All About Amsterdam’s Flower Market

“The Amsterdam Flower Market, or Bloemenmarkt, is one of the city’s biggest attractions. The colourful market is a paradise for flower lovers and cultural enthusiasts. Whether you’re looking to buy some bouquets or single flowers or you’re searching for unique souvenirs, here’s everything you need to know about the Amsterdam Flower Market.

What is the Bloemenmarkt?
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The Amsterdam Flower Market is the world’s only floating flower market. Dating back to 1862, the market hosts flower stalls on houseboats as a throwback to the days when vendors got their supplies by barge on the Amstel River. The modern-day market has fixed barges with miniature greenhouses on top. You can find just about any flower you wish at the market, including tulips, geraniums, carnations, violets, orchids and narcissus, and they’re sold by single flowers, bulbs and bouquets, which can be exported. The market also has traditional Dutch souvenirs, such as wooden tulips, clogs and artisan foods.

Market location and hours
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The Flower Market is located on the Singel canal between the Muntplein and Koningsplein. It’s a permanent market in the city centre, and the stalls sit on boats on the oldest canals in Amsterdam. The market is open every day of the year from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

How to get there
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You can reach the market easily by car or tram. There are plenty of car parks around, or you can stay nearby and walk. If you want to take the tram, you can reach the market from tram 4, 9, 13, 14, 24 or 25 from Dam Square to Muntplein, or tram 1, 2 or 5 to Koningsplein.

Where to stay
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The Flower Market is worth a trip to Amsterdam on its own, but you’ll probably want to take in more of the city on your holiday. Fortunately, many of the city’s attractions are close to the market, so you can stay in the area for easy access to everything. Old Centrum is the best option because it’s close to the restaurants, shops and canals for boat cruises, and you can stay in the neighbourhoods of Dam, Nieuwarkt, Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein or the Canal Belt to be close to the market. If you want to be even closer, you can choose accommodation near Spui, which is also close to many shops and restaurants.

Bloemenmarkt tulips
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Tulips are an important part of Holland’s culture and history, especially in Amsterdam. Tulips were first imported from the Ottoman Empire during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. Tulips are still a tourist attraction in Amsterdam, and growing tulips is a massive industry. Many events offer tulips throughout the year, such as the spring Tulip Festival and FloraHolland flower auction, but the Flower Market is the best place to find tulips year-round.

Dutch souvenirs
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If you’re visiting the market, you can pick up some traditional Dutch souvenirs to bring home as a memento of your trip. In between flower barges, you’ll find gift shops that offer Dutch cheese, keychains, wooden tulips, postcards, decorations and crafts. You can also find great gifts in the Christmas Palace, an enchanting store with Christmas gifts and decorations in any season. If you’re planning to bring some traditional gifts home, be sure to choose goods that are packaged and approved for export to avoid them getting held up in customs.

Nearby shopping
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The Flower Market is located in the heart of Amsterdam, which means you’ll have access to some of the city’s best shopping. From the market, you’ll be within walking distance of places like Spui square, which is home to art and book markets and bookstores, and Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat, two of the top high-street shopping areas. For something a little different, visit Pathé Tuschinski movie theatre for a film screening surrounded by art-deco decor and a grand hall.

Nearby attractions
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The Flower Market’s location puts it close to some of Amsterdam’s top attractions. From the market, you can visit Rembrandtplein, or Rembrandt Square, which is home to restaurants, cafes and nightlife, as well as a statue of Rembrandt and sculptures of ‘The Night Watch’. You could also visit the Amsterdam Museum, which chronicles the city’s history with permanent and pop-up exhibitions. You can explore the museum yourself or opt for a guided tour with anecdotes and trivia. Dam Square is just a short walk away and is home to the opulent Royal Palace and the National Monument. It’s best to visit Dam Square in the evening to see the spectacular buildings under the glow of the sunset.

Ready to plan your trip?
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The colourful and vibrant Bloemenmarkt is a must-see attraction on a trip to Amsterdam. Whether you want to visit Amsterdam for the market or you want to include it on your Amsterdam city break itinerary, you can find great deals on Amsterdam holidays from Expedia to make the most of your trip!”