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What is ‘Bloemencorso Bollenstreek’ or ‘Flower Parade of the Bulb Region’ in the Netherlands?

Being the largest exporter of flowers globally and accounting for two-thirds of the world's total floral sales, the Netherlands is aptly dubbed as the ‘Land of Flowers.’ Therefore, it goes without saying, that spring is the most beautiful time in the Netherlands. When the bulbs start blooming in the endless array of flower fields, the entire country transforms into a vast ocean of flowers. It starts in mid-March with cherry blossoms, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths. And as the famous tulips blossom in mid-April, the whole country gets ready for the biggest spring festival named ‘Bloemencorso (Flower Parade) Bollenstreek (Bulb Region)!’

Every year in the middle of April, the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek makes its 42 km journey from Noordwijk to Haarlem, passing by Keukenhof Gardens. For ages, this area's soil and climate have been ideal for growing bulbs from where it derives its name - the bulb region. Several flower parades take place in the bulb region throughout the year but Bloemencorso Bollenstreek is the only flower parade that takes place in the spring and the only one that is made entirely of spring bulb flowers, like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. It is also the most well-known across the country and among the biggest editions worldwide. Every year, almost a million spectators watch the parade from the sidelines or from official flower parade grandstands.

The Bloemencorso Bollenstreek is sometimes also referred to as the ‘Keukenhof Flower Parade’ as a vast majority of people combine their visit to Keukenhof Gardens with an excursion to the surrounding tulip fields along with watching the Flower Parade from the main entrance of Keukenhof. If you want to know how to visit Keukenhof Gardens or the adjacent tulip fields, please read our article De Mooiste Bloemenroutes van Nederland | 4 Best Road Trip Flower Routes around Tulip, Daffodil, and Hyacinth Bulb Fields in the Netherlands.

bloemencorso bollenstreek or flower parade of the bulb region in holland netherlands showcasing elephants bears pandas venetian masks birds rats rabbits spongebob cow unicorn and tractor

How did the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek start?

The origin of this festival dates back to 1947, shortly after World War II and three years prior to Keukenhof Flower Garden's opening. After the war, there was a huge demand for parties and socializing. As a result, a flower parade was planned in Hillegom. The procession comprised of only a few handcarts and trucks decked out in garlands and bouquets along with a local music band. The idea of the floats was first introduced by Hillegom-based amaryllis cultivator Willem Warmenhoven. He constructed a tiny vehicle on a flimsy platform in the shape of a whale and decorated it with hyacinths. The event became a grand success and the next year, Hillegom invited the towns of Sassenheim and Lisse to participate. A parade committee was formed to coordinate the preparations, and slowly more towns and villages joined. Also, the number of spectators kept increasing every year. At first, there were just local visitors, but by the early 1950s, more than 500,000 people were coming from all over the world.

So when you visit the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, remember that you are not merely seeing some gigantic floats draped in flowers, but you are witnessing a piece of history and an important tradition ingrained in the Dutch culture!

When is the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek 2024?

In 2024, the 77th Bloemencorso Bollenstreek is scheduled for Saturday, April 20. The parade will feature 14 floats along with 30 exquisite cars decked up in floral decorations. Music bands will accompany the procession to give it an even more festive appearance. Along the path, there will be space for hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Three days before, hundreds of volunteers will begin preparing the parade floats on Wednesday, April 17, kickstarting the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek 2024 project. The volunteers work very hard over the course of three days to prepare the parade floats. There is a special light-filled flower procession through the village of Noordwijkerhout on the Friday night before the Flower Parade on Saturday. On Sunday, April 21, you can admire the beautiful parade floats in the city center of Haarlem during the Flower Parade Expo.

What is the theme for Bloemencorso Bollenstreek 2024?

There is no overarching theme for the Flower Parade in 2024. This increases the creative teams' freedom and results in even more stunning and unexpected floats for the Flower Parade.

What is the cost to visit the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek 2024?

It is free to visit the Flower Parade. Along the 42-kilometer journey, you can find a location for yourself. If you would want to do so while seated and having access to restrooms and food service there are many paid covered grandstands from where you may watch the Flower Parade (more on it in the tips and tricks section below).

What is the route for Bloemencorso Bollenstreek 2024?

The Flower Parade is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 9:30 CET in the beach town of Noordwijk. It will travel 42 km through the cities of Voorhout, Sassenheim, Lisse, Hillegom, Bennebroek, and Heemstede before arriving in Haarlem at 21:00 CET. Along the route, a number of information points have been set up to offer additional details about the Flower Parade floats. After reaching Haarlem, the Flower Parade will be parked until 16:00 CET hours on Sunday, April 21 in Haarlem's city center (at the Grote Markt and nearby areas) to give everyone adequate time to stroll around the Flower Parade floats. This is called the Flower Parade Expo.

Below is the detailed route. Get to your preferred location well in advance because you can expect large crowds, road closures, and parking scarcity.

Trip map created with Wanderlog, the best trip planner app on iOS and Android

Noordwijk

From 07:45 - Setup at Huis ter Duinstraat / Nieuwe Zeeweg / Duinweg
09:00 - Official start at Roundabout Picképlein via the Grent over the Koningin Wilhelminaboulevard
09:20 - Grandstand Vuurtorenplein via Quarles van Uffordstraat to Van Panhuysstraat
09:40 - Roundabout Van Panhuysstraat to Weteringkade
09:50 - Weteringkade roundabout to Zeeweg
10:00 - Roundabout Heilige Geestweg to Gooweg
10:20 - Viaduct N206 – Van Berckelweg via Van Berckelweg to the Leidsvaart

Voorhout

10:45 - Leidsevaart – KTS entrance (band enters)
11:00 - Center – Jacoba van Beierenweg grandstand
11:15 - Oosthoutlaan

Sassenheim

11:50 - Grandstand Sassenheim Rijksstraatweg 52
12:05 - Traffic lights Warmonderweg A44
<Flower Parade Paused on Main Street>

14:00 - Departure from Party Center 'de Oude Tol'
14:20 - Sassenheim-north roundabout

Lisse

14:30 - Grandstand Lisse-zuid Heereweg 466
14:50 - Roundabout 2de Poellaan – De Engel
15:05 - Grandstand Lisse-binnen Heereweg 345
15:20 - Lisse town hall (TV recordings) via 't Vierkant to the Western Randweg
15:45 - Keukenhof
16:10 - Meer en Duin (band exits)

Hillegom

16:30 - Leidsestraat – Arnoudbrug (band enters)
17:00 - Center
17.15 - Grandstand Hoofdstraat 18 via Weeresteinstraat and Haarlemmerstraat

Bennebroek

18:00 - Rijksstraatweg
18.15 - Traffic light Zwarteweg (band exits)
<Flower Parade Paused on Rijksstraatweg – Prinsenlaan>

19:40 - Departure from Linnaeushof

Heemstede

19:55 - Herenweg 29A (band enters)
20:00 - Entrance Groenendaal (TV recording) via Van Merlelaan and Raadhuisstraat
20:35 - Binnenweg via Lanckhorstlaan to Herenweg

Haarlem

21:05 - Crossing Herenweg – Westelijke Randweg via Wagenstraat to Houtplein
21:30 - Houtplein via Gasthuissingel and Kampervest
21:50 - Turf market
22:00 - Setting up Gedempte Oude Gracht – Nassaulaan

Tips and Tricks

Visiting the Flower Parade

I recommend the following 3 best locations for visiting the Flower Parade -

Noordwijk Vuurtorenplein - It is the best location since it’s close to the starting point and you can expect the least crowd there. Still, be at the location as early as 07:30 CET.
- Arriving by Car - Arrive early and park your car at ‘Parkeerplaats Wantveld’ (GPS Coordinates: 52.25085, 4.43928)
- Arriving by Public Transport - Plan your trip using 9292.nl
Keukenhof Gardens - Keukenhof Boulevard in Lisse is the second best place to watch the Dutch Flower Parade according to us. It is situated in front of the Keukenhof Gardens' main entrance. You can take a brief break from Keukenhof to enjoy the Flower Parade, and then come back to finish your tour.
- Arriving by Car - Purchase your Keukenhof tickets as well as the day parking token (if you are arriving by car) from keukenhof.nl/en/plan-your-visit to avoid the queue at the ticket office. Please be aware that, with all the road closures, the area around Keukenhof will be extremely busy. The hours of closure for the roadways are 14:00 to 17:00. So, we suggest arriving at Keukenhof before 12:00 CET.
- Arriving by Public Transport - If you would like to take public transportation I recommend using the fast and reasonably priced Keukenhof buses from Amsterdam, Schiphol, Haarlem, Leiden, Noordwijk, and Katwijk. Purchase the Keukenhof bus ticket in advance from bollenstreek.nl/openbaar-vervoer/bus-naar-keukenhof.
Haarlem - You can ditch the Flower Parade entirely on Saturday, April 20, and instead visit the Flower Parade Expo on Sunday, April 21 in Haarlem's city center where it will be parked until 16:00 CET hours. You can take your time to stroll around the Flower Parade floats. To me, this is a more convenient option with kids. We have often chosen this.
- Arriving by Car - Arrive early and park your car at ‘Parkeergarage de Kamp’ (GPS Coordinates: 52.37732, 4.63705)
- Arriving by Public Transport - Plan your trip using 9292.nl

Watching the Flower Parade from Grandstand

A grandstand seat is another option for seeing the parade. There are seven grandstands available across Noordwijk, Voorhout, Sassenheim, Lisse, Hillegom, and Heemstede. Many amenities are covered by the grandstands, including convenient parking, restrooms, and top-notch catering. As the parade goes by, a speaker will offer commentary to the grandstands. The grandstand's location affects the cost.

Note: Because of their popularity, the grandstands sell out quickly every spring. So, purchase a grandstand seat as soon as you can from bollenstreek.nl/tribune-bloemencorso-bollenstreek.

Watching the Flower Parade from Helicopter

Do you want a unique experience of viewing the parade? Then take off in a helicopter from a spot close to the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens and see the parade, the dunes and beaches of the Netherlands, and the flower fields from above. To purchase the tickets for your unique helicopter experience, visit bollenstreek.nl/uitagenda/helikoptervlucht-boven-de-bloemenvelden-tijdens-het-bloemencorso-weekend.

Visiting Illuminated Flower Parade (Noordwijkerhout)

The Flower Parade officially opens with the Illuminated Parade in the village of Noordwijkerhout on the Friday before the Bollenstreek Flower Parade. The Illuminated Flower Parade will begin at 21:00 and travel through the village's streets as follows. It is free to visit the Illuminated Flower Parade and you can admire the floats up close.

21:00 – Crossing Herenweg –> Viktoriberg
21:10 – Kerkeland –> Dorpsstraat
21:13 – Dorpsstraat –> Havenstraat (‘t Witte Kerkje)
21:15 – Havenstraat (official start)
21:20 – Havenstraat –> Koninginneweg
21:24 – Koninginneweg –> Viaductweg
21:26 – Viaductweg –> Kerkstraat
21:31 – Kerkstraat –> Schippersvaartweg
21:40 – Roundabout Schippersvaartweg –> Via Nova
21:48 – Via Nova –> Robijnslaan
21:50 – Robijnslaan –> JUB Holland

Visiting or Volunteering during Construction Days (Sassenheim)

Do you want to know how the parade floats are constructed? Then go behind the scenes from Wednesday, April 17, to Friday, April 19, at the hall of ‘DeLeeuw Flowerbulbs’ in Sassenheim while the Flower Parade is being built. Hundreds of volunteers spend three days creating the parade floats, which are decorated with fragrant and vibrant springtime flowers like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, among many other bulb flowers. The unique method the flowers are affixed to the car's design is referred to as "stabbing." You may even get to give it a try if you're lucky. What a pleasure it is to watch "your" personal creations during the parade on the weekend. To purchase the tickets visit bloemencorso-bollenstreek.nl/vrienden-van/product/achter-schermen-bloemencorso.

Alternatively, you may want to work as a volunteer. It can be fun since behind the scenes at the Flower Parade construction days, there's also a large party going on. You can attend a variety of events in the charming events area while sipping on a drink and a snack. There will be the renowned 'First Steek' featuring celebrities and mayors and a variety of performances on the Open Stage. Also, TV or radio stations may want to speak with you for an interview. The scene is completed by the quaint kiosks offering delectable coffee, snacks, and Old Dutch delicacies. To apply for working as a volunteer, please register by emailing redactie@bloemencorso.info

Other Flower Parades in the Netherlands

If you are unable to be in the Netherlands during spring to visit the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek, you need not worry. There are several other Flower Parades in the Netherlands in summer and early autumn that you can visit namely -

Varend Corso Westland (July)

The Varend Corso Westland parade's exquisitely adorned sailing floats pass through Naaldwijk, Maassluis, Den Haag, and Delft over a period of three days. Every year, the parade features a new theme, and there are lots of exciting events all along the route.

Rijnsburg Flower Parade (August)

The Rijnsburg Flower Parade takes place every second Saturday in August and has music stages, floral-decorated cars, and floats that travel through the streets of Rijnsburg, Katwijk, and Noordwijk. Hundreds of flower types are incorporated into these incredible masterpieces by professional floral designers, while performers on moving stages act out scenes that correspond with the year's theme.

Parade Sint Jansklooster (August)

Every August third weekend, theater, music, and beautiful flower floats enliven the village of St. Jansklooster. Our recommendation is to attend the Friday night illumination parade, where gorgeous lights adorn the floats, making them seem even more enchanting.

Corso Zundert (September) - World’s Biggest Flower Parade

This is the largest flower parade in the world. Every year, the entire village is taken over by the Corso Zundert in preparation of the most amazing floats.

Lichtenvoorde Flower Parade (September)

The magnificent floats of the Lichtenvoorde Flower Parade are decorated with four million dahlias; hundreds of volunteers labor for months to construct the enormous floats, an amazing feat of artistry.

Winkel Flower Parade (September)

The tiny village of Winkel celebrates the Flower Parade Winkel on the fourth Sunday of September each year. Over 20 floats in the Flower Parade are made from more than a million dahlia blooms.

Epilogue

So that was all you need to know for visiting the Bloemencorso (Flower Parade) Bollenstreek 2024. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article.

And if you want to know how to visit Keukenhof Gardens or the adjacent tulip fields, please read our article De Mooiste Bloemenroutes van Nederland | 4 Best Road Trip Flower Routes around Tulip, Daffodil, and Hyacinth Bulb Fields in the Netherlands. Until then, merry traveling and happy shooting!