Amsterdam Flower Market

Immerse your senses in a riot of colour and smell

The Flower Market in Amsterdam or Bloemenmarkt was established in the heart of Amsterdam in 1862. It is the world’s only floating flower market. In the past, the sellers would sail down the canals on barges bursting with blooms to sell. Sadly, the spectacle of flowers moving down the famous canals on barges is no longer seen (imagine the photos). Now the barges are moored up on the side of the canal adjoining the market.

Wonderful fragrant smells and vibrant colours greet todays visitors to the modern market. The fixed barges have glass houses built on top showcasing an array of different flowers, as well as plants, seeds, bulbs and herbs.

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Tickets for Bloemenmarkt

The Amsterdam flower market is free so no tickets are required. You can wander through at your leisure, take photos and buy anything that catches your eye.

Can you bring bulbs back from Amsterdam to UK

As a visitor to the flower market you might be tempted to bring a slice of Amsterdam home with you. Bulbs were once one of the most common gifts or souvenirs. However, bulbs are actually one of the riskiest things to bring back to the UK in terms of potentially bringing in invasive pests and diseases. The Royal Horticultural Society advises not to bring back plants or plant products from other countries in your baggage. Defra’s “Don’t Risk It!” campaign explains more about the risks of bringing in plant material via passenger baggage or other non-commercial routes.

The same applies to carrying plant material to any other country too. There are specific flower import rules for US visitors, for example, flowers must include a sticker that reads, “To the Plant Protection Service of the United States and Canada,” and the botanical name of the flower and the date of issuance.

We understand the appeal of growing a small memory of Amsterdam when back at home, but suggest taking photos and printing them out for your wall as the best way to remember your visit to the flower market in Amsterdam. You can also purchase wooden tulips, clogs and other Dutch souvenirs from the shops nearby too.

Where is the flower market in Amsterdam

The Bloemenmarkt is located on the Singel Canal between the Koningsplein and Muntplein.

Singel 1012 DH

How long is a visit to Amsterdam Flower Market

Exploring the flower market and local shops will take you roughly an hour, although you can stay as long as you like. There are plenty of cafes and bars in the area so it might be a good place to go as part of a lunchtime trip.

Flowers in Amsterdam – tours and trips

Amsterdam is synonymous with tulips, so it is no surprise that when visiting this beautiful city you can find plenty of activities to do that focus on the floral side of Amsterdam. There are plenty of walking tours that explore the history of flowers in Amsterdam, as well as trips outside the city to major attractions such as Keukenhof Gardens.

You could also choose a tour that takes in another attraction of note outside the city, the Amsterdam Royal Flower Auction and Castle Visit. On this tour you visit the worlds biggest flower auction site and learn how everything works on a commercial scale. 

We also have a page all about Tulips in Amsterdam, which will give you more detail on all the flower related attractions and events in Amsterdam.

Some of our other favourite tours are shown below.