Morgan Donaho | Travel Expert & Founder of Prose Travel
The Magic of Tulip Season in the Netherlands
Each spring, the Netherlands bursts into color. Fields of tulips bloom in brilliant rows of crimson, violet, yellow, and pink—beckoning travelers from around the world to witness one of Europe’s most iconic natural displays.
For many, it’s a bucket-list moment. But tulip season is more than just a pretty picture—it’s a window into Dutch history, human behavior, and even the financial markets.
Yes, really.
Let’s dive into the flowers, the frenzy, and the best way to experience tulip season in 2025—hint: it’s not by staying in Amsterdam.
What Was Tulipmania? A 17th-Century Financial Frenzy
Back in the 1630s, the Dutch were wild for tulips. These exotic flowers became a status symbol, and rare varieties—especially those with flame-like streaks—were worth fortunes.
Speculation soared. Traders bought and sold tulip bulbs like stocks, sight unseen. At its height, a single bulb could be worth more than a house on an Amsterdam canal.
Then the bubble popped. The market crashed, fortunes vanished, and Tulipmania became one of the world’s first recorded financial bubbles.
In a year like 2025—when economic headlines swirl with uncertainty—there’s something eerily familiar about it all.
Want to Feel It Come Alive? Read Tulip Fever
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the spirit of the time is through Deborah Moggach’s novel, Tulip Fever.
Set in 17th-century Amsterdam, it follows a painter, a merchant’s wife, and a secret affair fueled by beauty, art, and ambition. It’s sensuous, suspenseful, and a perfect travel read—especially if you’re heading to the Netherlands.
Pro Tip: Read it before your trip or bring it with you to savor in a local café in Haarlem. You’ll never look at a tulip the same way again.
Why You Should Skip Amsterdam and Stay in Haarlem Instead
Most tulip travelers head straight for Amsterdam, but if you want a more peaceful, authentic experience? Haarlem is where you should be.
Here’s why:
🏛 Historical relevance: Haarlem was a major player in the tulip trade during Tulipmania.
🌷 Proximity to the flower fields: It’s just a short bike ride or drive to the Bollenstreek, the famous Flower Strip.
🚆 Easy access: Just 15 minutes from Amsterdam by train—but worlds away in atmosphere.
☕ Charming city vibes: Walkable streets, cozy cafes, canals, and fewer crowds.
Staying in Haarlem means you can truly soak up the beauty of tulip season—without the tourist stampede.
Don’t Miss the Bloemencorso Flower Parade in Haarlem
Each spring, the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek—or Flower Parade—winds its way from the flower fields of Noordwijk all the way to Haarlem. It’s a dazzling procession of floats entirely covered in hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils, each one more elaborate and imaginative than the last.
The parade arrives in Haarlem on Saturday evening, where the floats are parked overnight and remain on display all of Sunday, transforming the city center into a fragrant open-air museum of floral art.
This is the kind of magical, local celebration you won’t experience if you only stay in Amsterdam.
How to Plan Your Tulip Season Trip
Best time to visit:
Mid to late April is your sweet spot. Tulips are in full bloom and the Bloemencorso parade takes place around the third weekend of the month.
Where to stay:
Haarlem offers boutique hotels, cozy apartments, and charming guesthouses just minutes from the flower fields.
What to do:
- Explore the Bollenstreek by bike.
- Visit Keukenhof Gardens for the ultimate tulip experience.
- Sip coffee in Haarlem’s historic Grote Markt.
- Watch the Bloemencorso floats arrive and display.
- Read Tulip Fever under a flowering tree.
More Than Just Flowers: Why This Trip Matters
There’s a certain poetry to standing in a tulip field in 2025, surrounded by beauty born from centuries of cultivation, while today’s headlines scroll warnings of financial bubbles and market corrections.
History doesn’t repeat itself exactly—but it rhymes.
And sometimes, the best place to reflect on all of it is somewhere quiet, just outside the frenzy.
Somewhere like Haarlem.
Thinking of planning your own literary and historical trip to the Netherlands?
Let Prose Travel help you experience it with depth, beauty, and intention.
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