When you think of the Netherlands, Dutch tulips are likely among the first things that come to mind. But how about roses, gardenias, gerber daisies and lilies? Just 10 miles from Amsterdam is a small town called Aalsmeer, whose claim to fame is that it's home to the largest flower auction in the world. Those flowers at your local grocery store? Those bouquets at the corner bodega? Chances are, they've journeyed from Aalsmeer and were bid on just hours earlier. If you're visiting Amsterdam, you shouldn't miss a day trip to the Aalsmeer auction.
Plan your trip. You can visit the auction on weekdays from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m., but try to go on Monday, Tuesday or Friday, when the auction is most bustling.
Get up early. The flower auction is in full swing by 6:30 a.m., and to see the auction at its liveliest and most interesting, plan to arrive early -- definitely well before 9 a.m. This may not be easy after a night of enjoying Amsterdam's vibrant nightlife, but plan ahead. It's worth it.
Catch a bus in front of Centraal Station, near the Victoria Hotel. You'll want bus 172, which will take you straight to the flower auction's door. You'll find English widely -- almost universally -- spoken in Amsterdam, so if in doubt, simply ask the driver or a fellow passenger if you're on the right bus. You can buy a ticket from the driver.
Head to the catwalk. High above the main flower market floor is a walkway for visitors, which gives you a bird's-eye view of the floral goings-on. Below are thousands of carts loaded with buckets of every flower imaginable -- 13,000 types, to be exact. The carts are linked and pulled swiftly from place to place by workers in small motorized vehicles. You could stand on the walkway and take pictures for hours.
Peek into the auction rooms. Here and there along the walkway are large picture windows, through which you can watch the auctions in action. Flower buyers sit in row upon row of seats -- much like a movie theater -- and enter bids electronically as the flowers move across the front of the room on carts. It's frenetic and fast-paced, but silent. And note the demographic: Almost all Aalsmeer flower buyers are men.
Understand the concept of a Dutch auction. Unlike a traditional auction, where an auctioneer calls out increasingly high prices until there are no more takers, in a Dutch auction, the bidding is on decreasing amounts. That is, the auction leader sets a price. The price then instantly begins decreasing until a buyer puts in his bid. The trick is to get the flowers at a good price, without being beaten to the punch.
Watch the screens. The starting price of a flower lot appears at the "12" position on an auction clock, which is projected onto a huge screen along with details about the flowers. Once the auction begins, a "clock's hand" begins swinging around the dial quickly, indicating the lowering of the price. It's all very confusing to look at -- and it's amazing that the buyers can process so much information so swiftly.
Be wowed. The Aalsmeer flower auction sells 20 million flowers every day.
