Last year, on the opening day of Keukenhof Gardens, I photographed a family across three different locations in one single day. Keukenhof Gardens officially opens in 2026 in March 19 and closes on May 10.

This family photo session was captured on March 20th, 2025. This was the opening day of Keukenhof Gardens.

We started in Amsterdam, continued to Zaanse Schans, and finished at Keukenhof Gardens. It was a full and varied day, with each place showing a different side of early spring in the Netherlands.

This family photo session was captured on March 20th, 2025. This was the opening day of Keukenhof Gardens. The session was done in the afternoon, after lunch.

Keukenhof was beautiful, calm, and well prepared for visitors. But it’s important to say this clearly: on opening day, you can expect early spring blooms: crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, with larger tulips usually appearing later in April. Tulips are usually not dominant yet. To enrich the experience in the first days of the season, Keukenhof places a large number of flowers inside one of the pavilions, which becomes the visual highlight early on.

Here we are inside one of the pavilions. The indoor tulips are breathtaking, making it worth the visit even from the first days.

Every year is different. Some years, tulips appear earlier, some later. Weather plays a big role, and there is simply no way to guarantee what will be in bloom outdoors in the last weeks of March.

This engagement proposal was captured on March 26th, 2025. This area was filled with daffodils, which are the main flower we see outdoors at the beginning of the season.

Because of this uncertainty, I prefer not to schedule photo sessions at Keukenhof at the very start of the season. This is purely about setting the right expectations. If clients are already visiting Keukenhof during that time, I’m always happy to guide them honestly about what they can expect and to mix the experience with full explanations of what we are seeing and the evolution of the gardens. 

This engagement proposal was captured on March 26th, 2025. This area was filled with daffodils, which are the main flower we see outdoors at the beginning of the season.

We walked through the oldest part of the gardens, looking for daffodils. Keukenhof is a flower garden with many different varieties, not just tulips.

The good news is that March in the Netherlands is still wonderful.

Amsterdam feels fresh and quiet, with soft light and fewer crowds. Zaanse Schans is especially beautiful in March, with open landscapes, windmills, and an early spring atmosphere. In the second half of March, cherry blossoms in Amsterdam often begin to bloom, offering one of the most poetic moments of the season. This particular family session didn’t include the cherry blossoms, but the next one I’ll share does, so you’ll be able to see another beautiful option for visiting in March.

This family photo session was captured on March 18th, 2025, as a Lifestyle route exclusively in Amsterdam. We walked around the full city and captured pictures of this extended family,

The first stop of this family was Amsterdam. We captured family memories along the canals. In March, we start as early as 7 am in Amsterdam and 8 am in Keukenhof. Zaanse Schans we start 8 am. Below you can see one of the pictures from the stop at Zaanse Schans. As we had a long experience, we stopped for some hot chocolate before this photo.

If you are mixing locations, during March I will recommend that you spend more time in Amsterdam or Zaanse Schans for the photography time, and then we make a few photos in Keukenhof, but not as the main location.

Tulip season is not one single look. It evolves week by week. Knowing what each moment offers helps you choose the experience that fits you best. This session, for example, was taken on March 26th, and we see some tulips are already emerging, making this a great opportunity for fantastic photos. Clients knew there would be fewer tulips at this time, but plans were already made. So here we played with angles to ensure some of their pictures show they are among the tulips.

We walked on March 26th, 2026, next to the river, in an area filled with outdoor tulips. There will not be as many everywhere as in April, but we will definitely find something beautiful like this area.

I hope this helps clarify the state of the gardens and the options you have if you are coming in March. I believe the first days of the season are beautiful, and there is so much to do and see in the region. Also, you have the opportunity to visit the nearby city of Amstelveen and the cherry blossom park, which will be the subject of another post.

Until next time in Amsterdam,

Joanna

Your Photographer in Amsterdam