Take bus #172 across from the Victoria Hotel near Centraal Station to the flower auction (Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer) and then on to the town of Aalsmeer. The first bus leaves at 5:midnight (45min.; every 15min.; 6 strips to the flower auction, 2 more to the town).
The primary reason to visit Aalsmeer is the Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer (Aalsmeer flower auction). This massive warehouse and trading floor hosts thousands of traders every day representing some of the world’s largest flower-export companies. Nineteen million flowers and over two million plants are bought and sold daily, with an annual turnover of almost US$2 billion. All of the flowers, often flown overnight from across the globe, go through Aalsmeer’s massive trading floor, making it the largest commercial trading space in the world. Since the flowers have to make it to their final destination by the end of the day, almost all the trading is finished by 11am. To see the most action, go between 7 and 9am. The trading floor is visible to tourists via a large catwalk along the ceiling. This self-guided tour takes approximately an hour to complete. (Legmeerdijk 313, ☎020 739 2185; www.aalsmeer.com. Open M-F 7-11am. €5, ages 6-11 €3, €4 per person for groups of 15+. Guides available to hire for €75.)
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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