How to Visit The Tulip Barn: a Treasure Trove of Tulips
Last Updated on 11th May 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
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As you might have gathered from the name, The Tulip Barn is dedicated to all things tulip related! Located on the fringes of a little town in the Netherlands by the name of Hillegom. Here’s how to visit The Tulip Barn, as well as what to know before you go!
Contents
What is the Tulip Barn?
Despite what its name suggests, the majority of the Tulip Barn is actually an outdoors location. This is essentially a place where you can take ‘Instagram-worthy’ photos surrounded by swathes of tulips and indulge in the spectacle of vibrant colours in full bloom!
One of the best places to visit tulips in the Netherlands, The Tulip Barn is open daily from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM during the tulip season, which is typically late March – early May.
In 2024, the Tulip Barn will open from the 29th of March to the 28th of April. Tulip season has arrived much earlier than normal in the Netherlands, and so while the barn was meant to be open until May the 12th, this will no longer be the case.
Where is the tulip barn?
The Tulip Barn is located just outside of the village of Hillegom, which is a small residential town situated in the Western Netherlands.
How to get there
The suggested way to get there is actually via public transport or by bicycle, as there are limited parking spaces. Just a 25 minute train from Amsterdam to Hillegom, and then it’s a short 15-20 minute walk to the Tulip Barn. Alternatively, you can take the cycle route through the picturesque Bollenstreek area.
Much of the Netherlands is flat so cycling or by foot is an idyllic way to soak up the surrounding flower fields before you reach the main event!
A brief history of The Tulip Barn
The Tulip Barn is a relatively new flower experience which only opened in 2021. However, the family behind this tulip treasure trove have been in the business of tulips for over a century!
The family-run business, Ruigrok Flowerbulbs history dates all the way back to 1880 when Willem Ruigrok started a small flower bulb nursery in De Zilk, which today is the heart of Holland’s flower bulb district.
Inspired by his father’s work, Carolus started his own bulb business in 1910 at the age of 20. Together they built two warehouses and soon began exporting products in Europe. Passed on between generations, the bulb business reached its 6th generation of Ruigroks’ in 2018.
Today, Ruigrok Flowerbulbs is one of the Netherland’s largest growers and exporters of flower bulbs. Growing crocus, hyacinths, daffodils and tulips over a whopping scale of 300 acres, the business pride themselves on their sustainability and use of over 2,600 solar panels.
The Tulip Barn was an addition to the family business, and opens up the opportunity for people to learn more about their growth as a company, as well as experience the Dutch delights of tulips for themselves!
How to visit
How much does a visit cost?
General admission to the tulip gardens costs €8.50 adult (12+). We actually bought our tickets on arrival, but if you prefer to you can book your ticket online in advance through their official website.
Typically, people spend between 45 – 60 minutes visiting, depending on whether you stop by the cafe for a refreshment or bite to eat (which I highly recommend!)
Tulip Garden ‘selfie garden’
Boasting of over 750,000 flowers which consist of 175 varieties of tulips, this breathtaking sight is sure to amaze all those who visit. The best part of this particular tulip garden is that you are allowed to walk through the tulips.
Most tulip fields in popular tourist spots actually have signs saying please keep out of the fields, definitely don’t walk in these fields or, worse still, pick the flowers as this is someone’s livelihood.
The purpose of this tulip garden is to offer an interactive experience where visitors can fully immerse themselves in the vibrant blooms of colour and take photographs. For those looking for that ‘Instagrammable’ shot, at The Tulip Barn they have placed various colourful objects (a car, bicycle, heart shaped bench etc.) which compliment the flowers and allow you to get that perfect snap!
Café at The Tulip Barn
Truth be told, one of my favourite aspects of visiting The Tulip Barn was the quirky café set within a greenhouse beside the flower field.
This cosy café serves a variety of hot and cold drinks and delicious food, including Dutch fries and sandwiches. Offering a tranquil spot to sit and relax in once you’ve got your fill of tulips, you can relax with a light refreshment while enjoying the tulip themed decor.
When is the Amsterdam tulip season?
The weather in the Netherlands is quite hard to predict, but generally speaking the Amsterdam tulip season tends to be from late March to early May, meaning that the best time to visit would be in mid-April. For an exact idea on which tulips are blooming and when, I recommend checking this website.
You should also know that the weather can change fairly quickly and so you’ll want to bring waterproofs and shoes that do well in rain with you, as even the clearest of days can turn rainy fairly fast. If you have to plan your trip well in advance, aim to visit mid April to be able to see the tulips.
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