Flower Auction
7.45am (depending on location)
Meet and greet with your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby, from where you will be taken for a 30-minute drive by luxurious private vehicle to, and guided tour of the World’s largest flower auction, Flora Holland.
The indoor Flora Holland compares in size to the city of Monaco. Experience the hustle and bustle of the auction floor, watch traders bidding against the clock and be amazed at the quantity of beautiful flowers traded.
Flora Holland Flower Auction
See how this auction process works and notice a variety of millions of flowers. You can watch the entire auction from a walkway above ground-level. Did you know that on an average auction day they auction 30 million cut flowers in more than 30,000 varieties? You will be, as everybody else, very much surprised. www.floraholland.com
Local Grower
9.45am
We continue the tour with a short drive to a local grower, for an exclusive tour. This is a very special experience since normally you can’t visit these growers, which in most cases are family-owned companies. This could be an African Violets, Orchid, Rose, Tulip, Hydrangea, Gerbera Daisy or any other grower with blooming flowers.
Local Flower Grower
The owner will be there to greet you in person and will guide you through his/her company. All your questions will be answered with great pleasure and skill. The colors cannot be described in words.
Private Family Lunch
11.15am
From here, there will be a 30-minute scenic drive to picturesque village Lisse, the heart of the bulb district.
Here, you will be taken to a local private ‘modern’ home situated in an upscale residential area, where a fresh and tasty home-made lunch will be served. Only we have access to this beautiful home. Enjoy and talk with the owners and see how the Dutch live. If the weather permits, lunch will be served in the family garden. A very special experience!
Lunch with a private family
1.15pm
Fully refreshed, you will be taken for a guided tour of the Keukenhof, located at a stone’s throw from the lunch location.
Keukenhof
The Keukenhof gardens cover 70 acres on which roughly 8 million bulbs are planted every year. Every garden has a specific design and character. Climb the steps of the Groningen-type corn mill to see the view. See the exhibition of some 30 sculptures and other objects d’art throughout the park.
The Keukenhof
A huge indoor spring garden is staged in 7,000 sq. m of pavilions during the annual exhibition where over 500 different varieties are to be seen in 10 indoor flower shows under the name ‘Parade’. www.keukenhof.nl
4pm
From here, you will be taken back to your hotel in Amsterdam, where you will have the remainder of the day for your own leisure. The drive back will take you through the spectacular and colorful bulb fields and we will make stops (where possible and allowed) for pictures within the fields. You will arrive back around 5.15pm.