Paris | Rome | New York

By the time a visitor is ready for lunch, most of the auctioned flowers are distributed, packed, and on their way by truck or airplane to more than 80 countries. A rose sold under the clock in the morning can be gracing a dinner table the same evening in Paris, Rome, or New York. And early the next morning, under Aalsmeer’s clocks, the stately procession of flowers and plants begins again.

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visiting aalsmeer’s flower auctions
auctions are open to visitors on weekdays, 7-11 a.m., april through september; the rest of the year, the hours are 7:30-11 a.m. the best time to see the action is before 9 a.m. on a monday.

admission is 4.50 euros for adults, 2.50 for children. bus number 172 runs from the square in front of the victoria hotel amsterdam, across from amsterdam’s centraal station. the ride takes about 45 minutes. at aalsmeer, follow signs to the visitors’ center in the large building with the red tulip logo. a self-service restaurant and souvenir shop are inside. for more information, visit www.aalsmeer.com, call 011-31-297-29-21-85, or e-mail info@vba.nl.