Most of the tulip farms in Holland are located in the Noordoostpolder (Northeast polder), in the province of Flevoland, and in the area known as the Kop van Noord-Holland. The Kop even boasts the largest continuous bulb-growing area in Holland. Another well-known bulb-growing area is the Bollenstreek near Leiden, home of the world-famous Keukenhof. All three of these areas are only half an hour away from Amsterdam by car. The largest flower auction in the world, FloraHolland in Aalsmeer, is also just 30 minutes from the capital.
Tulip season
The weather in Holland is suited to tulip growing, with cool springs just as they begin to bloom. The soil in the polders is always being drained, making it perfect for tulip bulbs that like well-drained but moist soils. There are so many types of tulip varieties, that the Dutch Horticultural society has grouped them into several groups, with differing species within those groups. From mid-March to the end of May the tulips transform large parts of Holland into a colorful patchwork. So when you go to Holland in April to see the tulips bloom, no matter where you look, the fields will be different and no doubt gorgeously colorful.
Getting there
Come to Holland in mid-April to see the tulips in bloom in their peak season. Tulip season extends from the end of March to the middle of May, but mid-April usually sports the most prolific blossoms. Keukenhof in Lisse is covered by over 7000 bulbs in the spring and is one of the best places to get a good look at many different varieties of tulip. But during the same time of year, all you really need is to take the train or bike through the countryside to see the tulips growing and blooming in field after field. If you take the train from Amsterdam to Den Helder, you will traverse the bulb-growing areas in the north of the province, and on the way back, you can make a stop to see the cheese market of Alkmaar.