When are the tulips in bloom in 2020?

The most F.A.Q. of every tulip season is: “When are the tulips in bloom?” Followed by the question: “I am travelling on date X, do you think the tulips will be in bloom?” It is an easy question to ask and it is also the hardest question to answer. Every season we follow the weather and see the flowers growing in the fields. Around two weeks in advance we can predict if a field is starting to bloom, and even then we can not be precise on the day.

Blooming depends on several things: time of planting by the farmer, weather & temperature during the winter months and the weather & temperature during springtime. A cold winter and springtime can cause a later blooming and more slowly. And warm weather will cause the tulips to bloom earlier and faster. We have been monitoring the blooming of the tulips since 2010. You can read our weekly tulip updates of the past years on this page on the website.

To give an example: in the beginning of April 2014 all the tulip fields were in bloom due to a warm winter and springtime. A year earlier in 2013 we had the tulips in the fields at the first week of May 2013. This is a time difference of 4 weeks.Tulips are generally in bloom in the fields for a three-week window.

During spring 2015 we had a regular spring time with the blooming starting around mid april until the first week of May. And in 2016 we had a regular spring at first but the weather turned very cold during April. In 2017 we had a warm start, followed by a very cold beginning of April and a warm end of April 2017.

And in 2018 we had freezing cold temperatures until mid April followed by 4 weeks of warm, wet weather. The tulips jumped out of the ground all in the same time.

Based on the last 10 years, the best chance to see tulips in bloom in the fields is the last two weeks of April. For visiting Keukenhof it is slightly different. Keukenhof plants its bulbs in lasagna style (in layers) so from the start of blooming until the end of season you find flowers in bloom. Keep in mind that when you travel in early or late season (near opening and closing times) there are less flowers in bloom as during peak season.

If 2020 will be an early, normal or late springtime is hard to say at this time (January 2020) of the year. The winter has been very mild up until now, warm for the time of the year.

From the beginning of March we will have the weekly flower updates to provide you information about the blooming status of the spring flowers. The blooming normally starts with the crocus at the beginning of March, followed by the bright yellow of the daffodils. Later on the hyacinths get in bloom and at last the tulips. Keukenhof will have several indoor greenhouses with lots of flowers on display for the visitors at the end of March when there are not as many tulips blooming outside.

Do you want to know what the status of the blooming is? Sign up for our free newsletter here. We will start by the beginning of March until the beginning of May. Wishing you a lovely spring season!

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