Duin- en Bollenstreek

The combination of beaches, flower fields, lakes and history makes this area attractive to tourists.

[1] The Dune and Bulb Region stretches from the area around the lower reaches of the Old Rhine west of Leiden to just south of Haarlem.

The Dune and Bulb Region proper is made up of the towns from Katwijk to Hillegom, and from the coast to the Kaag Lakes.

Officials consider six municipalities to be part of this region: Hillegom, Katwijk, Lisse, Noordwijk, Noordwijkerhout and Teylingen.

They are then disinfected and dried out at a high temperature in huge bulb sheds (bollenschuren), a characteristic building in this area.

The bulbs are traded at flower auctions in Rijnsburg, Lisse and Aalsmeer and then exported from nearby Schiphol Airport to many countries throughout the world.

One of them is the Bloemencorso Bollenstreek in April, during which floral floats, magnificently decorated cars and marching bands parade slowly from Noordwijk aan Zee through Sassenheim, Lisse, Hillegom, Heemstede to Haarlem.