- Mr Plane Guy
- Apr 20, 2024
- 4 min read
My Honest Keukenhof Review: Beautiful Gardens or Tourist Trap?
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Don't fall for the tourist trap at Keukenhof, I mean, I might be slightly dramatic, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. Sure, there were some tulips looking all fancy and a charming windmill plus a boat ride for the enthusiasts, giant clogs for the gram. If that tickles your fancy, then go for it, you may really enjoy it.
Yes, they have pretty tulips all arranged in beautiful gardens, also an indoor display area which was giving Chelsea flower show vibes, except this one with the hose pipe in the middle of it! It’s probably a great day out for families; they even had a petting farm pen with sheep and goats.
But let me tell you, I was craving those 'Instagrammable' tulip fields, vibrant colours popping like confetti! You know real authentic fields, not so much the manicured gardens. I wanted to prance around like an influencer with 3 million followers, even if just realistically 200 people viewed the result, this wasn't the tour for that!
A soggy Mr Plane Guy was not impressed!
You meet by Amsterdam Central station, get on a coach and around 45 minutes later you get a little tease of tulip fields, then the coach pulls into a coach park lined up next to hundreds of other coaches. You walk through an ugly building and then you are penned in as the coach back to Amsterdam central is in three hours!
It felt like being herded like sheep, trapped in a tourist bubble, forced to splurge on overpriced latte and cake at every turn, (of which I did of course) to somehow make things bearable. This whole tulip gig is like a dated tulip-vending machine. Maybe this worked in 2008 but times have changed! Time to shake things up, Holland!
The BEST tours if you want Tulip Fields in Holland
If you're looking for the colourful tulip field photos you see on Instagram, I'd actually recommend booking a tour that takes you directly into the surrounding flower-growing region rather than spending your entire day inside Keukenhof itself. I've had good experiences booking activities through GetYourGuide because tickets are stored in the app and meeting points are usually easy to find.
Here are some tours Viator have to offer,
Here is my video review of Tulip Tour Keukenhof Flower Park in The Netherlands, apologies, it is very dramatic and may contain swearing.
If you're hungry for more Amsterdam adventures you regretted, I’ve got you covered!
Keukenhof FAQ
Is Keukenhof worth visiting?
If you love flowers, gardening and family-friendly attractions, yes. If you're hoping to wander through endless Instagram-style tulip fields, you may be disappointed.
When is the best time to visit Keukenhof?
April is usually the best month, with peak tulip blooms occurring between early and late April depending on weather conditions.
How far is Keukenhof from Amsterdam?
Keukenhof is around 40 minutes from Amsterdam by coach or car.
Can you see real tulip fields at Keukenhof?
Some tulip fields can be seen around the surrounding area, but most visitors spend their time inside the landscaped gardens.
Final Boarding Call
Keukenhof isn't bad. In fact, it's beautifully maintained and many visitors absolutely love it.
My mistake was expecting endless tulip fields and a more authentic Dutch countryside experience.
If you're travelling to Amsterdam specifically for those famous colourful flower field photos, I'd look at tours that take you beyond Keukenhof and into the surrounding bulb-growing region.
For families, gardeners and flower enthusiasts, Keukenhof is probably worth the trip.
For Instagram hunters and travel photographers? Do a little more research before booking.
Plane Related Posts:
If you're visiting Amsterdam for a few days, these guides might help:
Relaxing in Style: A Visit to the OneWorld Alliance Business Class Lounge at Amsterdam Schiphol
How to Get from Schiphol Airport to the City Centre Amsterdam
My guide on How to Spend 24 Hours in Amsterdam
My honest KLM Crown Lounge Review at Schiphol Airport
KLM Cityhopper Business Class Review – was the £60 upgrade worth it?
My Rotterdam Travel Guide if you want to explore beyond Amsterdam
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a former airline insider who’s swapped the jump seat for the window seat. I share honest reviews, travel hacks, and a few behind-the-scenes stories.
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Thanks for reading, My Honest Keukenhof Review: Beautiful Gardens or Tourist Trap?
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