Known as the "magic flower" by Europeans, the tulip is the national flower of the Netherlands and can be seen in Southern Europe, West Asia, East Asia, and Northeast China. Due to varying latitudes, blooming periods differ, typically from late March to early May. Since ancient times, horticulturists have been keen on breeding tulip varieties—there are about 2,000 varieties worldwide, but only around 150 are produced in large quantities.
?Tulip Legend:
Legend has it that there was a kind and exceptionally beautiful girl who received marriage proposals from three young men at the same time: a knight who offered her a sword, a wealthy merchant who gave her gold, and a prince who promised her a crown. The kind-hearted girl didn’t want to reject anyone. The Flower Goddess heard her dilemma and turned her into a tulip—the sword became the long leaves, the crown became the blossom, and the gold became the bulb. This symbolized that the girl accepted the love of all her suitors. Hence, one of the tulip’s floral meanings is universal love.
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?Huis Ten Bosch Theme Park, Kyushu, Japan
If you’re unable to fly to the Netherlands due to certain restrictions, you can still experience a Dutch-style tulip festival in Japan. Located in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Huis Ten Bosch is a theme park modeled after Dutch streets. It’s named after the palace of the current Queen of the Netherlands, Huis Ten Bosch. Here, you’ll find many flowers and European-style canals. Different seasons feature different blooms, and there are also many lively festivals and parades.
The most anticipated flower event of the year at Huis Ten Bosch is the Tulip Festival, which features Japan’s largest-scale light displays. Up to 700 varieties of tulips bloom together, creating a breathtaking sea of flowers. In the evening, the scenery is even more enchanting with dazzling lights!
?Event Period:2018.02.10~04.15
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?Taean, South Korea
Source: Official Event Website
Not to be outshined by the tulips of the Netherlands, South Korea’s Taean also offers beautiful tulips. Every year, Taean hosts the Tulip Festival WTS (World Tulip Summit), which was selected as one of the world’s top five tulip festivals in both 2015 and 2017. In 2018, the event moved to Hwajeon Beach, allowing visitors to enjoy the flowers alongside the vast coastline and sandy shores—a truly lively experience. At the tulip festival, you can learn how to preserve tulips, take part in traditional folk experiences, enjoy magic shows, blow bubbles, and try essential oil workshops. There are up to 300 tulip varieties on display, and the evening lighting is absolutely stunning—rivaling that of the Netherlands. Be sure to check it out if you get the chance!
?Event Period:April 19, 2018 ~ May 13, 2018 (Same venue: tulips in spring, lilies in summer)
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?Turkey?Gulhane Park
Although tulips are commonly associated with the Netherlands, they actually originated in Turkey. Legend has it that the first tulip bulbs in the Netherlands were brought over by a Dutch merchant from Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). Turkey’s tulip festival is also called theLale (Tulip) Festival. Every April, Istanbul is filled with blooming tulips. Aside from being Turkey’s national flower, tulip motifs can also be found on the stained-glass windows, carpets, and walls of famous landmarks like the Blue Mosque, as well as in citizens’ homes—on wall hangings, teacups, coffee sets, tableware, carpets, and tiles. This shows just how much Turks love tulips!
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?Other Recommended Flower Viewing Spots: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), Emirgan Grove (Emirgan Korusu), Taksim Square, Beykoz Park, Yıldız Park, Soganlı Botanical Garden
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?Netherlands?Keukenhof Gardens
The world-famous tulip festival is held at Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands. Every spring, millions of tulips and other bulb flowers bloom in a stunning display, offering not only a visual feast but also a popular subject for photographers. Covering an exhibition area of about 80 hectares, the gardens feature up to 7 million bulbs of various flower species, including around 1,000 different types of tulips, making Keukenhof a breathtaking sight that attracts numerous visitors from around the world.
?Event Period:Opening Dates: March 22, 2018 – May 13, 2018 (08:00 – 19:30); themed around romance.
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?USA?
Washington
Skagit Valley in Washington State is the world’s second-largest tulip-producing region. From April to May each year, you can witness a romantic sea of vibrant colors. In addition to tulips, you can also see daffodils blooming in spring. Tulips typically bloom in April, with fields spread across the towns of La Conner and Mt Vernon. The most famous tulip fields are Tulip Town and Roozengaarde, both open to visitors for a fee. The endless fields of blooming flowers create a spectacular sight, making it a highly worthwhile destination in spring.
Portland Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival (The Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest)
Aside from Washington, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Oregon, also hosts a tulip festival. Thanks to the mild climate brought by the warm Pacific Northwest currents, the area has very fertile soil. The Wooden Shoe Farm grows around 300 varieties of tulips and is named after the wooden shoe, a symbol of the Netherlands. The farm is located about 50 kilometers from downtown Portland. It’s recommended to bring some simple snacks to enjoy the charming countryside scenery here. You can also take a ride in a ox-drawn cart and sample the farm’s own wine for a truly relaxing experience.
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?Australia?
There are three tulip festivals in Australia worth highlighting: the NSW Bowral Tulip Time Festival, the Canberra Floriade Tulip Exhibition, and the Melbourne Tesselaar Tulip Festival. The NSW Bowral Tulip Time Festival is one of Australia’s largest floral events, featuring over 100,000 tulips on display during the festival period, along with other entertainment activities such as children’s face painting and live performances. The Canberra Floriade is an annual capital city flower show and a highly iconic attraction, with a different theme each year that draws large crowds. Finally, the Melbourne Tesselaar Tulip Festival lasts for about a month each year and showcases over 100 varieties and approximately 500,000 tulips. Come here to experience the joy of being surrounded by a sea of flowers.
?Event Period:Approximately every September–October
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More global flower viewing information provided by Travel Café:
?2018’s Must-See Pink Romance: Classic Japanese Cherry Blossom Spots and Bloom Reports
?Complete Guide to Provence’s Flower Fields. This July, Immerse Yourself in the Dreamy Purple Sea of Lavender~
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