Bloemenmarkt: Amsterdam’s Floating Flower Market
On a recent trip to Amsterdam, I squeezed in a stop at Amsterdam’s famous Bloemenmarkt, a floating flower market in the heart of the city. Unfortunately my trip did not coincide with tulip season, so I wasn’t able to visit the famous tulip fields to be found just outside the city. A quick stop at the Bloemenmarkt was the perfect way to satisfy my desire to see some of Amsterdam’s renowned flowers and even squeeze in some souvenir shopping, not to mention it made it on my list of the top 10 things to do in Amsterdam. Here’s what I learned about this historic and unique market!
- The Bloemenmarkt is the world’s only floating flower market.
The floating stalls are conveniently lined up next to each other, making it easy to browse each shop.
- The concept of a floating market was first intoduced in 1862, when flower sellers would boat into the city to sell their wares directly from the barges.
- In the spirit of this tradition, the modern market still takes place on the water of the Singel canal, however fresh flowers are brought in each day by bus, not boat.
- During the tulip season, the shops are known for selling one of Amsterdam’s top (and most beautiful) exports-tulips!
- Tulip growing first began in the Netherlands in 1593, when the first bulbs were brought from the Ottoman Empire.
One of the shops had these flowers hanging from the ceiling, blanketing the store in a pink glow.
- Today, Dutch tulip growers produce 4.32 billion tulip bulbs each year.
If you are looking for a unique souvenir, there are clogs to be found in every color!
- When tulips are not in season, as was the case during my visit, one can find succulents, house plants, seeds, and bulbs available for purchase, as well as a variety of other flowers.
I was surprised and delighted by the variety of plants available.
- There are currently 15 florists who have set up shop in this market today.
From the exterior, you can barely tell that the shops are floating!
Would a visit to the Bloemenmarket make it on your list of things to do in Amsterdam? I really enjoyed this short detour, although I wish I had visited during tulip season-just one of the trade offs of traveling during the off season!
