Trip ideas · Bulb fields and Flemish cities

Bulb fields and Flemish cities: a One-Week Road Trip From the UK

Checked 8 October 2026 against each tourism board's, city's and operator's own page · skynomad

Rows of pink tulips in a bulb field in the Netherlands — Photo: Lisette Verwoerd / Unsplash

Best in April, also good in March and May

From Folkestone and back: seven nights, 815 km, the longest day about 2 h 20 at the wheel. Driving costs €380–€460.

Keukenhof flower garden open: 18 March – 9 May 2027. Watch for: Keukenhof parking must be reserved online in 2027.

Use this route in my plan Your checklist for United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands: vignettes, zones, kit and dates.

Day by day

Most hours at the wheel in a day

Kilometres and hours are motorway estimates between the cities named, without stops or traffic. Where you sleep in a smaller place nearby, the real place and its distance are given.

Day 1
Folkestone → Bruges 123 km · about 1 h 35 driving · plus LeShuttle through the Channel Tunnel
Canal city centre; first stop after Calais. Source
Photo: Morgan Koh / Unsplash
Day 2
Bruges → Ghent 60 km · about 1 h driving
Historic Flemish city; centre is inside a low-emission zone. Source
Day 3
Ghent → The Hague 185 km · about 2 h 20 driving
Base for Keukenhof and the Bollenstreek flower fields. Source The place itself: Keukenhof / bulb district (Lisse), about half an hour by car (denhaag.com).
Day 4
A day for Keukenhof / bulb district (Lisse) No long drive
Day 5
The Hague → Amsterdam 71 km · about 1 h 05 driving, plus the way back from Keukenhof / bulb district (Lisse)
Canal city; park at a P+R, diesel milieuzone applies. Source
Photo: Adrien Olichon / Unsplash
Day 6
Amsterdam → Antwerp 141 km · about 1 h 50 driving
City on the way back south; centre is a low-emission zone. Source
Day 7
Antwerp → Lille 122 km · about 1 h 40 driving
Last night ~110 km from Calais before the crossing home.
Day 8
Lille → Folkestone 113 km · about 1 h 25 driving · plus LeShuttle through the Channel Tunnel

Why go in April

Keukenhof flower garden open: 18 March – 9 May 2027. Source
Bulb fields in bloom (Bollenstreek): hyacinths end March–end April, tulips mid-April–early May: late March – early May (weather-dependent). Source
Bloemencorso Bollenstreek flower parade (Noordwijk–Haarlem): 14–18 April 2027 (main parade day not stated). Source

What to watch for

Keukenhof parking must be reserved online in 2027 (18 March – 9 May 2027). Source
Ghent and Antwerp LEZ: authorised foreign-registered cars must register once (free); check car by plate (all year). Source
Dutch milieuzones: diesel cars need emission class 5+ in Amsterdam/Utrecht, class 4+ in Den Haag; petrol unaffected (all year). Source
King's Day: Amsterdam centre closed to cars from 07:30; P+R RAI closed (27 April (2026 date on page; 2027 date not published on page)). Source

What the week costs to drive

Item	Cost	Worked out from
Fuel for 815 km	€90–€159	Each country's average petrol and diesel price (week of 28 September 2026), 5 to 8 litres per 100 km. Fuel prices
Crossing, both ways	€293	LeShuttle Folkestone–Calais: £124 each way is the published lowest fare; yours depends on the date and time. Source
Driving the week	€380–€460	Rounded to €10

Not included: hotels, food and parking. For your own car and exact days, use the trip cost calculator.

The rules on this route

Driving in Britain and Ireland · Driving in France · Driving in Belgium · Driving in the Netherlands

Use this route in my plan to get every vignette, zone, kit rule and deadline for these countries in one checklist, with dates. The speed limits and sign words pages can then show only these countries.

Next on the road

Sources

Dates and prices as published when checked. Events move: check the organiser's page before you book.