Around Amsterdam : De Bloemenmarkt

Hello April! I love that it's the time of year when bulbs are popping open with little bursts of colors all over the city. Just outside of our kitchen window pink, purple and white blossoms are beginning to fill the garden. You know spring has officially arrived once Keunenhof Gardens has opened their gates for the season.

The other day it dawned on me that I've never posted about Amsterdam's floating flower market. So, I grabbed my camera, hopped on my bike and headed into the city center to fend off tourists wandering aimlessly through the city's most overpriced famous flower market.

Fact: Originally, the bloemenmen rode up the Amstel river and sold their flowers from their along the Single on a daily basis before permanent stalls were added.

 

These flowers really go through an ugly duckling transformation from bulb to bloom.

Located in the heart of the city, between the Muntplein and Koningsplein, visitors won't have a hard time finding this floating garden market. Each stall is loaded up with bumpy, brown bulbs and pots filled with bright, bold narcissus, lilies, tulips and everything in between.

 

Never trust the prices in a tourist trap, just sayin'. 

I'm afraid we Amsterdammers may have spoken too soon and jinxed our luck because the skies are back to grey and rumors are swirling that snow may on the horizon for this week. 

Please sunny spring, come back soon, especially since my birthday is tomorrow!