You are spending the better part of a (hopefully) gorgeous afternoon walking the impeccably-manicured grounds of Keukenhof: enjoying the plethora of tulips and flowers, ascending the windmill to get views of the grounds, admiring the various statues and fountains, taking endless selfies and photos galore on your phone, and in general looking around in awe. And now you’re maxed out: enough floral eye candy, enough manicured lawns, enough gift shops, and enough being jostled by the crowds! Time to decompress with a bike ride!
Across the P1 car park you’ll find the official Keukenhof Bike Rental site where you rent a bicycle for either 3 hours (€12.50) or the full day (€17.50). You’re handed a map with four color-coded routes– blue (5km), purple (10km), green (15 km) and red (25 km) – before being directed to the car park exit where your ride begins.
Due to time constraints, I chose the Purple Route. Almost immediately I saw the first or many signposts which clearly directs bikers along their chosen route. Purple takes you along multiple tulip farms before arriving in Lisse whose cafes and streets were filled with people enjoying the sunny weather. I took approximately 40 minutes to complete the ride without the recommended stops to visit Lisse or a nearby cathedral. Maybe another time. I completed my ride by returning the bike, found my wife, and drove back to our hotel.
Not surprisingly – it is the Netherlands – the ride was fairly flat and not very strenuous, which was just right for me on this day. The route use both dedicated bike paths and roads, though fortunately the roads had little actual traffic (a few cars and a tractor). The bikes are typical Dutch commuter bikes seen throughout the country, with a gear shifter on the right handlebar, adjustable seats, and comfortable.
Final Thoughts
A very pleasant way to end the day, relaxing with a little exercise built in. Two notes:
- The bike rides are outside of Keukenhof itself and requires leaving the gardens. I do not believe you can re-enter after the ride.
- I recommend purchasing your bike ride online prior to your arrival, allowing to bypass the long, slow-moving queue to purchase on-site and instead just pick up your bike and go.
- More people ride mid- to late-afternoon, which may exhaust the supply of bikes and delay your start. My bike was checked-in and immediately handed to the first person in line.
Image Credits
- Map image © Keukenhof
- Picture © 2026 Scott C Sosna, all rights reserved.
