It very much depends on what sort of spring we have I'm afraid. They can be in flower as early as the beginning of April, and all over by the end of that month, but more normally the end of April and first half of May is best. If we have a cold spring it could be later even. There is no guarantee of course, nature will take it's course.

Keukenhof gardens are open from March 21st to May 20th in 2013.

We visited Keukenhof Gardens last spring (2012) on March 31. The grounds were beautiful, but the outdoor tulip varieties were limited. As hetismij2 says, the word then was that the tulips would likely peak in late April.

That did not deter large crowds of people from enjoying the park.

thank you. I may go by my self- I am a single 32 year old female. SHould i go by my self or go on a tour?

Go by yourself.

The gardens are an easy and quick train or bus ride from Amsterdam. You most definitely do NOT need a tour to look at the flowers - they are pretty self explanatory.

http://www.keukenhof.nl/

We went on 1 May this year. That was just about right but maybe a few days past prime. We took the Keukenhof bus from Schiphol Airport. It was very easy. No need to take a tour.

Photos from our early/mid-April visit last year:

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bruges-amsterdam.html

Very easy to do on your own.

Was there mid April last year and all was in bloom. Take the bus, no need for tour. Enjoy, it's magnificent.

There are fields and fields of tulips not inside the Keukenhof Gardens but in fields adjoining them - yeh lots of showcase tulips inside but be sure to go out the entrance and poke around fields just to the north where you may see miles of undulating tulips doing a pulchritudinous show.

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
i was thinking last week of march first week of april? thoughts?

A bit early. You will have the early varieties but not the full assortment. Mid April to second half of April would be better, and probably cheaper because you're away from the Easter holidays which are peak travel season.

I agree. Guessing the years peak bloom season is always a roll of the dice but the second half of April is a much safer bet.

I am off from school on March 25-march 31 that is why i was thinking the last week of march and first week of april.... what other countries and cities should not be missed on this trip

Keukenhof will be open, and there will be a fine display of other bulbs such as daffodils, hyacinths and the like, plus early tulips. Indoor displays will also be good.
The chances of fields of blooming tulips is small, unless we have an early spring. We can but hope.

There is of course a lot more to Amsterdam than just tulips (which aren't that near Amsterdam anyway) so you will still have a great time even if you don't see the flowers.
You are young so you will have plenty of other years to see them.

In 2009 - we went to Keukenhof on April 17 - almost everything was in full bloom - it was perfect! You can rent bikes in the parking lot to Keukenhof and pedal around the local countryside through the fields - highly recommend doing this.

I can't ride a two wheeler do they have other option?

You could walk around a bit, I guess? Not really sure what the other options are if you don't ride a bike.

Here are my photos of Keukenhof http://tinyurl.com/y8hltjl. Go for it even if you can't see it in full bloom.

" last week of march and first week of april.... what other countries and cities should not be missed on this trip"bjc280

Italy is nice in the spring, Paris in April, or stay in the Netherlands (that would be my choice) what do you like, how well can you travel, how much is your budget.

Hi there, March 21, to May 20th are the dates this year, good luck with the weather. My wife, Jean, and I spent a couple of days at Keukenhof Gardens, near Lisse(and yes it did rain at times). We always knew that The Netherlands (Holland) was famous for its tulips. As gardeners, seeing the gardens at Keukenhof, just simply took our breath away! It was amazing. Without a doubt, Keukenhof Gardens is the world’s biggest outdoor gardens. For those who might like to see some pictures from our trip, they are at: http://frametoframe.ca/photo-essay-tulips-keukenhof-gardens-holland

While in Holland, Jean and I also spent a day at the village of Zaanse Schans where we got to see their large collection of windmills. For us, a trip to Holland just wouldn’t have been complete without seeing windmills in action. If anyone would like to check out the variety of windmills that we saw, they are at: http://frametoframe.ca/photo-essay-windmills-holland

I went to the Keukenhof Gardens this year during the first week in May. It was in full bloom as far as I could see. Like Venice, the Keukenhof is one of those places where it's hard to take a lousy photo.

Well if you have not been to Paris that is easy to combine with Amsterdam - I would suggest flying into one city, then going by trian to the other and then flying home from there.

You can easily spend two weeks in The Netherlands without leaving the country. We stayed in Leiden, a lovely University town, with lots to do. Then did day trips via train to other places - Amsterdam (4 day trips), Delft, Haarlem, Kroller-Muller Museum. We did do one overnight to Brugge Belgium. Didn't get to see the blooming tulips, that's on the bucket list for another trip.

I highly recommend visiting Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, a flower auction open to the public. Imagine the largest warehouse you've ever seen, filled with thousands of beautiful cut flowers on their way to shops and vendors all over the world. It was a highlight of our trip. Here is the website: http://www.floraholland.com/en/about-floraholland/visit-the-flower-auction/ The auction building is minutes from Keukenhof, which is spectacular, as others have noted. We visited in early April 2012. You may also benefit from getting the Holland Pass, a discount attraction program. http://www.hollandpass.com/

Thank you everyone! this is great!

another question...
I am going to start in London and spend a few days... then take the train... I want to go to Amsterdam and a few other places... maybe brussles... and another suggestion or two... what is the best order to do this in?
Thanks!
I will leave from my last destintation

Brugge A day trip from Amsterdam

Bruges is about 3.5-4 hours each way from Amsterdam by train or car - better IMO to go and stay the night in that wonderful wonderful historic town.

(I am going to start in London and spend a few days... then take the train... I want to go to Amsterdam and a few other places... maybe Brussels... and another suggestion or two... what is the best order to do this in??

Well you could take the Chunnel train (Eurostar) London to Brussels - then head to nearby Bruges and then head to Amsterdam via Antwerp - fly back from Amsterdam or go on to say Germany.

For lots of great info on trains in Benelux and Eurostar Chunnel trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic info-laden sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. For Chunnel trains www.eurostar.com is easy to book tickets by yourself for London to Brussels.

I echo kam77's endorsement of the Aalsmeer Flower Auction being a neat place to go - you can easily reach it from Amsterdam via public bus but go early - things start to wrap up IME around 11am - this calls itself a market under the largest roof of any market in the world and you see the trading floor where just like Wall Street decisions are made on what price to buy certain offerings at.

Many of the flowers are then whisked away to nearby Schiphol Airport for distribution around the world - the blooms you buy today may have been auctioned off a day or two before at Aalsmeer!.

If driving it would be a short hop between Aalsmeer and Keukenhof - going to Aalsmeer first of course and then Keukenhof - by public transit I suppose you take a bus from Aalsmmer to Schiphol Airport and onto to Leiden for direct buses to Keukenhof.

does this make any sense--- fly from New York to London and spend a few days. Then from London take the train to Amsterdam. Then from Amsterdam take the train to Brussell and or Bruges... Thoughts?

You have 6 nights in hotels and 6 days "on the ground" - correct? You just listed 3 major capital cities and one small city (Bruges).

IMHO...it's too much for your very limited time.

I would strongly suggest you simply fly into London from NYC and spend 3 days in London (which is hardly anytime at all there) and then take the train and spend the other 3 nights/days in Amsterdam (also not enough - especially with one day spend outside the city looking at tulips). Fly home from Amsterdam.

Save Belgium for its 10-14 day trip.

thank you bardo1

I have been to london many times, i am going to spend the weekend at my friends country house in london and then i guess ill go off to amsterdam! if i wanted to spend a 1-2 days somewhere after amsterdam and fly home from there where would you suggest?

Thanks!

Bruges or Brusssels for 2 days, but I would suggest it on the way TO Amsterdam since there are more direct (and cheaper) flights from Amsterdam to the US.

Yes take the Chunnel train to Brussels then use the ABS fare to go onto Bruges, the absolute highlight of Belgium for many folks and one of the most romantically old-world dream places in northern Europe IMO - then go on by train to Amsterdam for 3-4 days - actually 3 is about right for most folks IMO for Amsterdam, which though lovely is compact and its relatively few must sights can easily be seen in a few days (though it offers an eclectic offering of special interest things that could make one linger months here).

so question.... my friend who lives in london will come to amsterdam with me... so does it make sense to do london, amsterdam and then brussels?

I would skip Brussels. Spend a couple of days in London then fly over to Amsterdam. Maybe you can book RT to AMS with a two day layover for LHR.

I agree, skip Brussels - but DO hold out the possibility of a day-trip to Antwerp, It's only 70 minutes each way by train from Amsterdam.

@ bardo1, that 70 mins journey time applies to the Thalys. Normal trains take 2 hrs 39 mins.

You can take the Fyra which is a cross between the two and takes 82 mins to Antwerp Central. Both trains require that you make a reservation though.

See: http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/home

bookmarking

Thank You everyone!

Ok so there is kind of a change and need more of your awesome help and advice.

I will be leaving NYC and flying to amsterdam... My friend wants me in london by April 3rd... So that leaves me a while in Amsterdam... What do we think...

And... It is over good friday and easter... is it silly to go to eroupe over that time... will anything be open?

Please help!

Thanks!

also what area is best to stay in while i am in amsterdam and brussels?

And... It is over good friday and easter... is it silly to go to eroupe over that time... will anything be open?>

Not a factor in Amsterdamned! for sure - everything will be open as they are on any Sunday I should think - especially the coffeeshops!

You will get lots of response if you pose your latest question in a separate thread - I am partial to hotels out of the center a tad like those around Museum Plein and Vondel Park, a very quiet part of town and still within walking distance of most major sites or an easy tram ride. What is your budget and your dictates in a hotel?

Hello all,




What is the best way to get from each??? And is there a train from Brussels to London?




how many days in each????




I am also traveling in March/April- How is the weather and what should I pack?




Thank You!


Bara

"What is the best way to get from each??? And is there a train from Brussels to London?"

Take the train to and from each destination - easy, easy, easy. There is a train from Brussels to London. I would spring for the high-speed Eurostar, it's about $75 one-way and less than 2 hours.


"how many days in each????"

Well you have 9 days before you HAVE to be in London. You can easily spend 4 or 5 days in Amsterdam and the other 4 or 5 days in Brussels. There is plenty to see and do in both cities and they both have many day-trip possibilities an hour or (much) less from each by train. If you want to spend some time in London prior to your meet-up, then just take time off (equally divided) from Amsterdam and Brussels.


"I am also traveling in March/April- How is the weather and what should I pack?"

Temps will vary widely depending on day and time of day - I'm thinking mid 30's(F) on a cold evening to mid to high 50's(F) on a warm afternoon. Dress in layers for flexibility. You'll want a sweater and a light jacket.


"Thank You!"

You're quite welcome.

Thank you @bardo1

So much for the tulips this spring! Too bad Weather has been dreadful.

Tulips are two to three weeks behind schedule, but the weather is warming up, and we are due 20C and sun on Sunday (which may be our summer for this year!), and that will do wonders for them.
The flower parade has, for the first time, had to import flowers for the floats.
Keukenhof has good displays still though I believe. I was going to go today but the weather is grey and damp, so I'm staying home.

We will be there 3 - 6 May to see the tulips so fingers crossed they are in full bloom when we are there!!!

We arrive April 14th for one day in Amsterdam. Planning the trip a year in advance, I guess one can not be too picky. Regardless, we are excited to be there.