Amsterdam Flower Markets

The famous floating flower market is open year-round off of Muntplien: http://g.co/maps/nwnp

We were in Amsterdam earlier this month (August) and visited the flower auction at FloraHolland in Aalsmeer. You can tour at your leisure between 7 and 10 am Monday through Friday. (google Aalsmeer flower auction for more info) It was an easy 30 - 40 minute bus ride from the city with no changes (bus #172 destination Kudelstaart, comes by every 15 min. or so, tell the driver you are going to the flower auction and he will confirm you are on the right bus). We were fascinated by the huge facility, how amazingly efficiently their systems and transports work, and how many flowers are auctioned and shipped from there in one day. It is 5 euros admission and, I think, the bus was 6.50 each way (not covered in any pass). One or 2 hours is sufficient to see everything. We left our hotel by 6:30 am, went to Aalsmeer and returned, and were still able to enjoy our hotel's included breakfast before it was finished for the day. One the most efficient bits of trip planning I have orchestrated to date, if I say so myself!