Aalsmeer: village guide with museums & tips

The story of Aalsmeer

Every day millions of flowers and plants are traded in Aalsmeer, for vases all over the world. The village on the Westeinder lakes has lived from its nurseries for centuries. Two museums tell that story: through art and in a historic garden.

Aalsmeer is approx. 30 to 45 minutes by bus from Amsterdam or Schiphol. At Royal FloraHolland, early on weekday mornings, you can watch the trade from a visitors' gallery: trolleys full of flowers and the auction clock. The Flower Art Museum shows art about flowers and plants. The Historic Garden Aalsmeer shows how growers used to work, with greenhouses, ditches and old varieties. Then take a boat trip on the Westeinder lakes, with islands full of old nurseries.

Millionsof flowers and plants a day through the auction
Westeinderthe largest lakes in the area, close to Amsterdam
1 clockwhere the price drops until someone presses

Your museum day in Aalsmeer

One day, four moments. How to get the most out of your visit.

07:30MUSEUM
Flower auction Up early for the auction clock.
11:00MUSEUM
Historic Garden Greenhouses and old varieties.
13:00EAT
Lunch by the lakes A terrace by the water.
19:00SLEEP
Hotel by the lakes Stay by the water, close to Schiphol.

Aalsmeer in six moments

17th centuryAalsmeer becomes known for its tree and plant nurseries.
Approx. 1912The first flower auctions start in Aalsmeer.
1968The Aalsmeer auctions merge.
2008The large auctions merge into FloraHolland.

What to do in Aalsmeer

Six places to complete your museum day.

01
Royal FloraHolland

The flower auction, one of the largest trading buildings in the world. Watch the trade from the visitors' gallery, early on weekdays.

Legmeerdijk1 hour
02
Flower Art Museum →

Art about flowers, plants and nature, with changing exhibitions.

Kudelstaartseweg1 hour
03
Historic Garden Aalsmeer →

An old nursery with greenhouses, ditches and historic varieties, showing how the trade used to work.

Uiterweg1 to 2 hours
04
Westeinder lakes

Sail past islands, old nurseries and the water that gave Aalsmeer its name.

Aalsmeer1 to 2 hours

Museums in Aalsmeer

Buy your tickets online and plan the rest of your day around them.

All museums in Aalsmeer (2)

Flower Art Museum

View Tickets & website ↗

Historic Garden Aalsmeer

View Tickets & website ↗

On the map

All museums in Aalsmeer. Click a museum for the route.

Plan your trip to Aalsmeer ↗

Hidden story

The clock that counts down

At the flower auction the price does not go up but down. Whoever presses first, buys.

Read the storyHide the story

At an ordinary auction, buyers bid higher and higher. At the flower auction it works the other way round. The clock starts at a high price and runs down. As soon as a buyer presses the button, the clock stops and the lot is sold at that price. Wait too long and someone else gets it. This way a huge number of lots can be sold in a short time, which is needed: flowers must stay fresh. In English this system is still called a "Dutch auction". In Aalsmeer you can see it up close.

Where: Royal FloraHolland, Aalsmeer

Beyond the city

Aalsmeer lies between Amsterdam, Schiphol and the bulb region.

Bus, approx. 45 min

Amsterdam

Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and the flower market on the Singel.

Route by public transport ↗

Bus via Schiphol (in season)

Keukenhof

The bulb park in Lisse, in spring.

Route by public transport ↗

Bus, approx. 45 min

Haarlem

Frans Hals Museum and the Grote Markt.

Route by public transport ↗

Travel times are indicative. Live times on 9292.nl ↗.

SLEEP

Stay in Aalsmeer, between water and flowers

Aalsmeer has hotels by the lakes and near the auction. Schiphol and Amsterdam are close, as are the bulb fields and the Keukenhof. Ideal as the first or last stop of your trip.

Find your hotel →