Tulip Experience Amsterdam: Tips for Visiting in 2026
Last Updated on January 26, 2026 by Lauren Allen
While it’s not actually in the capital, Tulip Experience Amsterdam is one of the best places in the Netherlands to see these beautiful blooms. Unlike Keukenhof, there’s a full-blown museum that delves deep into the history of tulips and how they’re produced in the local area.
After spending the morning at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens with my auntie, we hopped in a taxi to The Tulip Experience for a more educational activity.
If you didn’t know already, it’s a family-run affair founded by Wim Pennings in 1951. What was once a tulip nursery opened as a tourist attraction in 2019 and now receives thousands of visitors each year.
Amazingly, it’s stayed in the family for three generations and is now led by Sylvia (Wim’s granddaughter), who personally welcomed us when we arrived.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before visiting this flower-focused hotspot.
Disclaimer: This article is part of a collaboration with Tulip Experience Amsterdam, but all opinions are my own.
When to visit
Like every tulip garden in the Netherlands, Tulip Experience Amsterdam is only open for a limited time each year. In 2026, they reopen between the 19th of March and the 10th of May, which gives you plenty of time to see the iconic floral displays.
As a rule, the opening hours are 8am – 6pm. However, they’re open later on weekends between the 10th of April and the 3rd of May. The screenshot below shows the exact opening hours for these specific days.
While you can go at any time throughout the season, I recommend mid-April. This is my favourite time to see Dutch tulips, as they’re usually at their peak and looking as stunning as ever!
I’d also avoid mid-afternoon. By visiting in the morning (or evening), you can skip the crowds and get much nicer photos without the harsh sun looming above you.
Top tip: In tulip season, there’s often loads of traffic in Lisse and Noordwijkerhout for obvious reasons. If you rent a bike and cycle between each garden, it could save you time!
How to get to Tulip Experience Amsterdam
Despite its slightly misleading name, Tulip Experience Amsterdam is in Noordwijkerhout, 40 – 45 minutes from the capital by car (depending on where exactly you’re travelling from, of course). This makes it a great day trip if you’re in Amsterdam during spring.
To get there on public transport, you’ll need to jump on the train to Hillegom from Centraal Station. From there, catch the number 22 bus to Noordwijkerhout, Ruigenhoek and walk the rest of the way (10ish minutes) on foot.
It’s also a five-minute drive from Keukenhof Gardens, so you can easily visit both in one day (which is exactly what we did). If you don’t have a rental car, don’t fret! Ubers run in the area and we paid around €15, but it’s worth noting that prices can vary based on demand.
How long do you need?
It may be more educational, but The Tulip Experience is much smaller than Keukenhof. Because of this, you can typically see everything in around one or two hours.
Just keep in mind that you can only stay for a maximum of two hours if you’re parking your car on-site.
Ticket prices
| Ticket type | Price |
| Adults (12+) | €12 |
| Adults (12+) with audioguide | €14 |
| Child (3 – 11) | €6.50 |
| Babies (0 – 2) | Free |
| Adult season ticket (unlimited visits for one season) | €29.50 |
| Child season ticket (unlimited visits for one season) | €17 |
| Group tickets for 15+ people | €5.85 – €10.80 per person |
Wanna buy tickets? You can book them online via Get Your Guide. This is the website I use to book the majority of my tours and unique activities overseas!
Things to do at Tulip Experience Amsterdam
Despite being smaller than Keukenhof, there’s plenty to see and do. Here’s how to make the most of your visit:
Tulip Museum
The on-site museum is the perfect spot to learn more about tulips and their rich past. I was quite shocked to find out that they actually originate from Kazakhstan in Central Asia! Can you believe that?
I also discovered more interesting facts about tulips in the Netherlands, such as:
- They first arrived in the country in 1562, but that area (which was in the south) is now in Belgium.
- Tulip mania began in 1634 and people were buying singular tulip bulbs for 10,000 guilders. What’s even more wild is that this was the average price of an Amsterdam canal house back in the day… Wow!
- There are thousands of tulip varieties, including the fringed tulip, parrot tulip and double tulip.
You can also delve deep into how tulips are harvested and the dedication farmers bring to cultivating these pretty blooms.
The point of this is to educate tourists on preserving tulip fields to protect bulb production for future generations. They do a fab job of it, too! Even if you’re not usually a museum person, this one is very engaging.
If you’re spending the day visiting tulip fields near Amsterdam, I highly recommend wearing comfy shoes as you’ll be walking a lot. I wear UIN Travel Shoes almost exclusively.
Show garden
The show garden is without a doubt the star of the show! Outside, you’ll find millions (yep, millions) of tulips. In fact, over 700 tulip varieties are planted there.
What many people don’t realise is that Tulip Experience Amsterdam opened when the owners realised that people were taking photos in private tulip fields. Not only is this trespassing, but it damages the bulbs, which has a direct impact on the farmers’ livelihoods.
They decided to create a space where travellers can take their Instagram snaps and learn more about tulips in one go. Because of this, there are tons of dedicated photo opportunities to spruce up your social media feeds.
You can even use the space for private shoots every week between Mondays and Thursdays outside of opening hours (before 8am or after 6pm). You’ll have to arrange your own photographer and book this in advance, though.
Farmers’ Market and art exhibitions
Tulip Experience Amsterdam isn’t all about the flowers! They also have a farmers’ market where you can buy souvenirs like tote bags, magnets and keyrings. We even saw a baby grow, which was very tempting as I had just welcomed my first niece into the world a few days before.
Next to the market, the on-site exhibition showcases the work of local creatives, which is a must-see if you love art as much as I do. There were several paintings of Dutch cities and vibrant florals, with an obvious focus on tulips.
Indoor picking garden
One of the coolest things about this attraction is its indoor picking garden, where you can make your own stunning bouquet. It’s actually included in the ticket price, which is a massive bonus, if you ask me! Especially if you want more of a hands-on activity.
Although you may only be in the Netherlands for a short time, you could at least enjoy them in your hotel room, B&B or wherever else you might be staying. Once you leave, gift them to reception so they don’t go to waste. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled!
That said, I recommend heading there as early as possible to avoid disappointment. We went towards the end of the afternoon and perhaps unsurprisingly, all the tulips were gone. Sad times.
Guided tours
To hear more about tulips from true experts, consider joining a guided tour. In just 45 minutes, you’ll hear all about the cultivation process and the history of the tulip.
Tours are available in English and Dutch, but you can also request French and German-speaking tours in advance. Groups of 2 – 40 people can book the tour for a total cost of €95 (which is less than €2.40 each if it’s a 40-person group).
We personally used the audio guide, which is available in 11 languages for an extra €2 per person. We found it super informative alongside the descriptions and displays in the museum.
De Witte Zwaan (The White Swan) Restaurant
Feeling peckish? No worries! The on-site cafe serves things like grilled sandwiches, ice cream, some very tasty stroopwafels, tea, coffee and soft drinks. This is particularly helpful if you’ve failed to plan ahead like we did (oops).
Plus, it can get hot outside depending on the time of year. We were there in mid-April on a rather warm day and The White Swan was the ideal place to cool down. Let me tell ya, we were very grateful for the air con…
If you want to see the tulips at their peak, you should visit Amsterdam in April.
Key events in 2026
Tulip Experience Amsterdam runs several events throughout the season, such as:
- 5th – 6th April | Easter Weekend: Go on an egg hunt amongst the tulips. Perfect for the kiddos!
- 11th – 12th April | Meet the Tulip Fairy: Ask your burning questions about tulips.
- 25th – 26th April | King’s Day and Start of the May Holidays: Get involved in the festive fun.
- 2nd – 3rd May | Meet the Tulip Fairy: Did you miss her the first time around? Not to worry!
- 10th May | Mother’s Day: Celebrate the special woman in your life on the last day of tulip season.
Conclusion
Keukenhof may be the first place that comes to mind for flower enthusiasts in the Dutch capital, but Tulip Experience Amsterdam has a completely different vibe. Not only is there an interactive museum, indoor picking garden, art exhibition and market, but you can also get much closer to the colourful blooms.
Luckily, you don’t need to choose between the two. During our trip, we were able to see both in one day and while we walked waaaay over 20k steps, being surrounded by so much natural beauty was 100% worth it.
Heading on a spring adventure to the Netherlands? Trust me when I say that this spot needs to be on your bucket list.
