If you’re craving color, warmth, and a little reminder that winter does eventually end, Dutch Connection at the George Eastman Museum is your sign to get out of the house.

(This is my FAAAAAAAVORITE time of year to visit the museum!)

This annual floral display transforms the historic Eastman mansion into a fragrant, colorful escape. Between 1905 and 1932, George Eastman ordered tens of thousands of bulbs from Holland every single year. His love of flowers was sparked during a bicycling trip through the Dutch countryside in 1895, where he was inspired by endless fields of blooms.

Those original orders of tulips, narcissus, and hyacinths filled his gardens and were even used for indoor forcing (essentially tricking bulbs to bloom out of season). Today’s Dutch Connection is a direct nod to that tradition, honoring Eastman’s passion while giving modern-day Rochesterians a much-needed winter mood boost.

What You’ll See at Dutch Connection

Throughout the mansion, you’ll find thousands of vibrant spring blooms, including:

• Tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils

• Amaryllis and spring annuals

• Tropical orchids on display courtesy of the Genesee Regional Orchid Society

Every room feels alive, colorful, and fragrant, making it one of the most photographed winter events in Rochester.

Take a Little Spring Home With You

Want to extend the joy beyond your visit? You can purchase plants at the Lipson Welcome Center throughout the show. It’s a great way to bring a piece of Dutch Connection into your own home (or gift one to someone who’s equally over winter).

Food, Music, and Cozy Extras

While you’re there, make time to stop by Open Face, the restaurant inside the museum, which will be offering floral teas and baked goods alongside their usual favorites during Dutch Connection. (Insider tip: you can enjoy Open Face anytime, no admission required to enjoy the restaurant!)

On weekends, organ music will be performed throughout the museum, adding an extra layer of ambiance to your visit.

Family-Friendly & Hands-On Activities

Dutch Connection is especially wonderful for families, with activities designed to engage kids.

Create, Draw, and Learn
In the Donna Fielding Discovery Room, visitors can:

• Read books about bulb flowers

• Draw their own floral creations

• View the root systems of bulb flowers

• Explore animation-related activities

Free Bulb Kits for Kids
Children can take home a free bulb kit (while supplies last), complete with a pot, soil, and a forced bulb to plant and watch grow—free with museum admission.

Event Details You’ll Want to Know

• When: Friday, Feb. 6 – Sunday, Feb. 22 (closed Mondays)

• Where: George Eastman Museum

• Hours: During regular museum hours

• Cost: Included with museum admission, free for members

Dutch Connection is generously supported by Karen Kral in memory of Gerald “Jerry” Kral, with in-kind support provided by the Monroe County Parks Department and Pike’s Greenhouse in Avon, NY.

If you need a reminder that spring is coming (and that Rochester still knows how to do winter right), Dutch Connection is absolutely worth the visit.