Tulip season in the Netherlands is one of the most beautiful times of the year, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. Every year I receive many questions about tulip fields, tulip gardens, and where photography is actually allowed. This post is meant to clarify the differences, explain the options available, and help you plan responsibly.

Tulip Fields vs Tulip Gardens

Tulip fields are production fields. The flowers are not the final product. The bulbs growing underground are. For this reason, tulip fields are not meant to be entered, stepped on, or used for photo sessions. Walking on them damages the soil and affects the health of the bulbs.

Photography taken at S. Pennings & Zn tulip field during the Dutch Shooters event in April 2025.

For photography, we work in tulip gardens, not fields. Tulip gardens are created specifically for visitors. They allow people to walk among the flowers, follow clear paths, and enjoy the experience without harming the plants. These gardens charge an entrance fee, and that fee supports their maintenance and future seasons.

This is why I always say: choose gardens, not fields.

You can see the difference between gardens and fields here. See the flowers in the front, they are multicoloured, while the flowers in the back have one unique colour per row.

This picture shows multicoloured flowers, which indicate it's a tulip garden.

Where Can You Photograph Tulips?

The main tulip gardens in the region south of Amsterdam include:

• Keukenhof Gardens
• The Tulip Barn
• Tulip Experience Amsterdam
• De Tulperij (which also has a limited field-access option)
• There are more, but in this post, I am including the most well-known and visited.

I have photographed in more than ten tulip gardens in the region over the years, but not all of them are available every season. Each garden decides its opening dates independently.

All of these locations are approximately 40 minutes from Amsterdam, depending on your starting point and transport choice.

This picture was taken in the fields of De Tulperij. De Tulperij is a tulip garden. Access is only with a reservation, so booking the photo session before March is advisable. The picture below was taken in the garden, which is free to enter.

How Long Do You Need for Photos?

For photography sessions booked directly with me, I offer 45-minute and 90-minute options in the tulip region.

A 45-minute session works well if we focus on one garden. It is enough time to create beautiful images without rushing, especially in smaller gardens or when you have a clear vision.

A 90-minute session is ideal for larger gardens like Keukenhof or when combining two nearby gardens. This option allows for a calmer pace, more variety, and flexibility with light and backgrounds.

If you would like to combine several gardens and cycle through the region together, a longer experience of around three hours is recommended. This allows us to move slowly, enjoy the landscape, and create a richer set of images across multiple locations.

Cycling time between gardens is not counted as photography time. It is part of the experience and gives you space to enjoy the region without feeling rushed.

This picture was taken at Keukenhof Gardens, the first week of May. Lots of questions are about if its good or not in May. This is a great visual of how Keukenhof looks in May.

What About Tulip Fields You Can Enter?

There are a very small number of tulip fields that allow photography, and only under strict conditions.

• These fields allow very limited access, usually 12 people per time slot
• Access is for a short duration
• Entry fees can be up to €50 per person
• Tickets sell out extremely fast, often within a day

One field usually opens only two days per year, typically on Thursday and Friday before the Flower Parade. Availability is never guaranteed, and access depends entirely on the grower. Another garden already has its timeslots published, and some of them are no longer available.

When possible, I offer clients who have already booked the option to switch locations if a field becomes available. This usually involves an additional fee set by the field itself and strict timing rules.

This picture was taken in the fields of De Tulperij. Access is only with a reservation, so booking the photo session before March is advisable.

Keukenhof Gardens

Keukenhof is the safest and most predictable option for tulip photography. It is a flower garden, not a tulip-only garden, but it offers the longest bloom window and the easiest access.

Keukenhof can be photographed comfortably in 45 minutes, but it truly benefits from a 90-minute session, especially if you want variety and space to move.

Even in early May, it is common to still find tulips in bloom there.

Picture taken at Keukenhof Gardens on March 26th, 2025, showing how long the season is in this location. Below, the session date was May 10th, 2025.

Tulips in the city of Amsterdam

The official initiative is called One Tulip for Every Amsterdam Resident. Tulips are displayed in vases around the city, not planted in fields or gardens. It's beautiful to walk or cycle around the city on the lookout for these tulip vases, some of which we use for photography.

These city displays work well for short sessions, solo portraits, or cycling routes, but they are not comparable to tulip gardens.

Both pictures were taken during the Festival One Tulip for Each Amsterdam resident. This is what the vases look like.

The entrance of The Tulip Museum in a June session. This is outside the tulip season.

The entrance of The Tulip Museum in a January session. This is outside the tulip season.

Beyond Amsterdam: Other Tulip Regions

There are other tulip regions in the Netherlands, such as the Noordoostpolder, which hosts its own tulip festival with routes for cars, bikes, and pedestrians. These are beautiful but require more travel and planning.

Another unique experience is the steam tram from Hoorn to Medemblik, which passes tulip fields along the route. This is a full-day trip and a wonderful option for travelers who want to experience tulips without entering fields.

View of the tulip fields from the Steam Tram Hoorn-Medemblik.

Planning and respect :)

Tulip season is special, but it requires planning and respect for how the industry works. Gardens are designed for visitors. Fields are not. Choosing the right location makes the experience better for everyone, including future seasons.

If you have questions about timing, locations, or which option fits your trip best, I’m always happy to help you plan responsibly and beautifully.

See you this spring in the Netherlands.

Joanna

Your Photographer in Amsterdam