travellerGreenBay

Our family is thinking of a trip to Benelux region. I decide if we want to visit Amsterdam, I want to see tulips and other bulbs. The spring break of our kids school is always at late March (around 3/20 - 3/27). If we go during this time period, will I get to spot the bulbs in full bloom? If there is no way we would be able to see the full bloom, then, I might decide to go visit in summer when school is out (from early June to end of August), when is the best time to visit Amsterdam during summer? Thank you.

HappyTrvlr

Tulips were in bloom in late April when we visited.

ltr

Keukenhof opens March 24 next year. The tulip blooms would depend on whether or not they had a warm spring, although there should be some early ones and possibly other bulbs in bloom. We are planning a trip for the first of May in hopes that we will still have some blooms then.

spaarne

Late March is about three weeks too early. Early June is three weeks too late. Tulip time is mid April to mid May. The optimum time always depends on the weather but is usually the first week of May. Here is what you will sadly miss, http://tinyurl.com/y8hltjl. There will be some in bloom in the glass houses at Keukenhof in late March.

The best time for Amsterdam is any day of the year. The better weather will be in August, but it can rain and turn chilly at any time.

ltr

Spaarne, I love your pictures. I hope we have good weather when we take out bike ride to Keukenhof.

I am looking into getting a brommer or electric bike for the trip, since I have bad knees and don't think I could get very far with a regular bike. Can they be used on the same path you rode on?

hetismij

Electric bikes can be used on cycle tracks. It depends on whether it is a brommer or a snorfiets whether you can use that on a cycle track, but on cycle track through the countryside very often neither are allowed.
I don't know if you can hire electric bikes.
Electric scooters count as brommers so aren't allowed if brommers aren't.

Try hiring an Omafiets (grandmotherbike) - great gearing and easy to ride - designed for Omas after all. Just be prepared for a back-pedal brake .

amyb

It depends on the weather almost completely. We went in 2007 and it was abnormally warm while we were there (in the 75-80F range!) the second and third week in April. When we returned, we read that most of the tulips were gone by end of April (I'll add that my photos from 2-3 weeks earlier than spaarnes are virtually identical).

The Keukenhof stages their plantings so there is always something there when they are open. So if you visit and they are open you will see something. The tulip fields and other non-garden areas really depend on the weather.

jamikins

We were there during the easter weekend 2008 which was in late March and it snowed! Keukenhof opened that weekend and there were things in bloom, but not fully. Here are the pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jamie.a.shearer/Amsterdam#

fourfortravel

Our spring holiday tickets were just purchased for Amsterdam and Belgium, and we're planning to be in Keukenhof for the Flower Parade 2011. My fingers are crossed for lots and lots of tulips!

spaarne

hetismij says that brommers are forbidden on bike paths. There are a lot of violators between Haarlem and Zandvoort. Those noisy things are mostly driven by teenagers, with a partner on the back seat.

A special license, rijbewijs, is required to drive a brommer. If you get an International Driving Permit you can probably meet the requirement if the category A for motorcycles is stamped. Check with the AAA and the NL tourist agency at http://us.holland.com/ to see what is needed.

When you go to Keukenhof I recommend mid afternoon. Tulips close up during the night and then gradually open up as the sun comes out. There is plenty of daylight in late April and early May. A leisurely tour of Keukenhof takes about two hours.

glenmd

I am currently planning a trip to Europe starting around the 25th of March, coming back around the 20 of April. Right now, my plans would put be in the Netherlands around April 3th - 6th. I could change my itinerary so that the Netherlands is my last stop, this would be mean having to recross the Channel after London.

How dramatic is the expected difference in blooms likely to be? (Understanding that weather can wreak havoc with any estimate of conditions)

Thanks,

Glen

hetismij

Spaarne - snorfietsen are allowed on (some) bike paths. It is hard to tell them apart though it is easier now they have to be registered.
If you have a car licence you can ride a brommer/snorfiets. You don't need a separate licence. Only 16/17 year olds and those without a car or Motorbike licence need an AM licence.

Glenmd - you are far more likely to see tulips at the end of April than the beginning, but it really depends on the winter and spring we have. Early April is really too soon for the best displays of tulips but there will be plenty of other bulbs flowering and providing colour (and scent!), especially at Keukenhof.

glenmd

Thanks, that clarifies things. At this early point in the planning process, rearranging my plans a little shouldn't be a problem.

travellerGreenBay

Well, visiting Holland with the kids will have to wait for now. After viewing spaarne's tulip pictures, I have decided blooming season is the only time I will visit Holland.