Every spring, 1.7 billion tulips burst into bloom across the Netherlands, bringing a kaleidoscope of colour to fields and cities of this picturesque country. Widely known as ‘the land of tulips’, and offering tours of the dazzling bright red, yellow and pink coloured meadows, flower holidays in the Netherlands have become very popular with tourists.
With festivities ranging from flower parades to the incredible arrangements at the country’s most celebrated spring garden, see for yourself just why Holland is considered the tulip capital of the world.
National Tulip Day
One of the most uplifting events in Holland’s early year calendar takes place when Dam Square in Amsterdam is filled with a stunningly vivid display of colour. Dutch tulip growers fill their capital annually with every shade of flower you can possibly imagine, kick-starting the blooming season in spectacular fashion.
Taking place every year on the third Saturday of January, this fun event invites all visitors to come and pick their own bouquet free of charge, making it the perfect time for flower holidays in the Netherlands. Get down early to take some pictures of the sea of colour before picking your favourite freshly cut tulips to take home.
The Flower Auction
If you thought National Tulip Day was a spectacle, just wait till you visit Aalsmeer. FloraHolland Aalsmeer is an enormous building dedicated to auctioning off the most stunning flowers in the country, and functions as the largest floral trading centre in the world. The international auction sees buyers from across the globe bid for exquisite flowers every day, and can be found just a short distance from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. You can enjoy a guided tour of FloraHolland Aalsmeer or see the auction process for yourself.
Bloemencorso Bollenstreek Flower Parade
As if cycling through the beautiful fields of the flower bulb region wasn’t enough, the Dutch created Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, a festive flower parade designed to bring these colourful countryside directly to you.
Taking place each April, this famous parade travels 40km from Noordwijkerhout to Haarlem, stopping by the famous Keukenhof Gardens en route. As the world’s only parade constructed entirely of bulb flowers such as hyacinths, tulips and daffodils, this magical event is a once-in-a-lifetime experience attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators each year.
Keukenhof Gardens
Renowned as one of the most beautiful spring gardens in the world, Keukenhof Gardens is one of the Amsterdam’s most famous sights. This awe-inspiring landscape spans 32 hectares and contains 7-million bulbs of 800 varieties, making for a brilliantly striking array of colour. The sights, smells and landscape of mind-blowing garden have to be seen to be believed.
Inspired by these flower holidays in the Netherlands? Book your Hull to Rotterdam crossing today and start planning your floral getaway.
