Visit horticultural companies in the Bulb Area - Interesting throughout the year

The Bulb Area between Haarlem and Leiden is for centuries the heart of the bulb growing area. The bulb fields in full flower attract hundreds of thousands of tourists every year in spring. But the bulb area has more to offer. You can also visit one of the bulb nurseries, a cut flower grower, a perennial plant grower or a plant export company. Then you can see and learn about another side of the bulb growing that has made this area famous.

Visit an agricultural based company

You are welcomed by various farming companies in the dune and bulb area (De Bollenstreek). They open their doors to welcome visitors who are interested in their work in the ornamental sector of this business. You can look behind the scenes to see how a modern agricultural company works.

Visit a professional nursery

The bulb area is famous for growing the many hyacinths, tulips and daffodils that find their way to customers around the world. Also in this area there are many summer flowers and perennial plants growing and flowering in the fields. After the spring bulbs have finished the bulb area is still in bloom.
These nurserymen are proud of their nurseries and will be only too pleased to explain not only how they care for their plants, but also how they work with the nature and the environment and how they prepare their products for sale. By many of the companies you can walk through the fields if the weather is fine.

Wholesale and export companies

The bulb area is the world centre for the wholesale and distribution of flower bulbs, and the wholesale of cut flowers is also an extremely important industry in the area. Despite the fact that the bulb area 'Duin- en Bollenstreek' grows only 10% of the bulbs in Holland, it is still the centre for the distribution of the whole of the Dutch production. The wholesale export companies in the region export hundreds of millions of bulbs every year over the whole world. During a visit with one of these companies you can see the logistics that allow this to happen.

Interesting the whole year through

The bulb area is busy throughout the year. Every autumn the bulbs are planted that will be in full flower from the following March. The summer is the time for harvest when the bulbs are dug from the fields, peeled and dried before being packed and sold. From early summer to the autumn the fields are full of flowering summer bulbs and perennial plants. The autumn brings the export companies their busiest season. In the winter nurseries are busy with forcing hyacinths for Christmas or daffodils for Easter as well as tulips for cut flower. There is always something to see when you visit the Bulb Area.

A flowering and fascinating landscape

The Bulb Area sits on the fine sandy soils behind the dunes that protect the area from the North Sea. The bulb fields with their straight dikes and raised paths are interspersed with green routes and old country estates. The landscape is not only beautiful in the bulb season but also during the winter when the land is covered with a layer of straw to protect the bulbs. There are many walking and cycle routes through the area.

Hand made programmes

The visits to these agricultural based companies are aimed at foreign visitors but are also used by the Dutch. They are extremely suitable for (or as a part of) company outings, team building, congress programmes, reunions or family days.

Group size can vary

We can make a programme for a full day or a part of a day, depending on your wishes.
You can mix an educational excursion with a more recreational visit such as:

• A visit to the Panorama Tulipland or The Black Tulip Museum
• A cycle- or boattour through the region
• Farmers golf or another sporting activity
• Take your own picnic or choose a terrace at one of the many restaurants
• A walk through one of the estates, along the bulb fields or via the farms
• Stay inside and enjoy a workshop teaching you what to do with the cut flowers or other subjects

The company visits can be combined with other attractions in the Bulb Area such as the Keukenhof or the Flower Parade (Bloemencorso), There are many hotels and campsites along the North Sea coast that allow you to stay in the area and allow you to get to know the Dutch men and women working in the agricultural and horticultural enterprises of this region.