From Amsterdam: Holland Flower and Windmill Tour – summer ed

The real treat here is a summer flower farm, not just a roadside photo stop. At De Tulperij, farmer Daan shows you the dahlia garden, explains how bulbs are planted, and leads you through fields packed with thousands of flowers. I like the personal setting and the chance to walk where flower photography is allowed.

I also like the neat pairing of flowers and water management: after the farm, you take a 60-minute cruise past 18 working windmills on the Kagerplassen. The main drawback is worth knowing before you book: one experience report found no guide on the coach, only a driver, so explanations between stops may be limited.

Key points at a glance

• Daan’s family flower farm: Meet the farmer at De Tulperij and hear how dahlias and bulbs are grown.
• Summer flowers instead of spring tulips: The garden focuses on dahlias and other seasonal flowers.
• A rare field photo stop: You can walk through the flower fields and take photos at the CNB summer flower garden.
• Anja’s homemade apple pie: Coffee and apple pie give you a pleasant pause overlooking the gardens.
• 18 working windmills: The Kagerplassen cruise shows how mills help keep low-lying Dutch land dry.
• A full day from Amsterdam: Luxury-coach transport combines two South Holland sights without arranging separate connections.

A summer flower trip beyond the tulip season

Amsterdam’s flower country is often treated as a spring-only destination. This outing makes a different case. It heads to the area near Keukenhof in summer, when dahlias and other seasonal flowers replace the famous spring tulip displays.

That timing matters. If your visit falls outside the main tulip season, you still get a proper flower experience rather than a consolation stop at a garden with little in bloom. The exact appearance of the fields will depend on the season, but the focus is clear: summer flowers, especially dahlias.

You leave Amsterdam by luxury coach from This is Holland. The departure point has a waiting room, coffee bar, and toilets, which is useful when you are gathering for a full-day outing. The tour price is $79 per person, with no booking fees or surprise tour charges listed.

I see the value in the combination. A visit to the flower region on its own can require transport planning, while the windmill area is a separate outing from central Amsterdam. This trip links both in one day, giving you flowers, a farm visit, and a boat ride for one price.

Meeting Daan at De Tulperij

The strongest part of the day is the family-owned farm, De Tulperij. Daan welcomes you and takes you behind the scenes, rather than leaving you to view the flowers from a coach window or a public path.

He explains the planting of bulbs and the work behind the dahlia garden. That practical detail changes the visit. You are not simply looking at rows of color. You get a better sense of how a flower farm is planted, maintained, and prepared for the summer display.

The garden contains thousands of dahlias and other summer flowers. Dahlias are especially good for close-up photography because of their layered petals and varied shapes. You can expect plenty of color and texture, though the supplied information does not promise a specific number of varieties or guarantee that every field will be at peak bloom on your date.

Daan also leads a walking tour through the flower fields. This is a useful feature for anyone who wants more than a quick stop. You have time to see the plants at ground level and to ask about the farm during the visit, at least when the farm portion is led as described.

One unusual detail makes this stop especially appealing to photographers. The CNB summer flower garden is described as the only spot in the flower region where walking through the fields for photos is allowed as part of this experience. Please treat that as permission for the designated visit, not a general invitation to enter flower fields elsewhere.

Photo time in the CNB summer flower garden

The farm visit leaves room for the kind of pictures that are difficult to get from a bus. You can walk among the summer flowers, take selfies, and frame the garden from different angles.

That freedom is a major advantage over a standard sightseeing drive. You can photograph individual dahlias, wider rows of flowers, and the garden from a viewpoint overlooking the blooms. If you use a phone, bring enough storage and battery power. The tour includes the opportunity, not photography equipment or a professional photographer.

The setting is also more personal than a large public attraction. De Tulperij is run by Daan and Anja, and the visit has a family-farm character. You will not be touring an anonymous display garden. You are seeing a working flower business and meeting the people connected to it.

There is one practical limit. The information does not give an exact amount of free time at the farm. A guided walk and refreshments are included, but your time for independent pictures will depend on the day’s schedule. If photography is your top reason for booking, ask the operator about the expected free time before paying.

Coffee and Anja’s homemade apple pie

After the flower walk, you can sit back with a fresh cup of coffee and apple pie made by Anja. It is a small detail, but it gives the farm visit a welcome human touch.

The treat is served while you enjoy the view over the garden. That makes the stop feel less like a quick commercial break and more like a visit to a family farm. You get a chance to rest your feet, look back over the flowers, and let the coach schedule slow down for a moment.

The flower-picking activity is separate. You can choose your own bouquet on-site for an additional fee, but it is not part of the $79 package. If you want to keep the price fixed, simply enjoy the included garden visit and refreshments. If a picked bouquet matters to you, budget extra and check the farm’s current arrangements.

Cruising through Warmond and the Kagerplassen

After the farm, the tour goes to the windmill village of Warmond. Here, the experience changes from flowers and soil to water and Dutch engineering.

The included boat ride lasts one hour and travels through the Kagerplassen. You pass 18 working windmills, many of them still connected to the long-running task of moving water through the polder system.

This is where the trip offers useful context, not just pretty scenery. Parts of the area are about five meters below sea level. The mills pump out excess water and help protect the low-lying land from flooding. From the boat, you can see the relationship between the water, the fields, and the mills in a way that is hard to grasp from a city canal cruise.

The windmills are working structures, not only preserved photo props. That gives the cruise more substance. You see a piece of the system that allows people to live and farm in land that sits below the surrounding water level.

A one-hour cruise is a good length for this pairing. It gives you time to watch the mills and take pictures without turning the entire day into a boat excursion. The information does not specify whether the boat has indoor and outdoor seating, so bring a light layer if you are sensitive to cool or breezy conditions.

What the coach ride adds, and what it may not

The coach is practical. You can cover the distance from Amsterdam to the flower region and Warmond without renting a car or piecing together public transport. You also avoid the hassle of finding parking at a rural flower farm and a boat departure point.

The listed departure location, This is Holland, offers a waiting room, coffee bar, and toilets. That is helpful for an early start and gives you a clear place to gather before leaving the city.

Still, the tour’s guiding style deserves careful attention. The hosts or greeters are listed as English, German, and Dutch, and Daan provides the farm explanation during his part of the day. But one experience report specifically described a driver rather than a guide accompanying the group and said the stops were not explained clearly.

I would treat this as a possible weakness in the day. The farm portion has a named host and a stated tour with the farmer. The road sections may be more about transport than continuous commentary. If you want detailed narration throughout the drive, confirm what language guidance and escorting are provided on your date.

This distinction also affects how you prepare. Read a little about the Dutch flower region and polder windmills before you go. That way, even a quiet coach ride will still have context, and you will know what to watch for at each stop.

Is $79 a fair price?

At $79, this is not the cheapest way to see flowers near Amsterdam, but it includes several separate elements: coach transport, the farm visit, a walking tour through the fields, coffee and apple pie, and a one-hour windmill cruise.

The value is strongest if you want both major themes in one day. You would otherwise need to arrange transport to a flower farm and then reach the Kagerplassen area for a boat trip. The organized route saves time and removes much of the planning.

The price is less compelling if you only want a short flower photo stop or a basic windmill cruise. You are paying for the full combination and the convenience of a day away from Amsterdam. The optional bouquet costs extra, so do not assume flower picking is included.

There are no booking fees listed, and you can reserve now and pay later. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Those terms reduce the risk if your Amsterdam plans are still shifting.

Who will enjoy this day most?

I would recommend this outing to anyone who wants a broad taste of the Dutch countryside without managing several separate bookings. It suits first-time visitors, photographers, flower lovers, and people who want to see working windmills rather than only the familiar postcard examples.

Families may appreciate the variety. The day moves between a farm, open flower fields, a sweet snack, and a boat ride. That is easier to enjoy than spending many hours on one type of sightseeing.

It also works well for visitors coming in summer who have already missed the spring tulips. The dahlias give the day its own identity and make it more than a repeat of the usual Amsterdam flower circuit.

I would be more cautious if you need a highly narrated tour from start to finish. The available information points to a possible gap between the hosted farm visit and the transport portions. Ask about the guide arrangement if detailed commentary is important to you.

The day may also be less suitable if you dislike outdoor walking or boat travel. The program includes a walk through flower fields and a 60-minute cruise. The information does not provide accessibility details, so ask the provider directly about mobility needs before booking.

Small tips for making the most of it

Bring a phone or camera with plenty of battery. The farm is built around photo opportunities, and you will have more freedom there than during a coach ride.

Wear shoes suitable for walking through or beside flower fields. The exact ground conditions are not given, but this is a farm visit rather than a polished indoor attraction.

Keep some money available if you want to pick your own bouquet. That activity is optional and charged separately.

Use the boat ride to look beyond the windmills. Notice the water level and the way the mills fit into the drainage system. The fact that the area lies about five meters below sea level is one of the most interesting lessons of the day.

Finally, check the departure time before booking. The duration is listed as one day, but the starting time varies according to availability.

Should you book the Holland Flower and Windmill Tour?

Book it if you want a simple, well-packed day that combines a personal flower-farm visit with a proper windmill cruise. The highlights are specific and worthwhile: Daan’s explanation at De Tulperij, the permission to walk through the CNB summer flower garden, Anja’s apple pie, and the 18 working mills on the Kagerplassen.

Think twice if your priority is continuous expert commentary on the road. The possible driver-only arrangement means the tour may feel more like transportation between hosted stops than a fully guided day.

For $79, I find the package sensible for visitors who value convenience and variety. It is especially useful in summer, when the dahlia farm offers a strong alternative to spring tulip visits. Just confirm the guiding arrangements and remember that a picked bouquet costs extra.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from This is Holland in Amsterdam. The departure point has a waiting room, coffee bar, and toilets.

How long does the experience last?

It is listed as a one-day tour. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for the date you want.

What flowers will I see?

The tour focuses on summer flowers, especially dahlias, at De Tulperij flower farm. The garden contains thousands of dahlias and other summer flowers.

Who owns the flower farm?

De Tulperij is owned by Daan and Anja. Daan welcomes you and leads the farm visit, while Anja makes the apple pie served with coffee.

Can I walk through the flower fields?

Yes. The experience includes a walking tour through the flower fields and a photo opportunity at the CNB summer flower garden.

Is picking a bouquet included?

No. Picking your own bouquet is optional and costs extra on-site.

How long is the windmill cruise?

The cruise lasts 60 minutes, or one hour.

How many windmills can I see from the boat?

The cruise passes 18 working windmills on the Kagerplassen.

Which languages are available?

The listed languages are English, German, and Dutch.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.