Visiting Keukenhof Gardens on a River Cruise: Is It Worth It?
I visited Keukenhof Gardens in May 2023 while sailing on Avalon Waterways’ Romantic Rhine itinerary. I was travelling with my mum and dad, along with four of their friends, which made it a lovely experience to share as a group.
Having already sailed on the Danube, the Rhine was next on my list of European rivers to experience. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Keukenhof Gardens would still be open during our sailing and that we could visit on one of the final days of the cruise while our ship was docked in Amsterdam.
Having worked in the travel industry for many years, I had heard plenty about Keukenhof Gardens. I was looking forward to finally seeing it for myself and finding out whether one of the world’s most famous flower gardens really lived up to the hype.
Visiting Keukenhof Gardens from our river cruise
We had booked an afternoon excursion to Keukenhof through Avalon Waterways. We were collected directly from the ship in Amsterdam, and the coach journey to the gardens took around 45 minutes.
When we arrived, our local guide explained that we would have approximately three hours to explore independently. One of the benefits of visiting as part of an organised river cruise excursion was that our entrance had already been arranged, so we could head straight inside rather than joining the queues to purchase tickets.
Our guide gathered the group together for a short introduction, pointed out some of the main areas to see and then left us to explore at our own pace.
My first impressions of Keukenhof Gardens
My immediate impression was that there were a lot of people. Keukenhof is only open for a short period each spring, so it is naturally a very popular place to visit.
However, after passing the first few large flower beds near the entrance, visitors began to spread out across the gardens. Although the most recognisable areas remained busy, there were plenty of paths and quieter corners where we could enjoy the displays without feeling surrounded by crowds.
The scale of the gardens also took me by surprise. This is not somewhere you simply walk around in half an hour. There are landscaped flower beds, winding paths, ponds, sculptures, indoor pavilions and plenty of distinctly Dutch photo opportunities to discover along the way.
More than rows of tulips
Although Keukenhof is best known for its tulips, there is much more to see than outdoor flower beds. Several large pavilions are positioned around the gardens, each containing its own style of flower exhibition. The Beatrix Pavilion is known for colourful displays featuring flowers such as orchids, cymbidiums and anthuriums, while the Oranje Nassau and Willem-Alexander pavilions host changing flower shows throughout the season. Walking through them felt a little like visiting a series of indoor flower shows. Each display had been carefully arranged using different colours, varieties and creative designs from growers within the Dutch flower industry. It reminded me slightly of the Chelsea Flower Show, but with the exhibitions spread between several different pavilions around the gardens.
Between the pavilions, the outdoor spaces were filled with tulips in almost every colour imaginable. The planting had been carefully designed, with contrasting shades and varieties creating a different view around almost every corner.
Classic Dutch photo opportunities
Throughout Keukenhof there are plenty of references to the Netherlands and its flower-growing heritage. One of the most popular photo stops is the oversized Dutch clog, which naturally had a queue of visitors waiting to climb inside for a photograph. It is one of those slightly touristy pictures that you simply have to take when you are there.
The traditional windmill is another of the garden’s best-known landmarks and one of the busiest areas of the park. Around the clog and windmill, the crowds were noticeably larger because these are some of the main photo opportunities. However, once we moved away from these areas, the gardens quickly felt more spacious again.
Is three hours long enough at Keukenhof?
We had around three hours to explore, which was enough time to see a good selection of the gardens and pavilions. However, we chose to keep walking rather than stop for a meal or a long coffee break because we wanted to make the most of the time available. There were quite a few places where visitors could stop for lunch, coffee or refreshments. With a longer visit, I would definitely recommend slowing the pace, finding somewhere to sit and spending some time people-watching while enjoying the surroundings. Three hours worked well as part of an organised river cruise excursion, particularly for a first visit. We saw a lot, but we still needed to be mindful of the time and make sure we returned to the meeting point for the coach. If you are travelling independently and enjoy gardens, photography or simply taking your time, you could comfortably spend much longer there.
Do you need to be a keen gardener?
I enjoy looking around gardens, but I am certainly not a gardener or a flower expert. I also did not have one particular pavilion or area that stood out as my favourite. For me, it was the sheer number and variety of tulips across the whole site that made the biggest impression. Seeing so many different colours, shapes and carefully designed displays across such a large area really does take you by surprise. Photographs give you an idea of what to expect, but they do not fully capture the scale of it.
You do not need to know the names of different tulip varieties or understand how the displays have been planted to enjoy Keukenhof. You can simply appreciate the colours, the creativity and the amount of work that goes into presenting the gardens each spring.
Are there still tulips at the end of the Keukenhof season?
Before visiting, I did wonder what the gardens would look like because we were there during the final few days of the season. I was concerned that many of the tulips might already have finished flowering, but I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed. There were still plenty of colourful tulips and impressive displays throughout the gardens.
Our guide explained that different varieties of bulbs are planted to flower at different stages during Keukenhof’s short opening season. This helps to ensure that visitors can experience colour whether they arrive towards the beginning, middle or end of the season. The exact timing will always depend on nature and the weather, including temperatures and rainfall, so every year will be slightly different. However, visiting towards the end of the season certainly did not take away from our experience. I still came away feeling that I had seen Keukenhof Gardens as I had always imagined it.
The benefit of visiting Keukenhof on a river cruise
Visiting Keukenhof as part of our Avalon Waterways river cruise made the day very straightforward. We were collected directly from the ship, our entrance had already been arranged, and we did not need to organise transport from Amsterdam or worry about timings. We also had a guide to explain how the visit would work and where we needed to meet for the return journey.
The trade-off was that we had a fixed amount of time inside the gardens. However, for a first visit, I felt that the convenience of an organised excursion outweighed that limitation. It was especially helpful during such a busy time of year, when Keukenhof attracts visitors from all over the world.
Is Keukenhof Gardens worth visiting?
Keukenhof is one of those places that many people have heard about and hope to experience at least once. Having now visited for myself, I would definitely recommend it. The scale of the gardens and the amount of spring colour on display really do live up to expectations.
It is not only for keen gardeners. It would also appeal to photographers, couples, families, groups of friends and anyone who enjoys being outdoors and seeing somewhere distinctly different. The gardens can be busy, particularly around the main landmarks and photo stops, but the site is large enough for visitors to spread out. Once we moved beyond the entrance and the most recognisable attractions, the crowds did not stop us from enjoying the experience.
For me, Keukenhof Gardens was a real bucket-list destination. It was somewhere I had heard about for years, and I was pleased to finally experience it as part of my Rhine river cruise.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Keukenhof Gardens
What river cruises visit Keukenhof Gardens?
Many spring cruises along the Dutch and Belgian waterways offer the opportunity to visit Keukenhof Gardens while the park is open. These itineraries often visit Amsterdam and may include Keukenhof as an organised excursion or an optional experience.
Selected Rhine river cruises that begin, end or call in Amsterdam during the spring season may also offer a visit to Keukenhof. This is how I visited the gardens during my Avalon Waterways Romantic Rhine cruise.
Keukenhof is not included on every spring sailing, so it is important to check the individual itinerary and excursion programme before booking. Our team at The River Cruise Company can help you find cruises that include or offer the opportunity to visit the gardens.
When is Keukenhof Gardens open in 2027?
Keukenhof Gardens is scheduled to open every day from 18 March to 9 May 2027. The opening period is relatively short and coincides with the spring flowering season. The displays change throughout the season because different bulbs flower at different times, and the exact timing is influenced by the weather.
Final thoughts
Our visit to Keukenhof was a memorable addition to the final part of our Avalon Waterways Romantic Rhine sailing. It combined the convenience of an organised river cruise excursion with enough independent time to explore the gardens at our own pace. Although three hours passed quickly, we were able to see the outdoor tulip displays, explore several of the pavilions and take the traditional photographs by the clog and windmill. I had wondered whether visiting during the final days of the season might be too late, but there was still an extraordinary amount of colour throughout the gardens. Keukenhof lived up to the hype for me, and I would recommend adding it to your list if you are considering a spring river cruise through the Netherlands.
If you would like help finding a river cruise that visits Amsterdam and offers the opportunity to experience Keukenhof Gardens, contact The River Cruise Company and our team will be happy to talk you through the options.