Anyone been to the Floriade flower show in Amsterdam? Would you recommend a tourist attend with a tour company or can a tourist get there on their own and get just as much out of the visit?

Go by yourself.It is easy to get to. It is just like a world's fair for flowers. You walk around and go to the pavillons, exhibits,cafes, and follow a path to see the gardens around the lake. Everyone speaks English. I don't think a tour guide would be helpful. It is all self- explanatory.

We attended Floriade on opening day this year. [we're from CA] It was not as impressive as one is led to believe. Seemded to be like a large trade fair with the purpose being for firms and regions to hype their wares. On a scale of 1 to 10, we thought the Floraide was a 5 whereas as the Keukenhof Gardens were a 10. [then again we're not florists]

Was at the Floriade on April 29. The Floriade is not a Flower show, as is the Chelsea Flower Show in London each May. The Floriade is an international (supposedly, since there are many foreign exhibitors, including a US planting area) horticultural exhibit--which includes plantings, flowers, garden design, etc. It occurs only every 10 years--which is why it is going on from April through most of October, because it took a lot of work to get it all together. With all that in mind, it is worth a visit, which can be done very easily on your own. It could be a "destination" visit, if you are interested in all aspects of horticulture or if you are going to be in Holland, it is a good day trip. Keukenhof is specifically dedicated to floral plantings and is only open from mid-march to mid May, but also has a summer flower display--in August, I think.<BR>Since we were there so early in the event, many of the plantings were not as mature as they would be now. They have put 1,000 of tulip bulbs in cold storage, so that they can be planted even during the summer, in certain areas, so that you will see tulips no matter when you go. A garden writer for our state newspaper was there in May, and in her article, mentioned that people might be diappointed because they think it will be a huge area of flowers. There is a huge lake--actually two lakes and lots of flowers. Because I knew what to expect, I was not upset with the commercial aspect--I believe that the vendors, etc. helped to finance the project. One Floriade was in Amsterdam, and the area is now the large park which is near the Rikesmuseum--or so I've been told.

It is tacky and embarassing, no wonder it only happened every ten years. Avoid it!

I wasn't impressed by Floriade either. I fyou are looking foir a flower show, go instead to Keukenhof (which is quite close to Floriade). If you go to Keukenhof with a car (I always advise to explore Netherlands by car), then take speedway A9 in direction to Haarlem and follow the boards "Floriade". If you need other advice on what-where-when in the Netherlands, let me know. Have a good trip!