Monday 17 November 2014

The Floating Flower Market Amsterdam


Autumn is a lovely time to take a stroll through the Bloemenmarkt in Amsterdam. It is a very colourful attraction and the only floating flower market in the world. It is supposed to be interesting during all seasons and in October when we visited there was an unbelievable selection of tulip bulbs on display.




There is a vast array of other bulbs too including narcissus, plus green and flowering plants, bouquets of colourful flowers and ... wait for it ...shush, quiet ... cannabis seeds and growing kits. It seems a bit surreal as cannabis is illegal here in the UK, but not in Amsterdam, the strong aromas of cannabis were everywhere! 





The flower stalls stand on floating barges on the Singel Canal, remnants from times past when the flowers and bulbs used to be brought from the surrounding countryside into Amsterdam each day by boat. The market was first held in 1862. 



It is rather a feast of bright colours, not only from the flower and plant stalls, but from all the endless displays of seed packets, bags of bulbs and souvenirs. The stalls are packed full of it all and lots of bric a brac and momentoes of Amsterdam. 



I rather liked the bouquets of brightly coloured wooden tulips and treated myself to some, I'm always enticed when it comes to a souvenir or two! I bought myself a colourful bag of tulip bulbs too. I thought they may be a beautiful reminder in spring of this special trip to Amsterdam when they flower, my first time on an aeroplane just one year post heart and lung transplant! 



Little narrow streets entice you to have a wander across from the market: they are full of cafes, coffee shops, cheese shops and yes there is even a Christmas shop! And yes I was tempted to buy a few Christmas decorations too! 


After a lovely browse, it was time to sit with a latte and just watch the world go by through the view of an orchid: happy days! 

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