Flora and the Aalsmeer Flower Auction


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Europe » Netherlands » North Holland » Aalsmeer
September 29th 2014
Published: June 20th 2022
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Aalsmeer Flower AuctionAalsmeer Flower AuctionAalsmeer Flower Auction

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. It's not only the auction itself on display, it's the work to get the flowers in and out of the warehouse expeditiously. Flowers arrive for bidding in crates on conveyor belts. DSC_0932
Up bright and early Monday morning to catch the Flower Auction action at Aalsmeer. Monday was to be a day trip to Delft and The Hague. But en route to Delft, we first made a stoop at Flora Holland in Aalsmeer. The Flower Auction is a vast trading floor of fresh flowers and plants. Beginning at 7:00 a.m. weekdays, the public can view the action from a catwalk above the flower warehouse floor. And there is a lot of flower power to view.

Flowers grown in The Netherlands and all over the world are traded here. Greenhouses around Aalsmeer ready local flowers. But, flowers are also shipped in from all over the world, with Kenya, Ethiopia, Israel, Belgium and Germany as the top exporters. Once sold, the flowers are shipped out again to buyers all over the world. Top buyers include Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Russia, but they are exported worldwide. Aalsmeer's proximity to Schiphol Airport provides convenient access to air freight.

Up on the visitor catwalk, I could see a veritable beehive of activity. It's not only the auction itself on display, it's the work to get the flowers in and out of the warehouse expeditiously.
Aalsmeer Flower Auction TractorAalsmeer Flower Auction TractorAalsmeer Flower Auction Tractor

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Warehouse floor. As lots are sold at auction, they are dispatched by a swarm of tractors to shipping points. The photos can't convey how fast the tractors travel. Drivers receive their paper or radio orders and are then off to deliver the goods as quickly as possible to a shipping point. I don't see how they avoid crashing into one another! DSC_0947
Flowers arrive in crates on conveyor belts. As lots are sold at auction, they are dispatched by a swarm of tractors to shipping points. The photos can't convey how fast the tractors travel. Drivers receive their paper or radio orders and are then off to deliver the goods as quickly as possible to a shipping point. I don't see how they avoid crashing into one another! Bidders sit in an auditorium style room where they view a large projected board announcing each lot by type, origin, and condition. By mid-morning, it's all done for the day.


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Aalsmeer Flower AuctionAalsmeer Flower Auction
Aalsmeer Flower Auction

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. It's not only the auction itself on display, it's the work to get the flowers in and out of the warehouse expeditiously. Flowers arrive for bidding in crates on conveyor belts. IMG_3598
Aalsmeer Flower Auction WarehouseAalsmeer Flower Auction Warehouse
Aalsmeer Flower Auction Warehouse

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Warehouse floor. As lots are sold at auction, they are dispatched by a swarm of tractors to shipping points. The photos can't convey how fast the tractors travel. Drivers receive their paper or radio orders and are then off to deliver the goods as quickly as possible to a shipping point. I don't see how they avoid crashing into one another! DSC_0945
Quality ControlQuality Control
Quality Control

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Warehouse floor. Quality control. DSC_0952
Aalsmeer Flower Auction WarehouseAalsmeer Flower Auction Warehouse
Aalsmeer Flower Auction Warehouse

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Warehouse floor. As lots are sold at auction, they are dispatched by a swarm of tractors to shipping points. The photos can't convey how fast the tractors travel. Drivers receive their paper or radio orders and are then off to deliver the goods as quickly as possible to a shipping point. I don't see how they avoid crashing into one another! DSC_0954
Warehouse DiscussionWarehouse Discussion
Warehouse Discussion

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Warehouse floor. As lots are sold at auction, they are dispatched by a swarm of tractors to shipping points. The photos can't convey how fast the tractors travel. Drivers receive their paper or radio orders and are then off to deliver the goods as quickly as possible to a shipping point. I don't see how they avoid crashing into one another! DSC_0959
Pumpkins and Gourds at AalsmeerPumpkins and Gourds at Aalsmeer
Pumpkins and Gourds at Aalsmeer

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Warehouse floor. It's not only the auction itself on display, it's the work to get the flowers in and out of the warehouse expeditiously. Flowers arrive for bidding in crates on conveyor belts. Pumpkins and gourds, too! DSC_0971
Aalsmeer Flower AuctionAalsmeer Flower Auction
Aalsmeer Flower Auction

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. It's not only the auction itself on display, it's the work to get the flowers in and out of the warehouse expeditiously. Flowers arrive for bidding in crates on conveyor belts. IMG_3602
Aalsmeer Flower AuctionAalsmeer Flower Auction
Aalsmeer Flower Auction

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. It's not only the auction itself on display, it's the work to get the flowers in and out of the warehouse expeditiously. Flowers arrive for bidding in crates on conveyor belts. IMG_3603
Aalsmeer Flower Auction WarehouseAalsmeer Flower Auction Warehouse
Aalsmeer Flower Auction Warehouse

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Warehouse floor. As lots are sold at auction, they are dispatched by a swarm of tractors to shipping points. The photos can't convey how fast the tractors travel. Drivers receive their paper or radio orders and are then off to deliver the goods as quickly as possible to a shipping point. I don't see how they avoid crashing into one another! IMG_3608
Flower Auction BiddersFlower Auction Bidders
Flower Auction Bidders

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Bidders sit in an auditorium style room where they view a large projected board announcing each lot by type, origin, and condition. By mid-morning, it's all done for the day. It is indeed a Dutch Auction. IMG_3619
 Flower Auction Board Flower Auction Board
Flower Auction Board

Aalsmeer Flower Auction at FloraHolland. Flower auction board. Bidders sit in an auditorium style room where they view a large projected board announcing each lot by type, origin, and condition. By mid-morning, it's all done for the day. It is indeed a Dutch Auction. IMG_3618
FloraHollandFloraHolland
FloraHolland

FloraHolland. Site of the Aalsmeer Flower Auction and flower warehouse. Legmeerdijk 313. Flowers grown in The Netherlands and all over the world are traded here. Greenhouses around Aalsmeer ready local flowers. But, flowers are also shipping in from all over the world, with Kenya, Ethiopia, Israel, Belgium and German as the top exporters. Once sold, the flowers are shipped out again all over the world. Top buyers include Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Russia, but they are exported worldwide. Aalsmeer's proximity to Schiphol Airport provides convenient access to air freight. DSC_0973
FloraHolland AdvertisementFloraHolland Advertisement
FloraHolland Advertisement

FloraHolland flower truck advertisement. DSC_0925
Dutch GreenhousesDutch Greenhouses
Dutch Greenhouses

Dutch Greenhouses near Aalsmeer. Greenhouses in The Netherlands are used for flower and food production. DSC_0073p1


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