The flower powerhouse of the Netherlands: It's hard to believe, but in a small town near the Dutch capital, 19 MILLION tulips and other beauties are sold every day
Bel Mooney visits Aalsmeer, known as the “Flower Capital of the Netherlands”. She discovers the excitement of its world-famous auctions and flower market READ MORE: American couple films their first ever trip in a Toby CarveryVisit MailOnline Travel for more 2024 holiday advice, tips and advice< p class="author-section byline-plain">By Bel Mooney for The Mail on Sunday
Volunteer guide at the charming Aalsmeer Horticultural Museum describes his long, grueling life as a lilac grower . . “I started when I was 15 and my father died when I was 19, so I had to take over as the eldest son,” he says. "That's how it goes."
His shrug suggests he might have liked another life, but the lilac and taking care of the family had to come first. And it's been that way for generations.
From early April to mid-May, the northern Netherlands is transformed into a vibrant, striped tapestry as the tulips arrive. in full bloom. My photographer husband, Robin, and I are heading to Aalsmeer. It's just a short bus, train or taxi ride south from Schiphol Airport, and yet a very different world.
This A pleasant little town, about half an hour from Amsterdam and known as "the flower capital of the Netherlands", may not have the elegant historic architecture of nearby Haarlem, but its twin glories are flowers and water. Every three months the entire exhibition of the flower art museum changes and every morning the world's largest flower auction and market takes place in the vast complex called Bloem...
Volunteer guide at the charming Aalsmeer Horticultural Museum describes his long, grueling life as a lilac grower . . “I started when I was 15 and my father died when I was 19, so I had to take over as the eldest son,” he says. "That's how it goes."
His shrug suggests he might have liked another life, but the lilac and taking care of the family had to come first. And it's been that way for generations.
From early April to mid-May, the northern Netherlands is transformed into a vibrant, striped tapestry as the tulips arrive. in full bloom. My photographer husband, Robin, and I are heading to Aalsmeer. It's just a short bus, train or taxi ride south from Schiphol Airport, and yet a very different world.
This A pleasant little town, about half an hour from Amsterdam and known as "the flower capital of the Netherlands", may not have the elegant historic architecture of nearby Haarlem, but its twin glories are flowers and water. Every three months the entire exhibition of the flower art museum changes and every morning the world's largest flower auction and market takes place in the vast complex called Bloem...
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