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The Netherlands is known for its tulips and windmills, clogs and cheese, so it would be rude not to experience a little Dutch culture on your visit there. If you’re short on time then an easy way to experience all of those things would be on a tulips and windmills day tour from Amsterdam. If you time your visit right, you can enjoy the colourful beauty of the flowers, see inside a windmill, watch a clog maker at work and sample some delicious Dutch cheese – all in one day!
When is tulip season in Amsterdam?
Tulip season in Amsterdam typically starts in mid to late March and runs until mid May. We timed our visit with my birthday at the very start of April and found that we were a little early for some of the flowers to be in bloom. However it was still a great time to visit. The weather was sunny but cold and we were still able to capture plenty of bright and colourful photos.
Where is the best place to see tulips in Amsterdam?
Without a doubt, the best place to see tulips in Amsterdam is at the world famous Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, just under an hour’s drive away from Central Amsterdam. Every year over 7 million flower bulbs are planted here, ready to bloom in the springtime. Keukenhof is only open for a short period of time each year (around 8 weeks) so advance booking is recommended. There are several ways of getting to the gardens and you can purchase tickets directly. We found that the easiest option was to pre-book a tour which included transport. Our tour also included a visit to the Zaanse Schans windmills and a cheese tasting stop.
Our visit to Keukenhof
The coach pick up for our tour was from just outside Amsterdam Central Station. It was a little chaotic as there were several coaches departing the same area. Plus we needed to pick up our physical Keukenhof entry tickets from the office. But we were glad that we had pre-booked our tour in advance. After around 45 minutes or so on the road, we arrived at the gardens and were able to leisurely explore at our own pace.
Keukenhof has many different areas which include outside and inside displays. For our visit, some of the outside areas weren’t quite in full bloom. But it was still great to see the neatly tended to gardens and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. There is also a windmill here but as we were going to Zaanse Schans we didn’t bother going inside.
The inside displays were impressive, yet very busy with people. I particularly liked the display with a bicycle in the middle of it which visitors are encouraged to sit on and pose for photos.
There are also many sculptures dotted around the park. Me, being the child that I am, loved the Miffy sculptures. I also liked the giant clogs that you could put your feet into. There is even a playground and shop dedicated to one of The Netherland’s other most famous exports – Miffy the rabbit.
The displays at Keukenhof are different each year and the tulip growth is also weather dependent, so your experience will differ from mine.
Visiting Zaanse Schans
The next stop on our tour was the heritage village Zaanse Schans. Zaanse Schans is a neighbourhood of Zaandam and is famous for its collection of historic windmills and wooden houses. Although seemingly quite touristy, it is a mix of inhabited homes, businesses, museums and, of course, windmills. The windmills themselves were relocated from other areas of the country to here for preservation. They provide a unique glimpse into what a community in the Zaan district would have looked like back in the 18th and 19th centuries.
There are different craft shops in the village where you can watch people working. The main one that stands out for me was the clog workshop where we were given a demonstration of how just a chisel and a chunk of wood (plus a large amount of skill!) can create a Dutch icon.
Of course, if you’re visiting Zaanse Schans then you’re going to want to see the windmills. There are several dotted along the waters edge and you can even go inside. Although there is an additional fee for entering a windmill. We took a look inside the saw mill and watched man and machine cutting through logs.
There is a cheese factory at the village, however during our visit it was closed so the tour company took us to a cheese farm elsewhere.
Visiting a Dutch cheese farm
We were taken to the nearby Henri Willig Jacobs Hoeve cheese farm. Here we saw some cows, were told about the cheese making process and then had the opportunity to shop for some cheese. But you can’t buy cheese without sampling some – and the samples were plentiful! I can’t actually remember which cheeses I tried but they were very good.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
Amsterdam isn’t the most wallet friendly of places to visit. I stayed at the Ibis Amsterdam Centre Stopera which was clean, comfortable and affordable (by Amsterdam standards). It also offered a decent breakfast – and I can be fussy when it comes to breakfast. Quite a contrast to staying at the infamous Hans Brinker Hostel in my college days, which I can’t comment on as I can barely remember it (I am old).
Final thoughts
If you’re visiting Amsterdam in spring then a tulips and windmills day trip is a must do! Be sure to check the official Keukenhof website for opening times and don’t forget to prebook your tickets. I would recommend checking websites like GetYourGuide for reputable tours if you are wanting the full Dutch culture experience.
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