Tulips of Amsterdam – Photography tour
25th -29th April 2025
Led by Charlotte Bellamy
Introduction
Holland - just a short flight or train across the channel, but a world away from being in the UK. Most people know Holland for its tulips, cheese and windmills, and of course this photo tour will abound with both of these, but there is so much more to experience in this country which makes it a wonderful photographic destination.
I have been living in The Netherlands since 2012, and have handpicked a selection of locations that I love for their photographic opportunities and wide variation. My local knowledge will ensure you visit locations that give you a unique view on this small country.
Included in the tour is of course the chance to explore Amsterdam. On day one, your arrival day, we are (for the first time on this tour – a new addition for 2025) going to explore the modern architecture side of Amsterdam, that is often very much overlooked. Glass, reflections, sharp lines, blocks of monotone but sometimes colour, angularity and buildings that look like nothing you have ever seen before.
In contrast, the following morning we will return to Amsterdam, but this time to the wonderful area of the Jordaan – a unique area of the city that will make you wonder if you are in a city at all. The quiet canals offer amazing reflections, striking architecture as well and house boats and street life to photograph. The tiny side streets are full of greenery and often residents busy at work perched on the front steps of their house (weather allowing). Lunch at a pancake bakery before we head out of the city into the countryside for an afternoon of windmill photography.
This tour is not called ‘tulips of Amsterdam’ tour for nothing – We have a full day devoted to exploring the tulip fields North West of Amsterdam. I have been visiting this area for 10 years, and will know just where all the tulips are to find. It’s a bit like a tulip treasure hunt – you may even play tulip colour bingo! The variety is massive in colour and shape. Being in a small group will ensure you also get to make the call to stop if something catches your eye. Daffodils and possibly late blooming hyacinths will add to the overall experience for your senses.
In contrast to Amsterdam, you will also enjoy a day out in the rural villages of Edam and De Rijp, as well as the Beemster Polder. These villages are wonderful to explore, and, in complete contrast to the bustle of Amsterdam, you will feel the speed of life slow down.
A trip to Holland to see the tulips, would not be complete without visiting the world famous Keukenhof gardens. Whilst many think this is what tulips in Holland is all about, you will be in the unique position, to have experienced the bulb fields. Now you will notice how natural and open the fields were compared to the beautiful almost art like plantings of colour and design. We stay close to the gardens to ensure entry as the
gardens open at 8am – and to give you a couple of hours before the tour busses arrive to enjoy the location. As it becomes busier there will be opportunities to concentrate on photographing individual blooms, colours, patterns and macro.
During the tour, I will be more than happy to share my knowledge of photographing the Dutch landscape and tulips in a traditional manner. But I also love to work with ICM and multiple exposures and to look for the less obvious images of a location, so with my guidance you will have the opportunity to look at this super location in a very different way from the average visitor.
Accommodation Information
For this tour, we stay in various hotels, this will enable us to make the most of the locations at both ends of the day, should the weather provide us with opportunities to make early rising and later returns worthwhile.
Your hotels are as follows
Night of the 25th – Four Elements hotel https://fourelementshotel.com
I used this hotel last year for the first time, and it offered a great base from which to explore Amsterdam. It is located a little out of the city, and we will utilise the local trams to travel in and out of the city. Basing ourselves here, we have amazing modern architecture right on our doorstep.
Nights of 26th and 27th – Blooming hotel https://www.weareblooming.com/hotel
A hotel I have used on every tour I have run to the tulip fields. It is positioned perfectly for the tulip fields, within a 15 minute drive – so sunrise and sunset opportunities are easily reachable. It’s a lovely hotel, with a super restaurant onsite. It also has a pool, so if anyone thinks they may have the energy, bring your swimmers!
We are based here for 2 nights. I will be with you for check in, so you have nothing to worry about with regards that. Breakfasts are AMAZING here.
Night of 28th – Van De Valk Lisse https://www.hotelsassenheim.nl/
Again, another hotel I have used the last three years Not a quintessentially cozy hotel, But rooms are massive, is close by to Keukenhof, and breakfasts are available early, so we can get to the gardens as the gates open.
What to Expect and daily routine
April 25th – Day 1 – Arrival and afternoon/evening modern architecture tour of Amsterdam
After pick up from the airport (Flights to arrive by 12.00 mid-day), we will drive out to our hotel, and check in early if possible. Otherwise check in is from 3pm – so we can explore close to the hotel, then return for check in before heading further afield.
Amsterdam has the most amazing modern architecture offerings. To name but a few –the Eye museum, Nemo museum, the Valley building, the Sluishuis, and Heineken Hoek, the underground bike park, the central station and so much more. How many we manage to visit, will depend on how immersed you get in each!
Dinner in the city and overnight at The Four Elements hotel.
April 26th – Day 2 – Traditional Amsterdam and rural windmills.
Our first full day, offers a return trip by tram into the city of Amsterdam. But this time to explore the more traditional side of the city. One of my favourite areas is the Jordaan area of the city. Quiet canals, rippling reflections, houseboats, tiny street lines with green trees and a feeling of not being in a city at all. The morning will conclude with a pancake bakery lunch (the menu has more than just pancakes) for a tasty Dutch experience.
We will then return to the hotel by tram and then drive out of the city to explore a more rural outlook for the next few days. Our afternoon will include a couple of different windmill photographic options, before we drive onto our hotel out in the area of the tulip fields.
Dinner in a small village and overnight at Blooming hotel.
April 27th – Day 3 –
This day is devoted to all thing’s tulips! You will explore the bulb fields most of the day, with masses of opportunities to photograph the amazing colourful landscape. If the weather gods are on our side we may manage a sunrise shoot before returning to the hotel for breakfast. FYI sunrise is 6.20 while we are at this location. So it will mean a very early start – leaving the hotel at around 5.30 to ensure we are on location and all set up for the sunrise. This is completely optional – but you will need to decide the night before so I know if to wait for you!
During the day we will explore a lovely area that is full of tulip and daffodil fields. I love this area because it draws less tourists, so you can get right onto the edges of the fields (no walking among the tulips). The landscapes are also wide and open, with very few buildings, so this makes for wonderful photographic opportunities. In previous years there has also been a lovely show garden/place where a farmer plants small squares of varying tulip colours and breeds, which is lovely to visit as well for the variation in one place.
As it’s a small group, I will guide you to varied locations, but if something catches your eye, and you would like to stop, you are welcome to ask.
I imagine that you will probably be ‘tulipedout’ by mid-afternoon. So we will return to the hotel. I will plan an early dinner in case anyone wants to do a sunset shoot. – but it will be weather dependent.
If we are back earlier, we can also spend time looking at images or discussing post production.
This day is also ‘Kings day’ here in Holland and a day when the whole of the country parties. We are out in the fields most of the day, but we will embrace the tradition in our own special way!
Dinner in a small village and a second night at Blooming hotel.
April 28th – Day 4 –
Village life
After experiencing the bright lights and bustle of the city, today you will find yourself able to enjoy a slower pace of life, Dutch village style. We will head to the beautiful villages of Edam, De Rijp and the Beemster polder. Whilst Amsterdam offers grandeur and bustle, these small villages offer a slower pace of life, and intimate small canals just big enough for a rowing boat. I love these locations for the architecture, reflections, street photography and everything that is quintessentially Dutch – cheese and bikes!
On this day we travel onto the next overnight location towards the end of the day, so that we are ready for an early start at Keukenhof the next day.
April 29th – Day 5
Today is an early start – Breakfast as soon as it is open in the hotel at 7am, and in the bus to get to Keukenhof ready for when the gates open at 8am. This early start will be 100% worthwhile. Dew drops on petals and less people for the 1st couple of hours makes it a very special place to be. Everyone will get a map of the park, and I will mark on it super photographic opportunities. So you are welcome to stay with me, or do your own thing till we meet for coffee mid-morning.
By mid-morning the crowds do tend to build, and working closer to the flowers is a great way to utilize your time on macro, or details or play with ICM and multiple exposures.
We will have lunch at the park, before returning back to the airport in time for planned flights.
Transport
For the whole tour I will be driving a minibus. We will have a 9 person vehicle with plenty of room for each participant. However, there is no parking for over height vehicles in Amsterdam. So, for our Amsterdam excursion we will take the tram to and from the city centre.
Extra points of note
All your accommodation is including breakfast.
Except the one day when we need to be up early for Keukenhof, any early starts will be optional. Normally we will have breakfast around 8am to leave the hotel around 9am each day. Returning or being at the next hotel around 5pm each day.
Lunches and dinners are not included in the tour cost. I will book lunch and dinner locations to ensure vegetarian/vegan options are available. Most places take cards, but please ensure you also have some cash with you. For some reason, VISA cards are not always accepted here at smaller locations.
Sunset and sunrise shoots are weather dependent. As are the tulips. I have deliberately planned this tour at the peak time for the tulips (right in the middle of the flowering season) but I cannot guarantee what the weather will do regarding which fields will be in bloom. The same as the weather – it is changeable here in Holland – so please come prepared for a little rain. If we don’t get it, that will be a bonus.
Cost
2175 euros per person. Approx. £1845 GB pounds – (at the time of creating this info –August 2024)
Single room occupancy in double rooms including breakfast. Lunches, dinners and drinks are not included.
200 euros deposit required to secure your place payable via online link. The balance is paid via bank transfer.
Full terms and conditions will be sent to you with a booking form to complete.