• My friend and I took a day trip from Florida to Amsterdam to see millions of colorful tulips.
• We spent more time on a plane than in the tulip fields, but the trip was more than worth it.
• Seeing the flowers in person — even for one hour — was everything we'd hoped for and more.

I work for a major airline, which means I have flight benefits that turn wild ideas into boarding passes. My best friend is my go-to travel companion and always seems to be down for a spur-of-the-moment adventure.

So, when she texted me asking if I'd want to grab a matcha together on our shared day off, I responded by asking if she'd like to see the tulips in Amsterdam instead.

The trip had been on our bucket list for years, and when I saw open seats on a flight to the Netherlands, I knew we had to take advantage of the opportunity.

We spent more time in the air than in the tulip fields

Our flight left at 8 p.m., but because of the time difference, we landed at 10 a.m. local time. Our return flight was scheduled for 3:15 p.m., so I knew we'd only have about an hour to enjoy the tulips.

After we made it through customs, I did a quick TikTok deep-dive and found a place called The Tulip Barn, which is located about 30 minutes from the airport. We Ubered there, still half-asleep but buzzing with excitement.

When we arrived and saw the roughly 1.5 million tulips, we were in awe. The flowers were even more vibrant and magical than we imagined they'd be.

Red, pink, and yellow tulips stretched across the fields. They were so perfect it almost felt as though someone had Photoshopped them into a picture.

The Tulip Barn also has tons of photo ops, and it felt like every corner had been thoughtfully designed for the perfect shot. My friend and I set a timer for every three to five minutes to ensure we had enough time to hit them all.

The biggest surprise, however, was how friendly everyone was. Guests helped each other find the perfect angle and gave inspiration for fun poses.

Although we only had an hour to enjoy the flowers, we made it count. We frolicked (yes, actually frolicked), snapped tons of photos, and stood in awe, just soaking it all in.

Although our time in Amsterdam was limited, the experience was more than worth it

Three hours in Amsterdam might not be enough time for museums or canals, but it was perfect for enjoying the tulips.

The only downside was that because we had no accommodations, we had to haul our backpacks through the fields. However, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I live for moments like these, turning an average day off into a full-on international adventure. Working in aviation means I see time zones as opportunities, not obstacles.

Seeing the tulips in person — even for one hour — was everything we'd hoped for and more.

• I've always dreamed of traveling to the Netherlands to visit the famous tulip festival.
• Instead, I visited Mount Vernon, Washington, during the height of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
• I loved being able to see millions of colorful tulips without having to travel abroad.

The Netherlands' legendary tulip fields have always been on my bucket list.

Last year, the country's famous Keukenhof park saw over 1.4 million visitors from around the world. However, the trip has always been just out of reach for me due to the travel cost and timing.

That's why I was so excited to discover the largest tulip festival in the US was located in Northwest Washington, just a little over an hour north of Seattle.

After seeing the monthlong event referred to as "the Netherlands of the Northwest" by the festival's executive director, I knew I had to visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Here's what it was like.

I visited RoozenGaarde, which is the largest of the participating farms

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is made up of four of the region's flowering bulb farms, all conducting their own events and celebrations. Admission to each farm typically ranges from $13 to $20 per adult.

To avoid the heavy crowds typically found on weekends — and save a few dollars — I visited the festival on a weekday.

I started my journey at RoozenGaarde, which has about 200 types of tulips. I pulled into the busy parking lot and saw that a giant row of green hedges blocked the epic views I knew were on the other side.

I followed the signs to a ticket booth, which was perfectly situated for prime viewing pleasure, and my first taste of the beauty to come. I paid $15, plus tax, for my ticket, which did not allow for re-entry.

Once I stepped beyond the ticket booth, I saw a replica of a wooden Dutch windmill surrounded by vivid blooming tulips.

Behind it, I caught a glimpse of the gorgeous flowering tulip fields and the Cascade Mountain Range, which served as a breathtaking backdrop to the entire scene.

I headed straight to the fields to explore

Once immersed in the tulips, I finally slowed my excited rush to take in the beauty of the millions of flowers around me. I took a closer look at an individual tulip to see the surprisingly fine details of the petals and the coloring.

The entire field gives the impression of a 50-acre patchwork quilt with crisp rows of solid color ranging from yellow to purple, and bright Barbie pink to my absolute favorite: glowing red tulips.

Next, I stopped by the display gardens to see a shockingly beautiful array of landscaped blooming bulbs, expertly planted together to show potential buyers what they can recreate in their own gardens.

I gazed with absolute longing and wished I had a garden to justify purchasing a few bulbs.

I didn't end up traveling to the other farms participating in the festival

In the end, I started and ended my tulip festival experience solely at RoozenGaarde because I fully immersed myself in the endless fields.

Do I regret it? No, especially since the other three farms were significantly smaller but charged similar ticket prices as RoozenGaarde.

If you have time and don't mind paying the admission price for each spot, I highly suggest visiting all four participating Skagit Valley Tulip Festival farms.

They're all close to each other and worth the stop to complete a one-of-kind trip you won't soon forget.

This story was originally published on April 16, 2024, and most recently updated on April 1, 2025.

• My family moved from the US to the Netherlands last year and has experienced great cultural shifts.
• I don't worry as much about healthcare, and I've been able to cut back to a 32-hour workweek.
• My family loves living in a walkable place and in a country that seems to value its people so much.

The morning the lift on my storage bed knocked out my front tooth in Utrecht, my Dutch neighbor didn't hesitate to help me.

She walked me straight to her dentist's office, where they immediately took me in — no questions about insurance, no forms to fill out, no panic about payment plans.

They simply treated me because I needed help.

That's when I knew our 2024 move to the Netherlands wasn't just a change of scenery — it was a reset of what "quality of life" meant for our family.

In Atlanta, this same emergency would have involved frantic questions about insurance coverage and, most likely, thousands in out-of-pocket expenses. Instead, I experienced firsthand how the Dutch healthcare system prioritizes people over paperwork.

I went from experiencing healthcare anxiety to having peace of mind

The stark reality of American healthcare hit home every month in Atlanta: $800 a month for family coverage with a crushing $6,000 deductible.

Our premiums and deductibles were higher than the norm because of our blended-family situation. Every doctor's visit began with mental calculations about deductibles and coverage rather than focusing on health.

Here in the Netherlands, we pay 140 euros monthly for comprehensive coverage with a mere 385 euro yearly deductible.

Our routine checkups are free, our prescriptions rarely exceed 5 euros, and the system actually works proactively to keep us healthy.

Instead of struggling to remember when our kids need vaccines or dental checkups, the Dutch healthcare system automatically schedules these appointments for us and sends reminders.

It's refreshing to live in a society where our health doesn't feel held hostage by financial fears.

A 32-hour workweek is actually possible for me here

Running my US-based business from Utrecht has revealed a startling truth: Europeans aren't just talking about work-life balance — they're living it.

While my Atlanta colleagues often pulled 50-plus-hour weeks, my Dutch neighbors consistently work 32 hours or less.

This culture has transformed the way I structure my workday, leading to increased productivity and, surprisingly, better business results.

We're excited about our son's education — and it comes with fewer hidden costs

In Atlanta, our kid's "free" public education came with hidden costs throughout the year: classroom supplies, technology fees, fundraisers, and endless "voluntary" contributions.

Here in Utrecht, our sons' education is genuinely free, with only modest contributions expected for special activities like field trips.

I've found the Dutch approach to education prioritizes student well-being and practical life skills over standardized testing, creating an environment where learning feels natural, not forced.

The walkability and transportation options have given us so much freedom

We traded our $800 monthly two-car expense (car payments, insurance, maintenance) in Atlanta for a 75 euro monthly investment in public transport passes and bicycle maintenance in Utrecht.

The robust infrastructure here makes car-free living not just possible but preferable, eliminating the stress of traffic, parking, and vehicle maintenance.

Living in a walkable city has also played a huge role in this perk.

We spend 2,500 euros a month on our rental in Utrecht. Though our living space is smaller than it was in Atlanta, the lifestyle upgrade is immeasurable.

Everything we need lies within a 15-minute walk or bike ride — including groceries, schools, and parks — eliminating the car-dependent stress of suburban Atlanta life.

Above all, I've felt the hidden savings of social infrastructure

My healthcare costs less and our kid's education is more affordable, but our real transformation has come from living in a society that feels designed around resident well-being rather than maximum productivity.

Running my business from the Netherlands has taught me that success doesn't require sacrificing life quality. In fact, reduced stress and improved work-life balance have enhanced my business performance.

Though the move required careful planning and adjustment, the rewards have far exceeded our expectations.

We learned that, sometimes, upgrading your quality of life means being willing to change your perspective on what's possible.

For our family, that meant looking beyond US borders to find a lifestyle that aligns with our values. The Netherlands didn't just offer us access to Europe — it offered us a fundamental reset on what it means to truly thrive.

• Marianna Sachse, 45, is an American who gave birth to her second child in the Netherlands.
• She noticed that strangers would intervene to give her advice or help watch her kids.
• Overall, she liked that the culture was more focused on collectively raising kids.

One of my first enduring memories of the Netherlands was a stranger asking to cradle my baby.

Months after my family relocated from Philadelphia to Maastricht, a small Dutch city, we went out to eat. I was six weeks postpartum after having my second child. My husband, six-year-old son, newborn, and I shared a communal table with an older couple, who had finished their meals.

The woman chatted with her husband, then turned to us. Would we like for them to hold our baby so we could take a break?

At first, I thought it was odd. Raising my first infant in the US, I never encountered someone I'd never met before offering to help like this. Still, I wanted to lean into a new culture. It was remembering my own mother, who loved kids and died a few years prior. I thought, "This woman seems just like her." I inherently trusted this woman I'd never met before.

I gave her my baby. "I'll hand him back when he gets fussy," she said. My husband and I ate in a moment of peace, with our son staring up at this stranger lovingly holding his brother.

In the four years we lived in the Netherlands, we learned that this is more of a parenting norm than a random act of kindness. I regularly witnessed adults intervening to help parents out, whether by watching their kids or giving tips.

Now, living in Washington, DC, I miss this part of Dutch culture. It helped me become a happier and more relaxed parent, and my kids become more independent.

Raising kids is a collective effort

When my husband was recruited to work in a Dutch firm in 2016, I was nervous about relocating while I was pregnant. My doctor reassured me: I couldn't pick a better country for childbirth, he said.

I learned he was right. The Netherlands is famous for its "kraamzorg" or doula system, where parents can buy doula packages before, during, or after giving birth. For our home birth and eight days of very involved, in-home postpartum care, we paid under $2,000.

Doulas in the Netherlands not only care for the baby but also the mother, looking out for medical complications and offering guidance for first-time parents. They also find small ways to make parents more comfortable. Ours also vacuumed our house, walked our dog, and took the baby so I could shower. To me, the lack of privacy was worth getting so much support.

I quickly saw that this community-centered attitude toward childcare extends beyond childbirth. I regularly witnessed other parents jumping in to supervise kids on the playground or play with them.

Sometimes, they would chime in to give me advice. When I rode bikes with my older son, I learned that the Dutch consider it safest to stay next to your child, not behind them, as I initially did. A stranger taught me that I should ride with one hand on my child to teach them how to stay in the bike lane properly.

As a parent in the Netherlands, it's normal to accept help — even in the form of mild critique.

Fewer screens in restaurants

Another striking difference I noticed in the Netherlands is how kids seemed to be truly seen as members of society — and were accommodated as such.

Almost every restaurant we went to, including upscale ones with white tablecloths, had a designated corner for kids to play in. It can include toys or coloring books, and sometimes adults even volunteer to play with the kids. It's easy for parents to watch their children from afar while also unwinding at dinner.

Everywhere we went understood that kids have lots of energy and can't sit at a table or in a high chair for that long. Striking this compromise helped us, and other parents, bring our kids to public spaces without feeling overwhelmed by tantrums. Back in the US, I'd tag-team with friends to take turns walking our kids outside when they inevitably needed to move. It was manageable, but not exactly relaxing.

Other American parents mitigate meltdowns by giving their kids tablets or phones. In the Netherlands, I saw fewer screens at restaurants because parents had other means to keep their kids happy. It was nice to go out and know that if our kids got tired of sitting with the adults, they could go color and play with other kids instead of watching YouTube.

Parents can relax more

Because raising kids is seen as a community effort, there were times when parents would discipline strangers' kids if they witnessed them being mean to another child or behaving poorly in public. The Dutch will call your kid out if they're being rude or unkind toward others. They might also correct you as a parent.

I loved it. As an American, there have been times when I've wondered where a kid's parent is or why they're hitting other children. I would be terrified to say something in the US. It's just not a norm, and I feel like I could put my safety at risk by interjecting.

In the US, our self-sufficiency gives us the freedom to make our own decisions, whether we choose gentle parenting or homeschooling. It also comes with downsides.

In our small Dutch city, I was laid back when my seven-year-old son walked home alone from school because I knew that if he was in an unsafe situation, an adult would help. In the US, it's not uncommon for parents to be nervous about their 12-year-olds hanging out in the neighborhood by themselves. There's a lot less trust, and with that, kids are less independent.

We eventually moved back to the US to be closer to family. During my time in the Netherlands, I learned a great parenting lesson: when we're willing to let others into our parenting space, everybody wins.

• I moved to the Netherlands from Colombia years ago.
• For my first birthday there, I received all secondhand items, which made me feel unappreciated.
• Over time, I saw this custom as thoughtful and meaningful, so I'm teaching my kid to embrace it.

I moved from Colombia to the Netherlands years ago and saw a lot more tulips and bicycles than ever before.

Fortunately, I also found community. When my friends came together to celebrate my first birthday in the Netherlands, they brought me beautifully wrapped presents.

However, I was caught off guard as I opened them: Almost every item — books, clothes, shoes, home decor — was used.

As my friends shared where they found the item and why they thought I'd like it, I struggled to wrap my head around the secondhand gifts.

I knew secondhand shopping was popular here, but I didn't realize it extended to gifts

I'd known many of my new neighbors prioritized buying things secondhand — and were especially proud of doing so when they got a good deal. And I get it: shopping secondhand can be less wasteful and a good way to save money.

However, I was surprised the secondhand-shopping culture also extended to gift-giving. I felt like my friends weren't truly appreciating me: Didn't they care enough to get me something new?

In the community I grew up in, it was not common to give secondhand gifts — especially for a birthday or the holidays. I'd feel embarrassed giving someone a secondhand item as a gift and doing so might even be seen as impolite

In the following weeks, though, I learned just how normal and common secondhand gift-giving is in my new community. I also began to see how nice it can really be.

After all, the effort and thoughtfulness behind a gift means more than a shiny new box and a price tag. The gifts I received were focused on my needs and desires.

It was nice that my friends thought so hard about what I might enjoy and that they spent so much time scouring marketplaces, apps, and thrift shops in search of the perfect gift for me.

It's pretty easy to order something new online, but shopping secondhand can take a lot of time and dedication.

I hope to pass this custom and its values to my daughter

I've since embraced giving and receiving secondhand gifts, and I'm teaching my daughter to do the same.

When she was born, most of the clothes and items she received from friends and family were secondhand, which further opened my eyes to how nice it is to have practical and intentional gifts regardless of where they came from.

When we shop for presents, I encourage both of us to think about what the recipient might actually need or enjoy instead of just picking something because it's trendy or new.

We've had so much fun searching for items in secondhand shops and online marketplaces and discovering unique gifts that we might never have found new.

This custom has also been a great way to remind myself of the importance of intention and thoughtfulness when it comes to parenting, too.