We were walking about Amsterdam one day in December when we came across a 'street' of several stalls selling an incredible number of flower bulbs and seeds. It all looks very impressive but I didn't buy anything as it didn't seem to be the right time of year to be buying the bulbs which surely should have been planted a couple of months previously. On coming home and looking up the market on the internet I have come across a couple of newspaper articles about the poor quality of the bulbs for sale at this market as established in an official study commissioned by Amsterdam City Council. The flowering success rate was determined to be about 1%! Probably just as well that I didn't buy any then.

At the Singel, in the city center of Amsterdam, is the market that sells one of the things the Netherlands is most famous for: tulips! At the Amsterdam Flower Market you can buy bulbs as well as other souvenirs and flowers. This unique market exists since 1862 and is still on floating barges. This is a holdover from the time when flowers came into the city from the countryside by boat. They sell ALL kinds of flowers here. We decided not to buy bulbs. If you are not looking for bulbs, you can buy cut flowers, houseplants, or seeds. Allow for ~30 min for your visit unless you're going to shop.

Only a short streets worth of stalls but worth the visit. Mainly bulbs for sale but also tulips too. One stall was just flowers & was lovely. Lots of stalls sell Dutch souvenirs - all very similar but worth a look if you want to take something home. The stalls edge the pavement & the shops along the other side are full of traditional Dutch produce - cheese, chocolate, etc. Spend an hour or so wandering & enjoy pancakes or poffertjes in a local cafe

It was not in our plane to visit it and we just passed by and stopover. We found that the flower market was really organized and excellent although most flower stalls were selling the same things. So the most popular things to buy from here are souvenirs and flower seeds. We didn't buy any flower seeds as we can't bring them back. So we only bought some souvenirs. We found the stall at one of the corners selling souvenirs at a very cheap price. Maybe it was the cheapest we found in Amsterdam. If you thinking to buy any keychains or fridge magnets or others may consider to go there.

I have ridden my bike through this Floating flower market over the years mucho times . This markets atmosphere represents Amsterdam the real way it is .Of course most of its bulbs dont ever grow or their Seeds dont ever bloom in your garden .But this little street has some unique Suveniors and Christmas ornaments with fun t -shirt stores . I still have some of my shirts from 20 years ago with Crazy characters on them and fun pictures too .Amsterdam has become exstremly over touristed to death over the last 10 years where the Locals have even wished all this would end soon . I can remember my early years here in the 1980's and 1990's when i enjoyed this Wonderful City of Rembrandt and VanGogh with its Weed Coffee shops and used bike stores and quaint One star hotels with a breakfast in the mornings . Sure the Closing down of everything has changed this 17 century city to turn it back to when it was fun to ride my bike at 3. 30 am around the streets in March when my hands would stick to the handle bars from the frost . That is Amsterdam i know .

I'm surprised that so many foreign visitors expect to find an "authentic" experience at the Amsterdam Bloemenmarkt. It has always been a tourist haunt, ever since I can remember (I'm 50 now). No local will ever buy their flowers from this place! What you can expect: condescending sellers, who are plying their stuff, which mainly consist of cheap souvenirs, overpriced bulbs and flowers. They think that you're dumb enough to fall for them. With "you" I mean especially American, Russian or Asian tourists (who tend to have rose-tinted views of Europe as a huge outdoor museum spot).

Disappointing, not worth the walk. Penned as the largest floating flower market. This means some decking on the river to extend the square footage of a market stall. All stalls sell the same things, check them all out as prices differ. Mainly sell tulip bulbs to tourists. Some other bulbs and plants available. All of the stalls sell typical tourist tat, fridge magnets clogs etc. Will take you less than 30 mins to look around.

Vendors sell pretty much the same bulbs, wooden tulips, and touristy magnets at every shop, although some offer nicer packaging than others. It’s a quick stop if you are planning to send home typical Amsterdam trinkets, but prices can be a lot better in other places. If you simply want fresh flowers for your room during your stay, stop at the local Spar supermarket and get tulips half the price of the “floating” market ones. As you stroll through this one-block floating market, it won’t appear floating at all, since the vendors’ shops open street side. Not worth a trip there unless it’s on your way.

The market is fun to walk through but you need to understand that because this is a tourist area they don’t expect you to remember which bulbs you bought once you get them home, wait months to have them grow and then remember where you bought them. I was so excited for the ice team tulips as the bulbs I’d bought at home had been killed off in a deep freeze while I was container growing them. I was thrilled to find them at Tulips and more, 614 Singel, so I bought and planted them. I paid extra for the bulbs with the Canada export certificate and as you can see, instead of I e cream, frilly pink parrot and purple/blue tulips I have yellow, pink and what will be orange. In the photo I planted the blue bulbs in the back as they were supposed to be the tallest, the pink in the middle and the ice cream at the front as they were the shortest….I’m sure I’m not the only one. If you are happy just to say you have tulips from Amsterdam it is fine but if you are hoping for a specific variety don’t waste your money here.

Situated along a gracht the flower market is on a long and narrow pedestrian walkway. There is a huge selection of flowers and you wouldn't believe how cheap the flowers are there, it is worth buying some, great colors and smell. Also for all hobby gardeners there is a huge selection of seeds and pods. I wouldn't say the flower market is a destination in itself but if you come across it then worth roaming by.