Amsterdam Flower Market

The Flower Market District

Our home in Amsterdam is located

 in the Flower Market District.

This morning I went out

on my own to explore and

take pictures in the early

morning light.  Amsterdam

has such beautiful light you

can understand why so many

 great painters worked here.

Located between two bridges

along the Singel canal, the

market was just coming alive

this morning when I got there.

In Dutch it is known as

the Bloemenmarkt but

even on the local trams

 it is referred to as

the Flower Market.

The Dutch have had a long

history with bulbs and from

the looks of things they seem to

still have quite an interest.  I

saw bulbs today like I have

never seen before.

Established in 1892 the market

started when vendors would pull

their barges up to the shore.

It is said to be the world's only

floating flower market.  The shops

are actually houseboats but you wouldn't

know that unless you looked

at them from the back.

The locals are crazy about

their flowers, you see them

tucked under their arms or

in the basket of their bicycles.

I saw a handsome man around

lunchtome today with an

enormous bouquet of white

roses mixed with a beautiful

purple flower.  I couldn't help

wonder who he was delivering

those to.

I figured, "when in Holland..."

and brought these home to

the Amsterdam Homestead.