The tulip fields of Holland are a spectacular sight every spring. The most popular growing areas are in the provinces of North and South Holland, northwest and southwest of Amsterdam. Every year, between early-April and early-May, the tulip fields are a major tourist attraction. Visitors from around the world come to see the brightly coloured fields, especially in the area around the town of Lisse, and visit the famous Keukenhof gardens.
Seeing the tulip fields from a plane window
The tulip fields can also be admired from the air when flying into or out of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. If you’re travelling in April, I always recommend booking a window seat for a chance to catch this spectacular view. Of course, it ultimately comes down to luck. Visibility depends on several factors, including the weather, which runway is in use (Schiphol has five main runways) and the direction of the flight. As a general rule, try to sit on the left side of the plane (row ‘A’) when arriving in Amsterdam, and on the right side when departing.
On a recent flight, I felt like I’d struck the jackpot! It was a clear, sunny day and the plane approached the airport from the southwest, landing on the Kaag runway in a northeasterly direction. I sat in row ‘A’ (left side of the plane) and was treated to the most amazing views!
During the approach, we first passed the city of The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government and the capital of the province of South Holland.
The plane continued in a northeasterly direction and the patchwork of tulip fields soon came into view. The vibrant fields of red, yellow, orange and pink were an impressive sight. We passed the town of Lisse, the heart of the tulip growing industry, and home of the world famous Keukenhof gardens, before landing at Schiphol Airport.
If you’re planning to visit these tulip fields, check out my suggested driving route around the tulip fields southwest of Amsterdam. Or read more about where to find tulip fields in The Netherlands.
