Tulip season in the Netherlands heralds the start of spring and an accompanying tourist boom, as travellers flock to the Netherlands to get in on some of that flowery action. From the end of March to the start of May, the fields of the Dutch countryside transform into a vibrant mesh of colour, and the colourful tulips become the unofficial ambassadors of the Netherlands in spring. Keukenhof, the Netherlands’ very own flower garden, is a prime destination during this season, but gets incredibly congested with tourists – difficult for that perfect, candid Instagrammable shot when there’s someone also trying to take that perfect shot in the background.

Instead of fighting with the crowds at Keukenhof, why not go on a bicycle tour of the surrounding bulb fields of the Bollenstreek (Dutch Flower Bulb Region)? Using the city of Haarlem as your base, cycle southward from Harlem, following a canal called Leidsevaart all the way down towards the heart of Bollenstreek, to a town called Lisse. The whole journey spans 18 kilometres and should take about 90 minutes to 180 minutes, depending on your pace. Once at Lisse, explore the colourful tulip fields to your heart’s content; photographers start snapping away! If you can’t get enough of these beautiful tulip fields, you can even swing by the Keukenhof after. The return journey to Haarlem follows the same route back.