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Colorful Netherlands

From Amsterdam to
the Tulip Route Flevoland

Travel Period: April

Barbeque Steakhouse & Bar

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Itinerary Netherlands – Between Blooming Tulips and Historic Windmills

Our “Holland” road trip through the beautiful Netherlands was a true explosion of color! From the endless tulip fields in Flevoland to the iconic windmills of Kinderdijk, we’re sharing our route and the absolute highlights of our trip.

The Key Facts:

  • Travel Period: April (April 16th – April 21st)
  • Travel Style: Individual road trip with a rental car; accommodation booked via Airbnb

Our Route at a Glance:

  • Accommodation & Base: Kampen (a charming Hanseatic city).
  • Floral Magic: Flevoland Tulip Route (Zeewolde), Keukenhof & Noordoostpolder Tulip Route (Espel).
  • City Highlights: Amsterdam and Haarlem.
  • Classic Windmills: Zaanse Schans & Kinderdijk.

Kampen

Tulpenroute Flevoland

Amsterdam

Haarlem

Ketelhaven - Tulpenroute Dronten

Zaanse Schans

Keukenhof

Kinderdijk

Espel- Tulpenroute Noordoostpolder

Day 1–2: Arrival in Kampen and the Flevoland Tulip Route

Kampen:

Kampen was our home away from home. We booked a small holiday home via Airbnb at EuroParcs De Ijssel Eilanden in the province of Flevoland. The resort is built on man-made islands, and almost every house is located directly on the water. For a spontaneous stroll, the historic Hanseatic city of Kampen is just a short trip away.

Tulip Route Flevoland:

The tulip route near Zeewolde is impressively vast and perfect for exploring by car. It covers about 100 km, and we took several hours to find the perfect photo spots.
The route near Espel is often less crowded than the areas around Keukenhof and offers a genuine “local feeling.” While Keukenhof is a manicured park, the Noordoostpolder lets you experience real agriculture. You can explore the tulip route by car, bicycle, or even on foot in certain sections.

What makes the Noordoostpolder so special is the mix of tradition and modernity. You’ll see classic windmills right next to modern wind turbines – a fascinating contrast for your camera. Special Highlight: On this route, you can often get very close to the fields (of course, without stepping on the flowers!). It is much less touristy than Lisse, and you often have entire fields all to yourself. Even the harvested fields, where colorful petals lie on the ground like confetti, have their own unique charm.

  • Best Time to Visit: Usually from mid-April to early May.
  • Important Note: It is not allowed to enter just any tulip field. There are specific “show fields” or picking gardens (Pluktuinen). Please ensure you do not damage the bulbs and stay on the edges or in the center paths. These fields are the livelihood of local farmers.

Current Routes: You can find the latest bicycle and car routes here: Tulpenfestival Routes.

To explore a less crowded historic windmill with a tulip field you can go to this place.

Top-down drone view of colorful tulip fields in orange, purple, pink, and yellow.
Travel couple standing together in a colorful tulip field with pink and red tulips in Flevoland.
View of the lake at Europarcs Kampen with holiday bungalows in the background.
A woman standing sideways in a tulip field in Flevoland, enjoying the spring breeze among pink, white and red flowers.
Mowed yellow tulip field with petals lying in the central rows taken in netherlands.
Shot from within a purple tulip field in the Netherlands.
Woman in a dress standing in a field of pink and red tulips in Flevoland, Netherlands.
Colorful tulip rows in the netherlands with modern wind turbines in the background.
Traditional windmill with red and yellow tulips in the foreground on the tulip route.
Large field with pink and white tulips along the Noordoostpolder tulip route in the netherlands.
Tulip field with pink rows on the left and yellow rows on the right.
High drone shot of tulip fields and a farmhouse in the vast dutch landscape.
Woman with blowing hair standing in the middle of many colorful tulip fields in Noordoostpolder.
Tulip field with red rows on the left and white rows on the right in netherlands.
Close-up of large orange tulips with a colorful tulip background.
Red tulips in the foreground with a blurred windmill in the background.
Aerial view of colorful tulip fields and already harvested areas in the netherlands.

Day 3: City Trip to Amsterdam and Haarlem

Amsterdam:

Amsterdam is the vibrant heart of the Netherlands. A walk along the Prinsengracht or Herengracht is a must. The narrow, leaning houses reflect in the water, and every corner is adorned with bicycles and colorful flower baskets.

We spent about 4–5 hours in the city.

  • Bloemenmarkt: The famous floating flower market is a must-see. You’ll find everything from fresh bouquets to unique flower bulbs for your own garden.
  • De Wallen (Red Light District): A visit to the oldest part of the city is essential. It’s known for narrow alleys, red lights, and historic architecture. Important: Taking photos of the windows is strictly forbidden. However, the atmosphere in the evening, with lights reflecting in the canals, is unique. To enjoy the architecture without the crowds, visit during the “Blue Hour” (early twilight) like we did.
  • Anne Frank House: Located right on the canal, this site offers deep insights into the city’s history. Unfortunately, we didn’t research enough beforehand and couldn’t get tickets. To avoid this, remember that tickets are only available online and must be booked 6 weeks in advance (bookings open every Tuesday at 10:00 AM for visits in six weeks).

Haarlem:

If you love Amsterdam, you will adore Haarlem. Only 20 minutes away, it offers a relaxed alternative to the capital’s hustle and bustle. The town features beautiful canals leading to a small harbor, home to the famous “De Adriaan” windmill—a fantastic photo spot. We also visited the Grote Markt, the heart of Haarlem, featuring the impressive St. Bavo Church. We spent about 3 hours here.

Many colorful bouquets of tulips at the Amsterdam flower market.
Photo of a beautiful historic building along the river in Amsterdam.
Stall at the Amsterdam flower market with many different tulip bulbs.
Haarlem harbor with boats in the background and white daffodils in the foreground.
Historic windmill at the harbor in Haarlem.
View of a canal in Haarlem with small boats in spring.

Day 4: Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans is ideal for a quick glimpse into old Holland. It’s designed as a living village, showing how people in the Zaan region lived and worked in the 18th and 19th centuries. There used to be over 600 mills here; today, you can still visit selected ones, such as De Kat, the only wind-powered dye mill in the world that still grinds pigments.

The typical dark green wooden houses with white trim are perfect for photos. While some are museums or shops, many are still private residences.

Hint: Arrive early! It gets very crowded after 9:30 AM. Entering the grounds is free, but there is a fee if you wish to see the inside of the windmills. We spent about half a day here.

A traditional green windmill in the foreground at the Zaanse Schans open-air museum.
Traditional green wooden house in Zaanse Schans, Netherlands.
Panoramic view of several historic windmills along the banks of the river Zaan at Zaanse Schans.

Day 5: Keukenhof

If there’s one place that captures the “Holland feeling,” it’s Keukenhof in Lisse. Every year, over seven million bulbs are planted by hand to create a spectacular show for just eight weeks. It’s not a classic botanical garden but a massive, artistically designed park with ponds and pavilions. Aside from classic tulips, we marveled at massive daffodil fields, fragrant hyacinths, and magnificent orchids.

  • Best Time: Mid- or End-April is peak bloom but also the busiest time.
  • Booking: Tickets must be booked online in advance with a specific time slot.
  • Our Experience: We arrived right at opening (8:00 AM). By 9:00 AM, it became very crowded. We recommend visiting during the “shoulder hours” (early morning or after 4:00 PM).
  • Duration: We spent about 3 hours here.
Many colorful tulips in Keukenhof with a typical Dutch windmill in the background.
Artistically designed tulip bed at Keukenhof with curved blue grape hyacinth.
Detailed shot of many colorful tulips in various colors and shapes from Holland.
Woman in a yellow dress with long hair and sun hat laughing amidst colorful tulip beds in Keukenhof.
Curved formation of red tulips on a green lawn under trees at Keukenhof in Lisse.
Close-up of yellow, orange, and red tulips at Keukenhof, Netherlands.
Red and pink tulips on a green lawn at Keukenhof, illuminated by sunlight.

Day 6: Kinderdijk

A trip to Kinderdijk is like stepping back in time. Here, 19 historic windmills from the 18th century stand in a row along the canals. They were built to pump water out of the polders—a masterpiece of Dutch engineering. The beauty is most striking at the riverbank when the mills reflect in the still water.

The grounds are free to access. We spent about 1.5 hours here.

Couple standing on the riverbank in Kinderdijk looking at each other with windmills in the background.
Historic windmill in Kinderdijk Netherlands with a clear blue sky.

Our Travel Summary

A road trip through the Netherlands in April is an experience for all the senses. From the energy of Amsterdam to the historic peace of Kinderdijk and the sheer color explosion in Keukenhof and the Noordoostpolder, it’s one of the most photogenic places in the world.

Our Top Tip: Plan more time in the tulip fields of Noordoostpolder and shorten your stay at Keukenhof for a more authentic tulip experience away from the mass tourism.