Walking through the heart of the Bulb Region

Historical Hillegom
The starting point of this route is in Hillegom, a village among the flower bulb fields with a rich history. Hillegom originated in the early Middle Ages around the Maartenskerk. In the 17th and 18th centuries, this was the place where many administrators and merchants from The Hague and Amsterdam had their country residences built. In these accommodations they could escape the hustle and bustle of the city. These buildings have all been demolished over the centuries. Nowadays you can go to Hillegom for all kinds of tasty artisanal products.

Brightly colored flower bulb fields
From Hillegom you walk past extensive flower bulb fields that turn into a brightly colored sea of flowers in the spring. A beautiful sight to see, but you won't be bored here during the rest of the year either. In the area around Hillegom you will find picking gardens, an open-air swimming pool, an indoor ski slope and nice places to take a break. In short, there is plenty to do in this area.

The Zilk
This route takes you close to the village of De Zilk. On the edge of the village you will find the Heilig-Hartkerk, a building from 1920. This village has been devoted to bulb cultivation, especially hyacinth cultivation, for centuries. The large bulb growers used to all live in the'Kleine Zilk\\\' and the workers who worked in the fields lived in the'Grote Zilk\\\'.