Aalsmeer Flower Festival
During the summer months when the tulips bulbs are harvested, I love to see other flower festivals. A couple of weeks ago I have visited the Aalsmeer Flower festival. A lovely festival in the flower town of Aalsmeer just outside Amsterdam. You can read more of the festival on this blogpost. Today I post a photo review of this wonderful day.
The festival was celebrated on four different places around the town of Aalsmeer.
- Inside the town of Aalsmeer, next to an old windmill and in the historic garden of Aalsmeer
- Inside the Unesco World Heritage Fort Kudelstaart, rarely open to the public.
- At the Boerma Institute, the only private school of flower arrangement in the Netherlands.
- At Rose Nursery Belle Epoque with the feel of an English Rose Garden.
You can drive around by yourself (car / bike) and there are busses available who turn up every 20-30 min at the locations. And between the town and the fortress you can travel by boat too!
It was a great day out with lots and lots of flowers. Click on the photos for a larger view.
First stop: the town of Aalsmeer
After I parked my car I climbed up the 150 year old windmill to see a display mosaic of Van Gogh in the shopping street of Aalsmeer. Lovely gerbera flowers were placed next to it. A great colorful sight. You can get more information about the flower festival here and you can buy some food and drinks. The perfect spot to start the flower festival. Within walking distance (just follow the roses in pots) you can find the Historic Museum a lovely museum of horticulture.
I was amazed by all the different kind of roses on display! Never knew there were so many roses!
Second stop: Unesco World heritage Fort Kudelstaart
Just a 8 minute ride by car or bus or you can take the lovely boated on this route. The fortress is very scenic by itself and it was nicely decorated with lots of flower arrangements. This fort is rarely open to the public so it was a joy to walk around and see the thick walls. It was build as a Defence-line of Amsterdam. Artists showed their work: flowers in art and you could even eat flowers here.
Third stop: Boerma Institute
This institute is the only private school of flower arrangement in the Netherlands. And their work is amazing. Outside you can see cars nicely decorated and inside you could follow lessons in flower arrangements.
Forth stop: Rose Nursery Belle Epoque
This rose nursery gives the feeling of an English rose garden! And every rose is for sale! It was a great stroll around the garden and see a giant picture frame made with flowers.
By car I spend from 11.00 AM to 2.30 PM around the flower festival but I could easily spend more time. The weather was great and at every stop you can have something to eat or drink if you want to. There is no entrance fee. For a ticket by bus you pay 2,50 euro p.p. (you can make one round to all four stops for this price).
How to get to this festival from Amsterdam? Take bus 172 to Hortensiaplein. See the website of the flower festival and the public transportation website for more information.
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