Most people planning a trip to Holland for tulip season get the timing wrong. They book Keukenhof, they show up, and they either miss the peak bloom entirely or find themselves shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other tourists wondering why it doesn't look like the photos. Sound familiar?

This week I'm joined by Gerrit from Hidden Holland — a specialist in Dutch travel and someone who knows the tulip fields better than almost anyone — and he's sharing exactly what most visitors get wrong, when you should actually be going, and where to find the real tulip experience beyond the tourist trail.

This is a special 4-part series where I'm featuring travel creators sharing their best tips, hacks and local knowledge from four completely different corners of the world. Each episode, one creator, one destination, one set of tips that could genuinely change how you travel. This week — it's all about Holland in spring.

If you're planning a trip to the Netherlands this year, listen to this before you book anything.

What We Cover in This Episode

• 🌷 When tulip season actually peaks in Holland — and why most visitors get the timing completely wrong
• 📍 Where the tulip fields really are beyond Keukenhof — and why locals go somewhere different entirely
• 📸 The best spots for photos that aren't overrun with tour groups
• 🗓️ How to plan your Netherlands spring trip around the bloom — including what happens if you get the dates wrong
• 🚲 How to explore the fields like a local rather than a tourist
• 💡 Gerrit's single best tip for first-time visitors to Holland in spring

About This Week's Guest

Gerrit is the founder of Hidden Holland — a travel platform dedicated to showing visitors the real Netherlands beyond the obvious tourist stops. He joined me on a previous episode to talk about Amsterdam, and this week he's back with everything you need to know about tulip season.

🔗 Find Gerrit and Hidden Holland: here

📻 Missed the Amsterdam episode with Gerrit? Listen here: Episode 12, Season 1

Chapters

• 00:00 — The Tulip Season Secret Most Visitors Get Wrong
• 00:29 — Meet Gerrit from Hidden Holland
• 15:59 — Truly Expat Travel Podcast Introduction
• 16:28 — Travel Guides & Destinations

Related Episodes You Might Enjoy

• Madrid: Food, Flamenco & the Neighbourhoods Tourists Miss

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Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂

Paula Barnes lived in Seoul 15 years ago — and honestly? It was hard. The language barrier was real, the taxis were brutal, and getting around without Korean felt nearly impossible. So when she went back, she wasn't expecting to fall in love with it. She did. In this episode, Paula goes solo to unpack everything that's changed, everything that's stayed beautifully the same, and every reason why Seoul should be at the top of your travel list. From the DMZ to Dongdaemun, Korean BBQ to Olive Young skincare halls, cherry blossom season to single-digit winter temps — this one covers it all. Whether you're planning your first trip or your fifth, this episode is your honest, no-fluff guide to Seoul.

• DMZ tour (respectful, highly recommended)
• Nanta Show — no Korean needed, funny and unmissable
• Myeongdong — street food, Olive Young skincare, boutique shopping
• Namdaemun Market — oldest market in Seoul, try the Hotteok!
• Bukchon Hanok Village — go early morning for sunrise
• Gangnam — upscale shopping mall, the iconic Gangnam statue
• Itaewon — boutique bars, restaurants & Vatos (Korean-Mexican fusion)
• Courtyard Marriott Namdaemun — central location, robot room service
• Gimpo Premium Factory Outlet — near the airport, worth the detour
• Bibimbap cooking class
• Traditional Korean feast restaurant in Myeongdong
• Temple stay information centre — free activities, monk conversations
• Olive Young — Korea's answer to Sephora, massive flagship in Myeongdong
• Best seasons to visit: cherry blossom (spring) and autumn
• Paula's full Seoul guides on her website: 5-day itinerary, where to stay,

Send us Fan Mail

Find me on:

Website: Truly Expat Travel

Facebook: Truly Expat

Instagram: Truly Expat Travel

TikTok: Truly Expat Travel

Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂

MADRID UNCOVERED: Insider Tips, Hidden Gems & La Movida – Life in Spain's Capital

Join Paula as she chats with Kristin Montgomery, an international teacher who has lived and worked across Switzerland, Singapore, Colombia, Germany and beyond – and is now back in Madrid completing a master's degree in Spanish. Kristin first fell in love with the city as a young graduate on an English assistantship program nearly 20 years ago, and she's back to tell us exactly why Madrid keeps pulling people in.

Whether you're planning a first visit or adding it to your bucket list, this episode is packed with everything you need to know. And if you're on a Spain tour, make sure you also check out our episodes on Season 1 Granada (Episode 21) and Tenerife (Episode 20) – Spain really does keep delivering!

Key Topics

• What Madrid is really famous for (hint: it's all about the vibe)
• Where to stay, when to visit, and how to get around
• The best food and drinks to try – including what the locals actually order
• A 3-day itinerary that goes beyond the tourist trail
• Day trips to Segovia and Toledo
• The souvenir worth spending proper money on
• Why you should choose a hotel over Airbnb right now
• Kristin's hidden gem neighbourhood the guidebooks overlook

Helpful Links

• Growing Global Citizens – Kristin's website
• Travel with peace of mind: Airalo Esim
• Madrid Guided Tour of the Palace
• Welcome to Madrid Walking tour

Chapters

00:00 Introduction & Kristin's Global Journey 02:00 Do You Need to Speak Spanish? 04:00 Getting Around Madrid – Car vs. Public Transport 05:00 What Is Madrid Really Famous For? 07:00 Where to Stay in the City 08:00 Best Time to Visit (and Why Christmas is Special) 09:20 Festivals & National Day 10:40 What to Eat – Madrid's Love of Ham 12:00 What to Drink – Vermouth & Tinto de Verano 13

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Help Truly Expat Travel by leaving a review or making a donation

Here is the link - https://buymeacoffee.com/trulyexpat

Find me on:

Website: Truly Expat Travel

Facebook: Truly Expat

Instagram: Truly Expat Travel

TikTok: Truly Expat Travel

Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂