MARCH 2023
Spring has just begun and blossom season is about to kick off! In this blogpost I have accumulated many cool spots I have visited over the years, which are all within a two hour drive of my home (Eindhoven). The weather is getting better, the days are getting longer and now is the time to go on a blossom hunt or flower adventure.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands is an amazing country to live in during spring, there is such a variety of flowers and blossoms, from the end of March there is always a phenomenon to enjoy. However, there are a few spots that are particularly good to watch the spring blossoms, which I have listed below.
Cherry blossom lane in Almere: Each year in the beginning of April you can find the cherry blossom lanes in the Regenboogbuurt in Almere. I make an annual trip of visiting these blossoms, they are the early cherry blossom kind, the one with the white-pinkish flowers. Because the cherries are planted in lanes they are super easy to photograph. You can find my blog post on Almere’s blossoms here.
Cherry blossom park in Amsterdam: In the Amsterdamse Bos you will find the cherry blossom park, they usually hit peak bloom at around the same time as the ones in Almere, at the beginning of April and if exceptionally sunny at the end of March. The Instagram of the Amsterdamse Bos is always pretty precise in predicting peak bloom. Just beware that the cherry blossoms are very popular and that it is best to visit really early or during the week.
Eindhoven blossom guide: Okay, this is not really a phenomenon, but Eindhoven is my home town and it has some gorgeous blossoms. You can find them all in my Eindhoven blossom guide.
Daffodil fields: At the end of March you can visit the daffodil fields in the region of Lisse. I visited the daffodil fields of Fam Flower Farm, but you can also visit the fields for free. If you just drive around Lisse at the end of March you will find the yellow flowers all around and if you are lucky you will run into hyacinths as well.
Tulips: From half April – beginning of May the Netherlands becomes a tulip festival. There are several areas in the Netherlands where you can find the tulips with their rainbow colors. I have written several blogposts about the tulip fields. If you want to know what the best spots are to visit the tulip fields, you must check out this blog.
Bluebells: Around half May the bluebell forest is in bloom in Ockenburgh near The Hague. It is a beautiful, serene phenomenon to be surrounded by these purple flowers in a forest. You can check out the Instagram of Landgoed Ockenburgh to find out when the flowers are in bloom. Check out my blogpost here.
Belgium
Japanese gardens in Hasselt: In Hasselt you will find beautiful Japanese gardens that really brighten up during cherry blossom season. We visited on March 24 2023 and took the pictures below, with the early cherry blossoms. In a few weeks the second round of cherries will start to bloom! Tickets are only € 5 and can be bought at the entrance. Find my blog here.
Vrijbroekpark in Mechelen: You can find a lane with hot pink cherries in the Vrijbroekpark in Mechelen. They usually bloom somewhere in April, which is usually indicated on the Instagram of Vrijbroekpark. I visited on a weekend and was surprised this spot was not more popular, a real gem! Near Mechelen you can find Edegem with the cherries at the Boniverlei.
Plantentuin Meise: These botanical gardens are located near Brussels and definitely worth a visit if you love magnolias. There are two areas where you will find magnolias, the hot pink ones and the blush ones. The magnolia trees are huge and you can even hide in them, they are like a little house 🙂 Tickets costs € 10 for adults and this includes the entrance into the stunning glasshouses.
Wisteria at the botanical garden of Leuven: The botanical garden of Leuven features a beautiful glasshouse that is overgrown with wisteria. The botanical garden (Kruidtuin) is free to enter and is a fun activity by itself on a sunny day, but you must visit for the wisteria! Usually the wisteria is in bloom at the end of April. Read about my experience here.
Bluebells in Hallerbos: The Bluebells in Hallerbos are the big sister of those in Ockenburgh and they will put The Hague to shame. The Hallerbos is massive and overgrown with these purple wild hyacinths. It’s a fantasy come true, check out my recommendations here. The bluebells usually bloom in May, but we visited them at the end of April last year. The window to see this phenomenon is very short, so plan according to the website of the Hallerbos.
ONE GERMANY BLOSSOM RECOMMENDATION
Okay, Germany is not Netherlands or Belgium, but for both countries this spot is quite nearby and an activity one should not miss out on: cherry blossoms in Bonn. The cherry blossoms in the Heerstrasse and Breitestrasse are a spectacular sight. In 2022 the cherry blossoms reached their peak in the beginning of April, but this can differ a few weeks annually. Read about my experience in Bonn here.
