The Bloemenmarkt

Can a flower market surprise you with anything? At first glance, it can’t. Almost every city has a place where you can buy a bouquet or flower bulbs. But Amsterdam wouldn’t be Amsterdam if it did not offer something unique and fascinating in this sphere.

In the very city centre, there is the Bloemenmarkt flower market. Not only citizens by tourists as well adore this place. The Dutch love it for an opportunity to buy different kinds of tulips, which their homeland is so famous for, and other fresh flowers of all sizes and colours. Guests appreciate it because it is a floating market. That’s right. It is a unique phenomenon in Europe: a market on the water.

Many centuries ago, Amsterdam had no stationary markets in the central square like in other cities. Merchants sailed, anchored along canals, and sold their goods right from boats. It was easier, faster, and more cost-effective.

The main gathering place of flower vendors was St. Lucienwall Canal. It had existed for more than a decade till 1862. But in 1883, the closure of Oudezijds Voorburgwal Canal forced the market to move to another location. It was the Singel Canal between Muntplein and Koningsplein Squares.

Until the mid-20th century, the market was called the Market of Trees and Plants and mostly sold seedlings, bulbs, seeds. But in the 1960s, the cut flowers came into fashion, so they appeared in the market, and it changed the name to Bloemenmarkt.

Today, paying tribute to traditions, stalls stand on boats that are now docked at the pier. They do not leave every evening and return in the morning. But still, the floating market is a curiosity of Amsterdam.