Bulb growers are to begin cutting the heads off outdoor tulips and hyacinths in an effort to stop thousands of sightseers heading for the main bulb growing areas.

The colourful fields of tulips are a major tourist draw but this weekend local mayors were forced to close roads as thousands of people tried to visit the area, despite calls to stay home because of coronavirus.

A spokesman for the growers’ network organisation Flower Science told news website Nu.nl that the initiative to cut out the blooms early is widely supported in the sector. ‘Health is the most important thing,’ the spokesman said. ‘And if the sector can contribute by cutting off the flowers, then that is what we will do.’

Not all the fields can be cleared of blooms because the bulbs need a certain amount of sunshine to develop properly. Cutting the flowers off early may also impact on exports, as bulbs need to be certified while in bloom, local broadcaster Omroep West reported.