Netherlands's Tulips & Windmills: Where & When

Most travelers who want to pay a visit to North Holland usually plan their trip for the spring months as this is the time for the picturesque Amsterdam tulip season. The first colorful fields of tulips and other bulb flowers begin to bloom in mid-March and finish in mid-May.
Nevertheless, to see the flower-filled Dutch landscape in all its glory, people come in April. Among the extra reasons for that are the numerous Holland tulip festivals, exhibitions, flower markets, fairs, and events devoted to these multicolored beauties, including the incredible bulb flower parade with adorned floats (called "Bloemencorso" in Dutch) which is held every year in mid-April.

Note, though, that this is also the time of the year when millions of people annually travel to the Netherlands, meaning you need to prepare for the journey way in advance and avoid last-minute bookings to save a lot of your money and get ahold of better options.
Thus, in case the tulips are not the main reason for your trip, it makes sense to consider going at the end of August or in September as this way you'll skip the high tourist season, avoid the enormous crowds, and still enjoy pleasant weather conditions.
However, if you want to have an everyday reminder of your breathtaking trip to the Netherlands, you can design a plant nursery at your home. Therefore, you can enjoy your small Holland right in your house whenever you want. Sounds great, right?

As you might have already guessed, there are many tulip fields in the Netherlands. In fact, you'll most likely come across them any time you make your way out of town to the countryside.
Among the most famous floral locations is Keukenhof, Netherlands which cannot be left unmentioned.
Situated in the southern region of the country, it is home to the Keukenhof Tulip Garden, one of the most visited gardens in the entire world.
It has a huge diversity of bulb flowers from tulips and lilies to hyacinths and callas, among others, and occupies a territory of more than 70 acres!
Without a doubt, the Keukenhof park deserves a spot on your Netherlands tulip tour.

Another rural area rich in bulbs is called Bollenstreek, set not too far from Keukenhof and the Hague. The flower fields have been part of this rural Dutch region for over four centuries and are recognized worldwide for the production of high-quality bulbs. Just imagine spending time by these scent-rich fields taking pictures, walking or cycling - amazing, right?
As for other tulip areas, there are several gorgeous less-traveled Dutch regions you may consider going to for an unforgettable floral experience. As such, you may visit the Aalsmeer municipality, located near Amsterdam, or travel up north to destinations such as Hollandse Kroon, Noordoostpolder.
You also won't go wrong by picking in favor of the extensive Flevoland, home to hundreds of acres of flowers. Alternatively, you can head towards South Holland and the developing region of flower cultivation, Zeeland.

Did you know that the Netherlands boasts being home to almost 1000 authentic windmills? The country houses incredible examples dating back to different time periods, varying in sizes and designs. Trust us, not seeing these landscapes and turning mill sails when visiting this Benelux country is a tiny crime!
Those who wish to see the iconic windmills of Netherlands should certainly point their compass south towards Rotterdam. The Kinderdijk village, located nearby, is a must place on the Netherlands travel route to check out traditional historic windmills.
Called "molens" in Dutch, they date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and were powered by wind and served for multiple purposes from pounding grain to dewatering flooded lands. The protected Kinderdijk area is home to 19 well-preserved structures which are listed as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

The mills played an important role in the development of the country and were a valuable technological part of the locals' daily lives back in the day, previously there was more than a hundred of them in this region.
One more destination to go windmill-hunting to is Zaanse Schans, a very popular place among tourists situated close to Amsterdam.
This village depicts what countryside Holland looked like in the past, and has not only mills but also numerous traditional homes in the Netherlands. When there, you may learn more about local crafts and culture in the houses converted to museums.
More locations where you can see Dutch windmills are Molen de Valk, Schiedam, and the former industrial area of Zaanstreek.