Many of our visitors want to experience a tulip farm. This year, starting from Amsterdam, we are organizing a magnificent tour to a tulip garden called "The Tulip Barn" in Hillegom. On this farm they have created a beautiful garden where you can learn about their operations. Located in the bulb region and only 5 minutes from Keukenhof - the world's largest flower park - the setting is truly exceptional.
Can I Walk Among the Fields in a Tulip Farm?
It’s important to know that all the tulip fields you see blooming in the Netherlands are not maintained for the beauty of the flowers, but rather to allow the bulbs to grow. In fact, all the blooms will eventually be removed—what a shame, right? However, the tulip farmer doesn't mind, as he wants to have a bountiful harvest of tulips or daffodils next year and is pleased when he can cultivate a large bulb.
The farmer's goal is to produce a large crop; the idea is that the more robust the growth, the larger the bulb will become. Therefore, farmers often prefer that visitors do not walk through their fields. Many have established designated tulip gardens where tourists can stroll without disturbing the crop.
How Does the Tulip Process Work?
Learn directly from the tulip farmer and discover the fascinating process behind cultivating these iconic flowers.
Short Explanation
Tulips are planted as small bulbs, which have from November to April to develop into a full crop. In April and May, as the flowers begin to bloom, the farmer carefully inspects them for diseases—often noticeable as mosaic patterns in what are known as Rembrandt tulips. Once all the diseased blooms are removed and the flowers have fully matured, they are cut so that the energy is redirected back into the bulb.
During May and June, the bulb absorbs all available energy and grows into a fully developed bulb with small “baby” bulbs attached. When the bulbs are ripe for harvest in July, they are collected. The larger bulbs are sold worldwide for planting in gardens or for greenhouse production, while the smaller bulbs are replanted, restarting the entire process.
How Do Tulips Appear in Supermarkets in January?
Normally, one would say that tulips only bloom in the spring, which is when they can be purchased. That is indeed how it used to be. However, in spring, people are often outdoors—at the beach, on vacation, or enjoying terrace life—so you might not be home long enough to fully appreciate your bouquet. To address this, some tulip growers decided to accelerate the process by using greenhouses.
Accelerated Process in the Greenhouses
The method is simple: a tulip needs about 15 weeks to produce a new flower within its bulb. Farmers discovered that by heating a greenhouse, they can trick the tulips into believing that it is already spring, prompting them to bloom even in winter. As a result, after tulips are harvested from the ground in July, they can begin to bloom again 15 weeks later.
This allows consumers to enjoy beautiful spring tulips indoors throughout the winter. Thanks to this innovation, tulips have become very popular, and you can now find them in supermarkets from December through May.
Process Overview by Date
| Period | Activity |
|---|---|
| November – April | Tulip bulbs are planted and allowed to develop into a full crop. |
| April – May | As the flowers begin to bloom, they are inspected for diseases (e.g., mosaic patterns in Rembrandt tulips) and diseased blooms are removed. |
| May – June | The healthy, fully matured flowers are cut, redirecting energy back into the bulb, which then absorbs energy and develops "baby" bulbs. |
| July | Ripe bulbs are harvested; larger bulbs are sold globally for garden planting or greenhouse production, while smaller bulbs are replanted for regeneration. |
| Accelerated (Greenhouse Process) | In heated greenhouses, tulips are induced to bloom earlier (even in winter), allowing fresh tulips to be available from December through May. |
