Flower bulb central (Bloemenmarkt)

Member Name: nickn5

Product:	Bloemenmarkt
Date:	26/07/09 (15 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unique, lots of variety

Disadvantages: Seasonal

The famous Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market) in Amsterdam is often talked about but rarely visited, if talking to people I know is anything to go by. The reason is simple - it involves walking a lot further into Amsterdam from the station than many of the other attractions, and also, well, you have to like flowers.

I visited earlier this year, and was quite amazed at just how many stalls there were, and the variety of (mainly bulbs) on offer. It is supposed to be the world's only floating flower market, and 'floats' along the canal (attached securely to the walls) at the higher number end of the Singel canal. Incidentally, the low numbered end of the Singel 'street' has the world's narrowest house front, but from end to the other is quite a long walk.

If you visit the Bloemenmarkt in the spring, you will be disappointed if you want tulip bulbs, because these become available in large numbers only in the autumn. At that time of year you'd be better advised going to the famous Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse near Leiden, to see all the tulips, daffodils and crocii flowering. But there are plenty of other species to be had, including some ENORMOUS Amarillys bulbs.

The prices of the various bulbs are reasonable (for Amsterdam), and you can also pick up other souvenirs of The Netherlands while you're there. I hadn't realised just how important the exporting of bulbs is to the Dutch economy until my visit to the Bloemenmarkt and speaking to one or two of the stallholders. There are hundreds of bulb producing companies, from smallholdings to international conglomerates, and apparently the export weight per year of flower bulbs (bloembollen in Dutch) is in the millions of tons.

The Bloemenmarkt is a pleasant walk if nothing else, and if you're there at the right time of year and have some money to spend, a rewarding place to get some exotic-looking bulbs for your garden. It is very interesting to go and see if you're in Amsterdam, but it probably won't occupy much more than an hour or so of your day.

Summary: Interesting to see