Experience the Bollenstreek Flower Parade Noordwijk 2026
The tulip blossom Holland did it to us. We've been there before traveling in the Netherlands to see tulips. Now let's learn more about how they're bred. We drive from ours Houseboat by boat to Bollenstreek. We have the opportunity to see this firework of colors and flowers. When we received the invitation from Simone from nach-holland.de If you come to the flower parade between Harlem and Noordwijk, we immediately say yes. We don't think twice and drive to the Bollenstreek flower parade.
You can get an impression of the flower parade in Bollenstreek in our video.
We have three days for the tulip blossom in Holland. We want to learn more about this parade. This will be held for the 2025th time in 78. At the flower parade, the tulip growers of Holland celebrate themselves and their tulips with a parade and an event that extends over several days. They travel through the country in wagons laden with tulips. Every year the flower parade has a different motto.
The construction of the carriages for the flower corso in Sassenheim
In Sassenheim near Lisse, the floats for the pageant are prepared. Volunteers help decorate the floats with hyacinths, tulips, and other flowers. They're working hard on it. Some of the cars are so big that it seems impossible that they will be ready by the time they are presented in Noordwijkerhout on Friday. The motifs for the wagons are designed in the summer of the previous year.
Responsible for this is Wilma Mesman, the art director of the flower parade. She says that sometimes it's not easy to decorate the floats the way they were originally planned. Because Mother Nature still has a say in the design. If the tulips or hyacinths are not blooming in the colors needed to decorate the floats at the time of the flower parade, things will get tight. "And what do you do when there aren't enough buds available?" I ask. Wilma laughs and says: "Then we'll have to change the designs." So it was a nail-biter.
The presentation of the tulip wagons in Noordwijkerhout
However, we don't notice any difficulties in procuring the tulips when we look at the floats on Friday evening. The winners of the Bollenstreek flower parade have now been determined. When we visited, the first prize went to the float of the Keukenhof a. This shows tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. A firework of colors that is second to none. The king's carriage received second prize. This is drawn by horses with flower manes. The "royal couple" waves to us from their car during the parade. Other floats feature windmills, castles and even the hats of Queen Beatrix and Queen Maxima. The theme is gaining the upper hand this year, even if there are other themed floats.
Finally, the floats of the Bollenstreek flower parade will be presented to the public in Noordwijkerhout. Some of the passengers are already there. Damsels in robes and pointed caps like in the Middle Ages. Little boys on a bicycle filled with tulips with wooden shoes. But also a company of men and women in green suits and red hair. However, their role is not entirely clear to us. But they always have fun.
In the center of Noordwijkerhout, we can admire more floats. It isn't long before "De Koetillers" get the crowd going with their rhythms. What we initially thought was a village brass band turns out to be a band that quickly gets people dancing.
What you need for a visit to the Bollenstreek flower parade
- You will definitely do a lot of walking at the Tulip Parade. Therefore are comfortable shoes are important.
- If you are planning an elegant evening, then you should pumps .
- In a backpack You can store everything you need for the day, for example.
- Also, don't forget your camera not, because the floats and the parade tempt to take photos.
Tulip Blossom Holland: The Bollenstreek Flower Corso from Voorhout to Haarlem
On Saturday the time has finally come. We take a boat from ours Houseboat in Warmond to Voorhout to start the move. An ingenious solution! This way we avoid the traffic jams and waiting times that we would otherwise have to expect when visiting the flower parade. Instead, our captain Rien drives us comfortably and warmly wrapped up through the canals to the start of the flower parade. There we also have a view of the cars and the music groups. They form up just a few meters away from us and eventually lead the procession.
Then they pass by in all their glory. The damsels wave and the “royal couple” give us a friendly nod. The men and women in suits and with red hair are still up to mischief, the meaning of which is not entirely clear to us. In between, music bands and tambourine drummers now mix with marching music and drum rolls. Nearby, cheerleaders twirl their pom-poms. A great sight and definitely an experience as the cars pass us by!
The flower parade in the Bollenstreek is definitely a festival that we won't soon forget!
The flower corso in the Bollenstreek 2026
The Tulip parade will take place on April 18, 2026.
You can watch the carriages being assembled in the Klingenberghal in Sassenheim (address: Rijksstraatweg 52 | 2171 AM | Sassenheim). Three days before the parade on April 15, 2026, the floats are prepared. There are already events celebrating the tulips leading up to the parade.
Flower parade in Noordwijkerhout
On April 17th, starting at 9:00 PM. We recommend arriving early. This event is very popular.
The route of the flower parade on Saturday, April 18, 2026:
THE ROUTE ON SATURDAY
Noordwijk
A parade will take place between 8:00 and 9:00 AM.
Huis ter Duinstraat – Nieuwe Zeeweg – Duinweg
Via de Grent via Queen Wilhelmina Boulevard
Vuurtorenplein – Quarles van Uffordstraat – Grandstand 09.26
Via Quarles van Uffordstraat to Van Panhuysstraat
Van Panhuysstraat roundabout to Weteringkade
Weteringkade roundabout to Zeestraat 09:53
Roundabout Heilige Geestweg to Gooweg
Viaduct N206 – Van Berckelweg 10.26
Van Berckelweg to Leidsevaart (departure of the brass bands)
Voorhout
Leidsevaart – Entrance KTS (marching bands join in) 10:53
Herenstraat – Plus Supermarket – Grandstand 11.03
Herenstraat – railway crossing – grandstand
Oosthoutlaan 11.08
Sassenheim
Rijksstraatweg 59 (Verschoor Cranes) – Grandstand12.01
Warmunderweg (A44) 12.09
PAUSE – Cars line up along Hoofdstraat
The parade starts at 2 PM from the De Oude Tol party center.
Sassenheim North Roundabout 14.21
Lisse
Heereweg – 3e Poellaan – Grandstand 14.28
2e Poellaan – De Engel roundabout 14.53
Heereweg – De Loft – TEAR 15.09
Army Road – Town Hall – Roundabout 15.23
Lisse Town Hall (TV cameras)
via 't Vierkant to Westelijke Randweg 15.27
Keukenhof 15.44
Hillegom
16.30 Leidsestraat – Arnoudbrug (marching bands perform)
17.05 Hoofdstraat 18 – Grandstand
17.14 Via Weeresteinstraat to Haarlemmerstraat
Bennebroek
18.02 Rijksstraatweg
18.14 Traffic light at Zwarteweg
18:27 Break – stationary procession along Rijksstraatweg – Prinsenlaan
19:40 Departure from Linnaeushof
Heemstede
19.50 Herenweg 29A
8:00 PM Entrance Groenendaal (TV cameras / brass bands will follow)
20,26 Via Van Merlenlaan and Raadhuisstraat
Inland route
20,56 Via Lanckhorstlaan to Herenweg (N208)
Haarlem
21.04 Herenweg – Westelijke Randweg (N208) intersection
21.18 Via Wagenweg to Houtplein
21.30 Houtplein
21.40 Via Gasthuissingel and Kampervest
21.46 Turf Market
21.49 Gedempte Oude Gracht – Verwulft
22.00 p.m. Gedempte Oude Gracht – Raaks (end of the parade)
10:00 PM: The cars line up along the Gedempte Oude Gracht.
The route of the flower parade:
Noordwijk
Voorhout
Sassenheim
Lisse
Hillegom
Bennebroek
Heemstede
Haarlem
Do you like traveling to the Bollenstreek flower parade in your motorhome?
- A campsite nearby is the Buitenplaats de Strandwal, Kraaierslaan 12, 2211 ZE Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands. There are other campsites in the area.
- Do you want to rent a motorhome? Then you will find information here as well as booking options. Or would you prefer to stay overnight roof tent on the car? Also the overnight stay in camping tents is possible.
- Check our packing list for campers to see whether you have packed everything for your motorhome tour.
- Why is a folding e-bike useful when camping?
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Trip organization:
Parking at the airport
Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.
Arrival to the Bollenstreek flower parade
Compare and book flights here*. KLM and Lufthansa will follow Amsterdam. From there you can then continue your journey by rental car or public transport.
Car Rentals:
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Accommodations near the Bollenstreek Blumencorso:
Hotels, apartments and other accommodation in the area * You can also book through our partner booking.com at this link.
You can also find the reports of the other participants in our blogger trip about the Bollenstreek Blumencorso here:
- Nicole Biarnes from Freibeuter Reisen has it The smell of hyacinths done.
- Katharina Unger from the Netherlands blog looks behind the scenes of the Blumencorso.
- Simone from nach-Holland.de tells that a whale made the start at the flower parade in the year 1947.
- This is how Claudia from Claudi around the world experiences the flower parade, How I fell into flower wonderland in Holland
Do you know this?
Source Bollenstreek Blumencorso: research on site. We would definitely like to thank Simone from Nach-Holland.de and Olympia Charters for inviting us to and organizing this trip. However, our opinions remain our own.
Text Bollenstreek Flower Corso: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TWO
Photos Bollenstreek flower corso © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TWO
Video Bollenstreek flower corso © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TWO