Haarlem to Leiden

Tulips!

Planned Route

Actual Route

A glimpse of what was to come

One of the first fields we came to—and we lingered longer than planned, not realizing how spectacular and numerous the upcoming fields would be. The mix of colors was stunning: rows of reds, pinks, yellows, and purples stretching as far as we could see. This one was near one of the for-profit “tulip experiences,” but we were far more interested in cycling through the rainbow than standing in line for it.

Massive Flowers

Take a moment to enjoy this up close—these tulips were nearly the size of a hand, their petals vibrant and bold. The Netherlands is the world’s largest exporter of flower bulbs, and tulips are its crown jewel. What began as a 17th-century fascination turned into a full-blown industry; today, the country produces over four billion tulip bulbs a year, with fields like these grown not just for tourists, but for global trade.

Storybook living

Taking the back roads lets you see life from a different vantage. This beautiful home, nestled right in the tulip fields, looked like something out of a storybook. What a place to live—especially this time of year, with color stretching out in every direction.

Sea of color

It just kept getting better. At times, the tulip fields surrounded us on all sides—bands of red, yellow, purple, and white stretching into the distance. We cycled the narrow roads threading between them, often joined by other cyclists, all grinning and soaking it in. No ticket gates, no tour buses—just bikes, open air, and a world in bloom.

Market Day!

The Leiden market was in full swing when we rolled into town, and this local fish vendor drew us in fast. We ordered fried kibbeling and halibut from Norway—fresh, crispy, and way too good to stop at just one portion. I kept going back for more as my traveling companions devoured every round. After cycling through endless tulip fields, great food was the only way to cap off a perfect ride.