The best time of the year has already officially started! The warmest, brightest and most well-beloved season, summer, is a period where most people go out and enjoy beams of sunlight and fresh air. Are you planning to explore the Netherlands in the upcoming summer months? Something that you should put on your cultural trips list is visiting various tulip fields. Tulips are the representative flowers of this European country, and it is mainly in the summer times that their beauty becomes more apparent. Read more about the history of tulips and some tulip fields recommendations you should visit when travelling to the Netherlands.
A bit of background information on tulips
While tulips are the iconic symbol of the Netherlands, they are not Dutch tulip bulbs. Tulips were officially introduced in the Netherlands at the end of the 16th century. Even before that, they were already present in some regions in Central Asia. Back in that time, tulips were considered rare and exotic, and most Western Europe loved them. In the present day, they still attract millions of people! The Dutch tulip fields receive millions of visitors from around the world, and it is especially during spring that these natural areas bloom brighter than they usually do.
A unique phenomenon in Dutch history related to tulips is the ‘tulip mania’: this was when tulip bulbs were just introduced in the country. Along with other vegetables such as potatoes and tomatoes, Tulip bulbs first came to Europe in the 16th century. As tulips were considered exotic from other European flowers, their popularity skyrocketed, and because they were so rare, they became a luxury commodity. As a result, the price of tulip bulbs increased tremendously. People of wealthy backgrounds even commissioned paintings of tulips for this reason.
According to flower linguists, tulips generally are a symbol of perfect or deep love. In specific, red tulips signify eternal love and passion, while pink tulips stand for happiness and confidence. In addition, purple tulips are a symbol of royalty, and yellow tulips represent cheerfulness. White tulips, in contrast, symbolise forgiveness. Globally, tulips are one of the most popular flowers in the world, coming in third place after chrysanthemums and roses.
The most beautiful tulip fields in the Netherlands
There are various tulip fields dispersed across the country, with some being more popular than others. As for the popular areas, it is essential to note that these might be abundant with tourists in spring and summer times. Moreover, it is not always permitted to enter these tulip fields, as you may carry diseases that can harm tulip bulbs. However, you are more than welcome to walk, drive or cycle next to the areas. A nice fact to know: some farms even allow you to have photoshoots in the tulip fields! The most popular tulip field is the Bollenstreek (Bulb region), located between Leiden, Lisse and Haarlem. The Lisse fields are just outside the Keukenhof park, so you can easily travel to the area by public transport. It is also possible to visit the Bollenstreek tulip fields by bike: you can rent a bike in Keukenhof or Leiden. There is also a map of all the tulip fields in the Bollenstreek region, so you can easily plan your trip. This tool also maps out the entire area with pictures, and it is updated regularly, so you know what to expect there. It even includes hotels, so if you plan to stay a night longer with the tulips, that is possible
