[pbs] Amsterdam bulbing
John Grimshaw
j.grimshaw at virgin.net
Fri Sep 21 01:42:36 EDT 2007
Lee - there are all sorts of things to look at in Amsterdam... some of them
are very bulbous.
Much depends on how long you have for exploring. If you could get to the
flower auction in Aalsmeer that would be an interesting experience. Funnily
enough I never went to an actual auction while I lived in Holland, but used
to love visiting the wholesale florists and plant-sellers who occupy part of
the cavernous auction building - see http://www.cultra.nl/. There you get a
concentrated experience of the Dutch horticultural industry as they sell
something of everything that passes through the auction to smaller
traders/florists etc who don't need 10,000 roses all at once. You can just
walk in and prowl about but you need an account to buy anything.
What they offer of course depends on season but is always amazing. I once
was able to buy bunches (50 in each) of Oncocyclus irises, imported from
Israel.
In Amsterdam itself the floating flower market is interesting, even if
touristy, & there are a couple of bulb sellers. To those accustomed to the
dullness of an English or American florist's offerings a visit to even a
local Dutch florist's shop is a revelation.
For a non plant-related activity Amsterdam is of course full of cultural
interest, which could be combined with a horticultural theme. You could go
to the Rijksmuseum to study flowers in old flower pieces - not to mention
the Rembrandts etc. There are some surprising plant images in the Van Gogh
Museum too. For food I would recommend an Indonesian meal - the Dutch East
Indies connection is quite strong. I used to go to Sampurna, an Indonesian
restaurant (www.sampurna.com) by the flower market and have a rijsttafel -
a selection of all sorts of small dishes of delicious things.
Let us know how you get on!
John Grimshaw
Dr John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Nr Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL53 9NP
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