhof is abundant (P1–P4, approximately €8) but arrives full on peak April weekends. On Easter and the last weekend before closing, arrive before 8:30 or plan public transport.

Inside the park: what to see and how to navigate

Keukenhof has no single “right” route — the garden is designed to be explored organically. The main entrance opens onto a wide lawn with the central pavilion and the start of five themed garden routes (colour-coded on the free map distributed at entry).

Key areas and landmarks

The historical garden (near entrance): formal knot beds in the 15th-century style of the original estate, replanted each year.

The pond area: The central canal pond, ringed with weeping willows, narcissi and hyacinths in early April. The classic Keukenhof photograph — coloured beds reflected in still water — is taken here at 8:00–9:00 before the morning haze burns off.

The windmill: A decorative windmill at the park’s perimeter, surrounded by tulip beds, is the most-photographed single structure. Arrive early or accept a photo with other visitors in frame.

The inspiration gardens: Twelve show gardens designed by professional Dutch landscape studios. Each year different designers create fresh approaches to bulb planting in residential settings.

The Wilhelmina pavilion and Beatrix pavilion (glasshouses): Included in standard entry. Contains tender varieties that bloom in controlled conditions — some spectacular alliums, unusual tulip colour combinations, and tropical bulb flowers. Worth entering even on sunny days.

The Oranje Nassau pavilion (orchid show): Supplementary exhibition with a small additional charge. One of Europe’s finest indoor orchid displays, worth the extra €3–4.

Photography at Keukenhof

Keukenhof is one of the most photographed places in Europe, and most photographs look similar — wide, colourful, and taken in flat midday light. To get images that stand out:

Arrive at opening time (8:00). The morning light is angled and warm; the garden is almost empty; dew sits on the petals.

Look down: Macro images of individual tulip cups, pollen detail, and drop-filled petals are as rewarding as wide-angle landscape shots.

The hyacinth rows in early April: Before the mass tulip peak, pure rows of blue, white and pink hyacinths make cleaner, more unusual compositions than the multi-coloured tulip tapestries.

Late afternoon light (after 16:00): Tour groups leave from mid-afternoon; the garden quiets and the light becomes warm again.

Practical tips for a good visit

Footwear: Wear comfortable walking shoes. After rain, some paths near the ponds are muddy. The park has 15 km of paths.

Weather: Spring in the Netherlands is unpredictable. Bring a light waterproof jacket. Bulb flowers are resilient — rain makes them more vivid, not less.

Duration: Two to three hours covers the main outdoor garden and one glasshouse. Four to five hours for a thorough visit including all three glasshouses and the inspiration gardens. Photographers routinely spend a full day.

Eating: The park has four restaurants and several kiosks. They are expensive and crowded at 12:00–14:00. Bring a picnic and eat on the grass, or eat before arrival.

Bulb shopping: The exit gift shop sells packaged bulb collections of every variety you will have seen flowering. Well-packaged for export; check phytosanitary regulations for your home country.

See also tulip season in the Netherlands, tulip fields near Amsterdam, and the flower parade guide. For the logistics of the day trip, see Keukenhof day trip.

The glasshouses at Keukenhof: a detailed look

Keukenhof’s three glasshouse pavilions are separate from the outdoor garden and worth entering on every visit, not just on rainy days:

Juliana pavilion: The first and largest glasshouse, dedicated primarily to tulips in an enormous variety of forms. The display changes three times during the season (early, mid and late-season varieties are rotated). Arranged in colour-coordinated beds, the pavilion at peak mid-season holds several thousand tulip stems simultaneously. The labelling is detailed; collectors use this pavilion to identify specific varieties by name.

Beatrix pavilion: Focuses on forced bulbs — varieties that would not yet be in bloom outdoors but are brought to flower early in the controlled glasshouse environment. In late March when the outdoor gardens are still early-season, the Beatrix pavilion offers a preview of what will be blooming outdoors in three weeks. It also contains unusual species tulips, fritillaria, muscari and ornamental onions rarely seen in commercial cultivation.

Oranje Nassau pavilion (orchid exhibition): An additional small charge (approximately €3–4) applies for the orchid show. Worth it for orchid enthusiasts; the collection includes specimen plants and new hybrids from Dutch orchid breeders. Not bulb-related, but the quality is high.

Temperature: The glasshouses are warm (18–22°C) compared to a cool April day. Dress in layers; removing a jacket inside is easier than putting on a sweater you left at the entrance.

Keukenhof with children

Keukenhof is excellent for children aged 3 and older. The garden is large enough for running and exploration without any danger. Practical notes:

Pushchairs/strollers: The main paths are paved and wide enough for strollers. Off-path grass areas are sometimes soft after rain.
Playground: Keukenhof has a dedicated children’s playground area with equipment suitable for ages 2–10. It fills up at midday on sunny days; visit early or late.
Children’s admission: Ages 4–17 approximately €12–13; under 4 free. Family tickets available.
Boredom risk: Children who are not interested in flowers may find the garden experience long. The boat trips (electric boat rides available inside the park in season) and the playground are the most engaging elements for young children.
Buggy parking: Strollers can be stored at the main pavilion if the paths in certain garden sections are too narrow.

Keukenhof accessibility

Keukenhof’s main paths are designed to be accessible for wheelchair users and mobility-impaired visitors:

The paved main routes covering most of the park are wheelchair accessible.
Powered wheelchairs and scooters are permitted; manual wheelchair rental is available at the entrance (limited quantity; reserve ahead).
The glasshouse pavilions are all step-free accessible.
Guide dogs are admitted.
A rest area with seating is located near each of the three main pavilions.

What to buy at Keukenhof

The exit shop sells:

Bulb bags: Pre-packaged collections of specific varieties you have seen growing, certified for planting. Well-sealed for transport.
Books: Dutch garden and bulb cultivation books, in English and multiple languages.
Cut flowers: Fresh bouquets available at the market section near the entrance.
Seeds and garden accessories: Limited range.

Export rules for bulbs: Within the EU, Dutch bulbs certified by the NVWA phytosanitary service (which all commercial Keukenhof bulbs are) can be imported freely. Visitors from the UK, USA, Canada and Australia should check their country’s import regulations for plant material — rules vary and some packaging may not be compliant. The shop staff can advise on certification documents.

Frequently asked questions about Keukenhof

How long is Keukenhof open each year?

Keukenhof is open for approximately 8 weeks each year, from late March to mid-May. The exact dates shift slightly each year depending on Easter and seasonal factors; check keukenhof.nl in January for confirmed dates.

What is the best day to visit Keukenhof?

Weekday visits (Tuesday to Thursday) are consistently less crowded than weekends. Among weekend visits, early April weekends have better gardens-to-crowds balance than the peak third week of April. Easter weekend is the busiest single period of the season.

Can you take photos inside Keukenhof?

Photography for personal use is unrestricted throughout the garden. Commercial photography requires a separate permit. Drone photography is not permitted.

Are dogs allowed at Keukenhof?

Dogs are not permitted inside Keukenhof. A dog-minding service operates at the main entrance.

What should you wear to Keukenhof?

Comfortable, waterproof walking shoes and layers you can remove if the sun appears. A compact waterproof jacket. Avoid white or pale clothing — the paths near flowerbed edges can transfer soil and pollen.