Tulip Festival Amsterdam
Every April, Amsterdam transforms into one big flower exhibition. The Tulip Festival Amsterdam is a free, city-wide event that brings tulips to more than 85 locations across the city — from museum gardens and canal houses to public squares and hotel courtyards. No entrance fee, no single venue: just the city in full bloom.
What is the Tulip Festival Amsterdam?
The Tulip Festival Amsterdam is an annual event organized in collaboration with Amsterdam's most iconic locations. Each participating venue creates its own tulip display, making the entire city centre a living exhibition. It's the perfect way to experience tulip season without leaving Amsterdam — and a great starting point before heading out to the tulip fields or Keukenhof Gardens.
The festival is organized by the same people behind the broader Dutch tulip season, which runs from late March through mid-May across the country. For a full overview of all tulip events in the Netherlands, see our tulip festival near me page.
Dates and Locations
April 1–30, 2026 | Amsterdam city centre
The festival runs for the entire month of April. Displays are spread across more than 85 locations, including:
- Museum gardens (such as the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum)
- Hotel courtyards and entrances
- Public squares and bridges
- Canal-side gardens and private courtyards
The full map of all participating locations is published each year on the official website: tulpfestival.com.
Free Entry
All outdoor displays are completely free to visit. You can walk from location to location at your own pace using the official festival map. For displays inside museum gardens, standard museum admission may apply — but the tulip displays themselves are always free.
There is no ticket needed and no registration required. Simply pick up the map (available at most hotels and tourist offices) or download it online, and start exploring.
Highlights and Must-See Spots
Some of the most popular locations during the festival include the garden of the Rijksmuseum, the courtyards along the Keizersgracht and Herengracht, and several hotel gardens in the Jordaan neighbourhood. Every year, new locations are added and displays are refreshed, so even returning visitors will find something new.
The variety of tulip varieties on show is remarkable — from classic red and yellow tulips to rare fringed and parrot varieties. Each location chooses its own display style, which makes walking the full route a genuinely diverse experience.
Tips for Your Visit
Go on a weekday. The most popular locations — especially near the Rijksmuseum — can get busy on weekends. Weekday mornings are noticeably quieter.
Bring the map. Not all locations are easy to spot from the street. The official festival map is essential for finding hidden courtyard gardens and smaller displays.
Visit early in April. Tulips at outdoor locations are at their freshest in the first two weeks of the month. By late April, some displays may have passed their peak.
Combine with a canal walk. Many locations are along the main canals, making the festival a natural fit with a walking tour of Amsterdam's historic centre.
Combine with Other Events
The Tulip Festival Amsterdam runs alongside the wider Dutch tulip season. If you want to go beyond the city, here are the best options to combine with your visit:
- Keukenhof Gardens — the world's largest flower garden, open March 19–May 10 in Lisse (40 minutes from Amsterdam)
- Tulip Tour from Amsterdam — a guided day trip to the real tulip fields north of Amsterdam
- Flower Parade — on April 18, enormous floats covered in fresh flowers travel from Noordwijk to Haarlem
For a complete overview of all tulip festivals and events in the Netherlands in 2026, visit our tulip festival near me page.
