Reds bleed into pinks, purples complement blues, and oranges meet fiery golds. Annually, from mid-March to mid-Could, the Netherlands and Belgium develop into drenched in pure colors. Such is the sensible great thing about tulip season. The vibrancy of the colours is purpose sufficient to plan to go to within the Spring.
Which additionally helps illuminate Windstar’s 7-day Tulip Season in Holland & Belgium journey aboard Star Delight, departing from Amsterdam, dwelling to the annual Amsterdam Tulip Competition, on April 21, April 28 and Could 5, in 2026. Amsterdam provides technique to Dutch city Harlingen, adopted by futuristic Dutch metropolis Rotterdam, medieval Belgian metropolis Bruges, and Belgium’s fashionable Antwerp. Every of which can be adorned by tulips, to various levels, presently of yr.
“Our tulip season itinerary has the identical attraction as a river cruise,” says Ricky Trautwein, Windstar’s product supervisor for western Europe. “The cruise is per week lengthy, and your ship is a floating resort that transports you to every port of name. Whether or not you’re planning to discover independently or benefit from our vary of shore excursions, from culinary and biking to in fact, tulip backyard visits, it’s an exquisite technique to expertise this pleasant area.
For these questioning why these neighboring nations are so intertwined with tulips, the reply is of their light climates. That’s as a result of they’re not often too chilly, not often too scorching, and near the coast. These give tulips an amenable dwelling and watch them blossom.
One of the best-known tulip fields are Keukenhof and Lisse. Situated halfway between Amsterdam and the Hague, these neighbouring areas boast actually hundreds of thousands of tulips and are simply accessible. So, too, are the Dutch tulip spots of Noordoostpolder, Overijssel and Kop van Noord-Holland, and the Belgian fields of Groot-Bijgaarden Fort, and Koningskieldrechtpolder. Some may be explored by bike, others on foot, and lots of permit guests to handpick their very own tulips, for a worth.
“What actually shocked me is the number of cities – from the super-modern Rotterdam, to Belgium with its French influences,” Trautwein tells me. “Ghent was one of many energy home cities again within the day, a college city, and it’s super-cool to see the way it mirrors each its grand historical past and its up to date vibe. And, unique to Windstar, from Amsterdam we’ll take you to a tulip farm the place you possibly can decide your personal tulips and convey your bouquet again on board. I can’t wait to return to Belgium and the Netherlands at any time of the yr.”
Whichever time you go to the Netherlands or Belgium, there’s a lot else to see
And right here’s the factor about cruising on this a part of Europe: Whereas Belgium and the Netherlands are famed for its tulip experiences, that are unsurpassed by some other European nation, don’t overlook its array of different alluring actions, landmarks and sights. In Amsterdam, spectacular artwork galleries, majestic metropolis squares, splendid parks, charming canal neighbourhoods, and a unprecedented trove of greater than 600 museums, together with the world-renowned Rijksmuseum.
Belgium, too, has myriad interesting attributes past its tulip shows. Antwerp seduces with its chocolate, beer, artwork galleries and heritage fort, whereas Bruges, with its medieval splendour, feels as if AI (synthetic intelligence) was requested to concoct a picture-perfect, old-world European metropolis.
Right here’s our rundown on what to know, see and do in Belgium and Netherlands’ ports of name – whichever time of the yr you go to.
First, some tulip enjoyable info
- Tulips didn’t originate in Belgium or the Netherlands. As an alternative, the flower grew in Central Asia, as a wildflower and, extra particularly, got here from Turkey. It obtained its identify from the Turkish phrase for turban and, to today, there’s an annual Istanbul Tulip Competition each spring.
- Tulips have been launched within the Netherlands within the 16th century and the Dutch have been besotted: In keeping with the College of Oxford, “the introduction of tulips to Holland within the latter a part of the sixteenth century coincided with the style for the newly emergent center and higher lessons to maintain gardens.”
- Tulips have cultural significance, symbolizing love, new beginnings and rebirth – and their that means adjustments with their colours. White tulips signify forgiveness, respect, purity and honor. For a really romantic gesture, ship a bouquet of pink tulips as a substitute of roses; each point out romantic love. An orange blossom factors to power and enthusiasm and purple, thought of extravagant as a result of the colour’s die was so costly, evokes royalty.
Amsterdam
Antwerp’s demise earned Amsterdam a prize. Amsterdam started as a fishing village within the 1300s, grew right into a small metropolis throughout the 1400s, after which boomed from the late 1500s as a result of misfortune of Antwerp, which Spanish forces seized in 1585. The Dutch responded to Belgium’s disaster by blocking entry to its personal busy port. This brought on most of Antwerp’s maritime commerce to shift to Amsterdam port. Amsterdam exploded in dimension and wealth throughout the next centuries, as Dutch ships departed its port on international missions to develop the Netherlands empire.
Tulip season hotspots:
This may shock you: Big fields of tulips aren’t discovered within the metropolis of Amsterdam and but you received’t go with out as a result of do get planted within the metropolis heart in gardens, pot crops, on windowsills. Vibrantly colourful blooms beautify enterprise and embellish Amsterdam’s verdant parks, such because the one mile-long Vondelpark, the place a whole lot of shiny tulips sprout beside its fairly ponds and luxurious lawns. And don’t miss the Bloemenmarkt, a floating flower market; it’s dwelling to the Amsterdam Tulip Competition.
Past the tulips:
Amsterdam is designed to be pierced by boats and traversed by bicycles. But additionally it is very walkable, due to its greater than 1,500 bridges, which make sure you’ll stride over, not into, town’s seemingly limitless canals. Exploring by foot will expose you to the vices famously peddled in Amsterdam. Odor the pungent smoke wafting from its distinctive marijuana cafes, and witness escorts standing behind home windows in its red-light district.
However Amsterdam isn’t nearly tulips, intoxication, and titillation. The Dutch additionally cherish creativity. Which explains why Amsterdam has extra cultural services per capita than some other metropolis, in keeping with a current examine. The colossal Rijksmuseum, apparently Europe’s fifth-largest museum, relays the story of 800 years of Dutch historical past and artwork, and showcases work by Dutch masters like Vermeer, Rembrandt and Van Gogh.
The latter pair have their very own devoted museums, too, with Van Gogh’s set inside his stately former dwelling. As does Anne Frank, the Jewish lady whose tragic diary of her household’s two years hiding from the Nazis in an Amsterdam dwelling is among the most generally learn books in historical past.
Simply 600m east of Anne Frank Home lays town’s magnificent major plaza, Dam Sq.. Right here vacationers can enter the magnificent Royal Palace Amsterdam, the place the Dutch royal household hosts galas and world leaders. In addition to its hulking 15th century church, De Nieuwe Kerk, which now hosts exhibitions on historical past, artwork and pictures.
Rotterdam
How a lot can change within the house of simply 35 miles? A large amount, it seems, as exemplified by Rotterdam, which is that very same distance from Amsterdam, but feels prefer it’s on a special continent. Whereas Amsterdam is low rise and brims with heritage buildings, Rotterdam has a lofty skyline spiked by gleaming towers, which makes it extra intently resemble a contemporary metropolis within the US or Australia.
The rationale for that is quarter-hour of bloody bedlam. On Could 14, 1940, on the peak of WWII, the historic metropolis of Rotterdam was all however erased by a really transient but catastrophic bombing marketing campaign by the Nazis. Over the next a long time it was rebuilt in a brand new picture, which Rotterdam embraced by investing in hyper-modern structure.
Tulip season hotspots
Much like Amsterdam, the streets and parks of Rotterdam are flecked by tulips throughout their season. However really memorable blankets of blossoms can solely be admired in its surrounding countryside. Tulips abound on Goeree Overflakkee, a sparsely populated island wealthy with meadows and seashores, some 12 miles south of Rotterdam. In the meantime, hectares of tulip fields dazzle guests to Noordwijk, a serene coastal city 20 miles to the north. Keukenhof and Lisse, in the meantime, are solely barely additional away.
Past the tulips
Pause the weight-reduction plan to devour a caramel stroopwafel whereas sat beneath a shady sycamore tree in Rotterdam’s beautiful Het Park. Then erase these energy by hitting the pavement. Be part of Windstar’s structure tour to witness the hyper-modern attraction of Rotterdam Centraal station, and the pleasing extravagance of Market Corridor, which from outdoors seems like a gray, metallic house station, and but inside has a playful inside drenched in color and swirling patterns.
Rotterdam can be the gateway to one of many Netherlands’ most revered exports. Simply to its north is the small metropolis of Delft, which because the early 17th century has produced Delft Blue, a extremely sought-after type of earthenware, which options delicate blue patterns on white ceramics. At Royal Delft, Windstar friends can go to this metropolis’s final Delft Blue retailer, known as Porceleyne Fles, to do a manufacturing unit tour, and expertise a ceramics lesson.
Antwerp
Antwerp’s fortunes have lengthy mirrored that of its port. When it grew to become a hub of maritime commerce within the 14th century, this Belgian metropolis blossomed, with seamen touchdown right here to be dazzled by Antwerp’s stately look. These days, Antwerp’s port shouldn’t be solely the second-busiest in all of Europe, however the metropolis nonetheless makes an impression by way of its structure.
As cruise ships strategy this Belgian metropolis, alongside the calm Schelt River, friends witness an avant-garde marvel spawned by a genius. The Antwerp Port Authority constructing was transformed from a derelict hearth station right into a brash constructing that melds heritage with the innovative. One of many biggest architects in historical past, Iranian-British star Zaha Hadid selected to renovate the charming previous station, after which construct a sharp-angled, large glass field on high. It’s a becoming technique to crown Belgium’s profitable port.
Tulip season hotspots
Rubenshuis is the epitome of high quality over amount. It might not have the huge tulip fields many vacationers covet, however every April its a whole lot of blossoms personal a splendid backdrop, including color to the manicured gardens of this 17th-century Antwerp mansion turned artwork museum.
Tulips bloom in higher numbers at close by Hortus Conclusus, which suggests “enclosed backyard” in Latin. As much as 5,000 tulips, consisting of greater than 100 varieties, blanket this walled backyard, alongside Antwerp’s good-looking St George’s Church.
Past the Tulips
Antwerp is solely beautiful. Many non-Europeans are responsible of lumping this continent’s cities collectively, labelling all of them as beautiful. However there are ranges to such magnificence, as Antwerp makes patently clear. It’s straightforward to seek out your self wandering round staring, in appreciation, on the elegant Neoclassical and baroque structure that ornaments this splendidly well-preserved metropolis.
Biking is an effective way to discover town. Much like the strolling excursions provided by Windstar, the biking adventures reveal downtown Brussels’ best sights. Don’t miss locations embrace the lavish Grand Place plaza, the Gothic surprise that’s the Cathedral of our Girl, Antwerp’s historical Het Steen fort, and the futuristic MAS Museum, which focuses on town’s historical past.
Driving excursions, in the meantime, stray additional afield, to the Royal Fort of Laeken, King Boudewijn Stadium, the Centenaire exhibition halls, and Brussels’ quirky Atomium, a museum designed to resemble a molecule.
Bruges
Many cities comprise UNESCO World Heritage websites. However only a few cities are so outstanding that their whole historic centre earns UNESCO standing. Bruges is one such metropolitan unicorn. UNESCO calls Bruges an “excellent instance of a medieval historic settlement, which has maintained its historic material as this has developed over the centuries.”
Bruges’ medieval metropolis is pierced by canals, linked by cobblestone streets, and enhanced by a whole lot of memorable brick Gothic buildings. Initially it was protected by 12th century metropolis partitions, the stays of which now embrace ramparts, 4 hulking gates, and a water tower.
Tulip season hotspots
Bruges has no elite tulip recognizing places. However for a really spectacular expertise, take a day journey 50 miles’ east to the spacious grounds of Groot-Bijgaarden Fort, the place tens of 1000’s of tulips showcase throughout its annual Floralia Brussels, from April 3 to Could 3. Or head 40 miles’ east to the huge tulip fields of Koningskieldrechtpolder in Meerdonk.
Past the Tulips
Belgian beer is sort of as alluring as Bruges itself. So it is smart to pair them, as Windstar does throughout its tour to this metropolis’s long-running Bourgogne des Flandres brewery. At this downtown facility, friends be taught this firm’s distinctive course of for mixing younger and previous beers to supply its two types of beer.
Key sights to see in Bruges embrace its medieval metropolis heart, which is a UNESCO World Heritage website, its Markt (Market Sq.) and the Belfry of Bruges, the place you possibly can climb its tower for a panoramic metropolis view. Groeningemuseum options six centuries of Belgian visible arts, together with a serious assortment of Flemish primitive artwork. And a canal cruise by Bruges’ iconic waterways affords a recent perspective on this beautiful metropolis.
If beer isn’t your factor, don’t fret; Bruges can be well-known for its chocolate and waffles, and alternatives to expertise these types of the culinary arts can be found by way of shore excursions and impartial exploring.
Harlingen
You nearly want a magnifying glass to identify Harlingen on a map of Europe. This Dutch city of about 15,000 folks is tiny in comparison with the opposite ports on this itinerary. But Harlingen captivates with its rollicking maritime historical past, effectively preserved structure, picturesque New Willemshaven harbour, and quick access to the Netherlands’ distinctive Wadden Sea.
At that latter port, the place cruise ships dock, guests can admire towering tall ships and historic vessels utilized by famed Dutch explorers. Echoing throughout their decks are engrossing tales of daring expeditions. Such because the three unsuccessful missions to seek out the Northeast passage by 16th century seamen Willem Barentsz, who froze to dying within the Arctic, however whose ship stays right here.
Tulip season hotspots
Close to to Harlingen is the most important steady flower bulb space on the planet. Named Kop van Noord-Holland, this hall of fertile land is flanked by Ijsselmeer Lake and receives a mere smattering of tourists in comparison with the Netherlands’ high tulip spots, the world’s largest, steady space of flowering bulbs. Discipline after subject, blossom after blossom, hue after hue, it is a place tailormade for pictures, and for burning indelible recollections.
Past the Tulips
Tiny? Sure. Irrelevant? By no means. Harlingen punches a number of lessons above its weight in relation to sights. In truth, a lot in order that this tranquil city on the Netherlands’ central coast is linked to not one, not even two, however three UNESCO websites.
Instantly offshore lies the Wadden Sea, the world’s greatest unbroken system of intertidal mud and sand flats. This UNESCO surprise, which is dwelling to seals and porpoises, stretches greater than 400km (about 250 miles) north from right here to Denmark, previous fauna-rich estuaries, neat seashores, huge salt marshes, and dramatic dunes.
UNESCO additionally protects Woudagemaal, about 20 miles south of Harlingen. Granted, a steam pumping station might not sound significantly thrilling. But Woudagemaal shouldn’t be solely the world’s oldest such facility, relationship to 1920, however guests can enter this still-functioning facility to find out how its hydraulic powers pump away extra water, and forestall its surrounding areas from flooding.
A lot nearer to Harlingen is one other UNESCO website, Franeker Planetarium. Some 4 centuries in the past, this extraordinary creation fell out of the sky. Not actually, in fact, or this heavy, mechanical scale mannequin of the photo voltaic system would have dug a trench within the Dutch city of Franeker, 3 miles east of Harlingen. Moderately, this ingenious creation arrived on the planet as a shock, again in 1781. It was a shock as a result of it was constructed by a wool producer, reasonably scientists or college researchers.
