I understand that thera are more than one.Could you send tips and differences?

There is only one flowers-only market. It's along a section of the Singel canal near the Munt. If you're staying anywhere in downtown Amsterdam, you're within walking distance.

I just returned from Amsterdam today. They only flower market that I found was the floating market in Singel. It really isn't a "real" flower market. It was more of a tourist trap filled with gift shops selling wooden shoes, magnets, bulbs, etc. I found it interesting to walk through (as I had gifts to buy), but it certaintly wasn't what I expected.

Consider Aalsmeer. It's a town about 13 miles from Amsterdam where every morning millions and millions of cut flowers are trucked into a mammoth warehouse and auction rooms, auctioned off, then shipped all over Europe for sale the same day. You can tour the whole proceedings on a catwalk high<BR>above the warehouse floor and look down upon millions of cut flowers arrayed in two tiers on carts that are pulled into the auction rooms then linked to other carts and trucked to loading docks. <BR><BR>The colors are overwhelming and the fragrances are truly breathtaking. <BR><BR>It's an early morning event but well worth every minute of the experience. <BR><BR>Aalsmeer is accessible by bus from Amsterdam’s Centraalstation.<BR>

So Linda, What did you think of Queen's Day?

Queen's Day was incredible, it was a bit cold and windy but I had a great time, I have never seen anything like this in my entire life it was a blast - I think this may become an annual event on my calendar!!!!

I've never done the flower market at Aalsmeer, but it sounds like a fun thing to do with our friends joining us in Amsterdam this year. We have a pretty busy schedule already planned. How long does this visit take -- just a half hour or so there? Is the market close to the train station in Aalsmeer and easy to access? Maybe a stop on the way to the Friday cheese market in Alkmaar or to Delft or The Hague?

Patrick,<BR>Access to Aalsmeer, only about 13 miles south of Amsterdam is by bus rather than train. I'm not sure it would be worth your while if time is short. Alkmaar is to the northwest of Amsterdam, Delft and the Hague to the southwest. To really experience the flower auction you should be there about 8AM at the latest and plan on about two hours including travel time from and to Amsterdam. Mondays are the busiest days, Thursdays the quietest. Take a look at the website www.vba.nl/ for information, background and costs.