Vacation Photography

Rainy mornings can be a blessing in disguise, giving life to the beautiful flowers at Keukenhof Gardens. April, known for its showers, rewards our patience with a stunning display. Instead of dampening our spirits, the rain enhances the beauty of thousands of blooms, creating a moment you'll cherish forever with your family.

For a more peaceful visit, we recommend planning your trip to arrive at the gardens at 8 a.m., right at the opening time. This way, you can beat the crowds and enjoy the gardens to their fullest. If you're planning a visit next year, consider spending a full day in the region as you will be traveling from Amsterdam (North Holland) and making your way to Lisse (South Holland). This will give you ample time to explore the area and fully enjoy your visit to Keukenhof Gardens and surrounding areas.

In today's post, let's discuss how to handle unpredictable weather and how to be prepared for what anyone says on social media about tulip fields and Dutch weather. Here are some practical tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit, rain or shine:

Tip 1: Download a Weather App: Install Buienradar on your phone. This app provides detailed weather information, including temperature, rain predictions, and wind strength. For our session, rain under 0.5mm and wind speeds below four or below are manageable.

Tip 2: Wear Comfortable Clothes and Shoes. Expect some mud and puddles near the flowers. Dress in comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes and shoes. Bring an umbrella or a good raincoat. This will help you wait dry if the rain starts. If you are visiting tulip gardens or fields around Keukenhof, remember that high heels are not encouraged, and in some gardens, they are even forbidden, as they can damage the tulips. In Keukenhof, it is possible as you will be walking almost exclusively on pavement, but the premises are large, so bring comfortable shoes for walking.

Tip 3: Layer Up. April in the Netherlands can be chilly. Dress in layers to stay warm and easily adjust for photos. Also, protect your hair from humidity and wind.

Despite a brief wait due to rain, our session went beautifully, and we captured terrific photos even with a bit of a crowd. Enjoy today's family session, which was captured on April 3rd at around 9:30 a.m. for 60 minutes in Keukenhof.

"Joanna was amazing! She made it so easy and comfortable in a very public setting at the gardens. My mom had some mobility issues and she didn't seem fazed and made it a great experience for her as well. She knew exactly what places to go to, to get a great shot even with a bunch of people walking around! Would highly recommend Joanna to anyone visiting Amsterdam in the future!"- Jade

Please remember we only photograph Keukenhof Gardens in April (exclusively), so if you want to come to The Netherlands for tulips, plan your visit in April. See you soon, and thank you again Flytographer for connecting travelers with photographers worldwide. Clicking on the link will take you to my Referral with a discount of $25 on your first photo session with them. Enjoy!

Until next photo session in Amsterdam.

Joanna, your Amsterdam photographer

Vacation photographer and local expert based in Amsterdam