Aalsmeer is known as the flower capital of the Netherlands thanks to its world-famous flower auction and its flower-growing heritage. Situated on the water, it’s part of the Amsterdam area and is in the Dutch province of North Holland.
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This pretty town has many attractions to explore and you can easily spend a day here as part of a trip to Amsterdam, or a couple of days away from the city for a relaxed visit. Read on to find out my favourite things to do in Aalsmeer, Netherlands.
How to get to Aalsmeer
To get to Aalsmeer, you can fly direct to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Flights to Amsterdam are available from most major UK airports with budget airlines, or you can fly with KLM, the Dutch national airline.
Aalsmeer is easy to get to from the airport. It’s just under 20 minutes in an Uber (costing around £18 depending on the time of day) or you can get the bus or train which both take just over 20 minutes and are cheaper options.
Best things to do in Aalsmeer
From discovering the cute little shops in town to getting out on the water and, of course, discover more about the town’s flower heritage, here are some of the best things to do in Aalsmeer.
Summary – best things to do in Aalsmeer
1. Explore the town and shops
2. Take a boat ride on the Westeinderplassen
3. Visit Kramer Seringen
4. Discover Royal Flora Holland
5. See the Historiche Tuin Aalsmeer
1. Explore the town and shops
A large windmill is the focal point of the town and here you’ll find the shopping area, which has a real village-vibe. The streets are pedestrianised and are packed with independent shops and cafes.
You can easily spend a couple of hours browsing the stores and stopping for a coffee or two along the way.
2. Take a boat ride on the Westeinderplassen
The Westeinderplassen is a beautiful lake on the border of North and South Holland. It is one of the largest lakes in the Netherlands and is home to over 50 small islands.
The nature in this area is gorgeous and many rare plant species can be seen plus plenty of bird life too, including herons, ducks, grebes and cormorants. Taking a boat trip on the calm waters here is really relaxing.
You’ll also pass the Watertoren Aalsmeer (Aalsmeer Water Tower), one of the area’s most famous landmarks. This art-deco style building dates back to the 1920s and is open to the public on Sundays.
3. Visit Kramer Seringen
Kramer Seringen is a family run lilac nursery that is known for combining traditional flower-growing techniques with more modern methods to grow stunning blooms that are sold all over Europe. You can stop off here during your boat tour, see the beautiful lilacs and learn more about how they’re grown.
4. Discover Royal Flora Holland
Royal Flora Holland is the world’s largest flower auction and it blew my mind just how much was going on there! You can take a tour where you get to see behind the scenes of how it all works, from the workers moving the flowers about for the orders to the auctioneers taking bids.
My favourite bit was watching the staff whizz around on their scooters collecting up the flowers – it was just like a mini town with roads and everything! They sell around 50 million flowers all over the world each day so it is a huge operation.
5. See the Historiche Tuin Aalsmeer
The Historical Garden Aalsmeer is like a living museum showcasing Aalsmeer’s horticultural heritage. We had a tour with one of the volunteers who was great – he was really passionate about the gardens and was a fantastic guide.
You can learn more about the traditional cultivation techniques and the different types of flowers and their history. Wandering through the rose greenhouses was one of my favourite parts – they were so beautiful.
Restaurants in Aalsmeer
There are plenty of fantastic places to eat in Aalsmeer with a number of independent restaurants, cafes, and bars in the town. As we were only there for a day, we got to try two of them and they did not disappoint.
Joseph aan de Poel
Joseph aan de Poel is a vibe. Set on the water, with an outdoor terrace to enjoy during summer, you could be forgiven for thinking you were at a European beach club.
The interiors are luxe with low lighting and plenty of textures and jewel tones. They serve a range of cocktails, perfect for getting the evening started.
I ordered the garlic prawns followed by the tenderloin steak and I really enjoyed both dishes. The steak was cooked to perfection and really tender.
Het Tuinhuis
Het Tuinhuis (The Garden House) is a cute restaurant with a gorgeous spot overlooking the lake. There’s an outdoors terrace where you can sit if the weather is fine.
We had lunch here and there were so many delicious sounding options that I wasn’t sure which to go for. In the end I decided on the burrata flatbread which was perfect for lunchtime – delicious and light.
Where to stay in Aalsmeer
I stayed at Hotel Aalsmeer, a charming hotel with a great location in the centre of the town.The hotel has modern, stylish decor and offers a good breakfast with plenty of choice.
