One of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam is its Bloemenmarkt, or "Flower Market". This floating shopping area is located on The Singel, one of Amsterdam's oldest canals. It is the only one of its kind in the world, and has been there since 1862. Bloemenmarkt is a fabulous place to purchase souvenirs to take home for yourself or loved ones. If you're spending a long time in Amsterdam, either staying in a flat or with a host family, flowers are an excellent touch to add to any Dutch style room.
Flowers peek through every corner of Bloemenmarkt, while fairy lights create a romantic atmosphere.
Even if it's a rainy day or you don't plan on buying anything, Amsterdam's flower market is the perfect way to spend a morning. In the afternoon, like most attractions in the city, crowds get much larger. This may take away from the enjoyment of the experience. The flowers are also not as fresh as they would be in the morning. No store is more worth seeing than any other - the whole block has a fresh floral scent (obviously) so it's a pleasant experience to just browse the area for as long as you want.
Wooden tulips are sold in a variety of sizes and colors in most of the flower markets.
Bloemenmarkt is conveniently located within walking distance of other popular museums and attractions. The Van Gogh Museum (19 min. walk), Rijksmuseum (13 min. walk) and Anne Frank House (16 min. walk) are some of the most visited museums near Bloemenmarkt. The Heineken Experience (15 min. walk) and Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam (8 min. walk) are some other famous attractions nearby, if you plan to visit Bloemenmarkt in the evening. And since it's floating on a canal, you can easily access any hop-on hop-off boat tours.
Fresh flowers are sold for under 10 euros.
While the shops in Bloemenmarkt look similar and sell many of the same items, some sell more fresh flowers, typical Dutch souvenirs or types of seeds. You will be able to tell what the store mostly sells just by glancing inside. All of the stores have open ventilation facing the sidewalk.
If you or someone you know enjoys gardening, you can find hundreds of different plant seeds in the flower markets. This is also a great option if you would like to bring flowers with you across the world.
When buying seeds to take home in another country, always make sure your country's flag is listed on the package. Certain plants are not allowed in specific countries, and you could potentially run into trouble at customs. So if you aren't sure whether the bulbs will be allowed into your country, just ask a vendor.
An array of herbs and spices are also available at the flower markets.
Traditional Dutch wooden clogs are sold in all designs and sizes - from keychains to over a meter long!
Depending on when you visit the Amsterdam Bloemenmarkt, you might be lucky enough to witness its seasonal changes. From mid April to early May, you can experience the famous Dutch tulip season. The flower markets will be bursting with a rainbow of tulips, but to see them at their best, visit a tulip field. These are located all over Holland, but the closest one to Amsterdam is the Keukenhof, the world's biggest flower exhibition located just 30 minutes from Amsterdam.
If you're visiting in December, some vendors sell Christmas trees as well. Bloemenmarkt would be a fun attraction to see before heading to the Amsterdam Christmas markets at night.
Flowers even hang from the ceiling in some of the shops, which adds to the enchanting experience.
The Flower Market is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Koningsplein train station stops just outside it, and the Spui station is also nearby. Take train lines 1, 2 and 5 for Koningsplein and 4, 9, 14 and 16 for Spui.
