Tulip season - Am I splitting hairs?
 

Thanks for letting me ask another question about our next trip to Europe - you are all always so helpful!

We are trying to decide between 3 weeks to go to Amsterdam in the spring. Obviously, since we have the opportunity to visit Holland in the springtime, we'd like to have maximum tulip exposure!

Which of these 3 weeks would you choose?

4/3 to 4/9

4/10 to 4/16

5/1 to 5/7


or is there just no way of knowing when they will be in bloom so just pick some dates and hope for the best? Also, is there a arge shift in weather patterns from April to May?

Last year the tulips bloomed early. Very early. There is absolutely no way of knowing what they will do this year. It depends on the winter to a great extent. If it is cold in the coming couple of months then they will flower later, if it is warm, earlier. We are about to enter a period of mild, changeable weather, but it could all change again in a couple of weeks.
I would probably go for the middle dates and hope they are in bloom then. The later weeks would normally be better.
Bear in mind that 1 May is Ascension day and a public holiday in the Netherlands, as is 30 April (Koninginnedag - Queens Day). The schools will be on holiday then, but I expect a lot of people will go away, some in Holland, some abroad.

We have had daffodils in flower here since early November - they have survived two periods of heavy frosts and are still flowering. Bizarre.

As indicated by the previous answer, it is variable. This past spring I went on May 5th, expecting the tulips, only to find they had been topped already. So we did miss out on the general blooming, however we did get to enjoy very much Kuekenof gardens where everything is beautifully cultivated. However had to depend on post cards for the massive fields we had expected. So I too would aim for the middle date, perhaps the percentage MIGHT be in your favor. Halfpint

Another vote for the middle dates.

hi, kms,

with the middle dates you'll be bound to get some tulips.

with the early dates you'd get crocus, daffs, and early [species] tulips, but probably not the most spectacular displays.

IMO the late dates are just that - too late.

have you been on the www.keukenhof.nl web-site? they are open in 2008 from mid-march to mid may. all of your dates fall within the opening times.

whatever you do will be a bit of a gamble.

regards, ann

<i>
Which of these 3 weeks would you choose?
4/3 to 4/9
4/10 to 4/16
5/1 to 5/7</i>

None of the above.

I have chosen 26-April to 03-May. I've seen the tulips and Keukenhof several times. These are high opportunity dates IMO. Also, I plan to be in Amsterdam for Queen's Day again!!

We went one year at the very end of April and everything was already finished. I would definitely go for the middle dates.

Yes late April 2006 was almost finished too. Did manage to find one field that had a few rows left right next to Kuekenhof but that was it.
Kuekenhof was stunning but I still wish I had seen the patchwork fields in full bloom.