It’s time for tulips

Tulip picking garden, during National Tulip Day

On the third Saturday in January we celebrate National Tulip Day with a huge tulip picking garden. This day marks the start of the (cut) tulip season. Come to Dam Square (in Amsterdam) and pick your own bouquet of tulips. A unique experience for young and old.

Opening times

Be on time!

The tulip picking garden will be open to the public at 1pm, and then you can start to pick your own tulip bouquet. The garden closes when the tulips are all picked. So, don’t wait too long to join the queue.

Pick your own tulip bouquet

Pick up to 20 tulips and take them with you in a tulip bag

At the entrance to the tulip picking garden you will receive a biodegradable tulip bag, just the right size for 20 tulips. So, you can leave your own shopping bag safely at home!

Organisation

How to recognise volunteers

The tulip picking garden is organised to celebrate National Tulip Day, the start of the (cut) tulip season. The tulip picking garden is brought to you by all the Dutch tulip growers, united in TPN, the abbreviation for Tulip Promotion Netherlands. They want to make this tulip party a great success and they voluntarily dedicate themselves to making this day a celebration for you! You can recognise the volunteers by their orange jackets. If you have any questions for the growers, just ‘look out for an orange jacket’ and don’t hesitate to ask.

Entertainment

Waiting pays off during National Tulip Day

The tulip picking garden is extremely popular; make sure you arrive on time. The average waiting time is 30-60 minutes. While you wait you can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere and music. You can also have a look at the picking garden from the walkway, and get a good sense of the size.

Tulip picking garden rules

Make sure this tulip party can be enjoyed by everyone

  1. Please take care of yourself and your personal belongings; they are your responsibility.
  2. You will receive a tulip bag with enough room for a bunch of tulips.
  3. Do not bring your own shopping bag into the picking garden.
  4. Pick your own bunch of tulips (maximum 20 stems), so that even more people can pick their own bunch of spring happiness and can enjoy this moment too!
  5. Enjoy and share your enjoyment with everyone you love on #timefortulips #tuliptime.

Care

What do you do with the bulb?

You have picked your own tulip bouquets - bulb and all! But the bulb has used up all its energy on the (cut) tulip, and it will not flower again. What can you do with the bulb? Leave the tulip bulb in place and put the tulips in a vase, with little water. Or cut the stem of the tulip bulb (cut diagonally) and put the tulips in a vase with plenty of clean water.

Enjoy your tulips for longer:

  • First put the tulips in the vase in paper or foil for an hour. The tulips become saturated with water and this helps them to stay straight.
  • Find a clean vase and make sure it is tall enough: tulips can grow by a few centimetres.
  • Keep tulips out of full sunlight and away from the fruit bowl.
  • Tulips are very thirsty, so fill the vase regularly.

Frequently asked questions about the tulip picking garden

Is your question answered?

National Tulip Day has been celebrated at Dam Square since 2012, with a huge tulip picking garden. Here are the most frequently asked questions:
The tulip picking garden opens to the public at 1pm and closes once all the tulips have been picked. Make sure you join the queue on time.
The organisation will provide you with a special tulip bag (biodegradable), so you don’t have to worry about extra bags. The bag can fit exactly 20 tulips.
You can pick up to 20 tulips per person, this is the amount that will fit perfectly in the bag and means that the tulips will remain in good condition until they reach your vase.
The tulip bulbs have given all their energy to the (cut) tulip and will not flower again.
The tulip picking garden is organised by National Tulip Day. This day marks the start of the (cut) tulip season. The tulip picking garden is brought to you by all the Dutch tulip growers.
You do not have to pay for entrance, to visit the tulip picking garden.