We got up early to go to Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer (the Aalsmeer Flower Auction). It is located outside of the city of Amsterdam in the fourth largest building in the world (as measured by footprint).
We took a trolley and then transferred to a bus to get to Aalsmeer.
Our bus dropped us off across the street from the flower auction.
Our first look at the floor of the flower auction.
Action on the floor of the flower auction.
We could just peek into the room beyond where we were.
Lots of variety.
Worker bees.
You can see pedestrian walkway that takes you back to the beginning, across the way.
Peonies!
Elaine admires the Aalsmere flower auction floor.
Roses
Panoramic view of the auction floor
Hydrangeas!
View of the first pedestrian walkway looking back towards its beginning
Printing out labels for flowers sold.
Orchids in the research laboratory.
The colors!
Calla lilies!
Pulling flowers to be delivered somewhere in the world.
Empty carts show what has already been sold.
An old auction room. The auction is all online now.
Sunflowers!
William takes a “spin” in an old electric vehicle formerly used to move flowers around the auction
We returned to the museum district, had some lunch, and went to the Rijksmuseum where we toured for a bit, and then went to the Vermeer show. Sorry no pictures here of the Vermeer show – we’re etching the memories of the exhibit in our little brains.
The Rijksmuseum
Green parrots(?) which were all over the plaza in front of the Rijksmuseum
Some of the streets near the Rijksmuseum are named for artists.
Lunch was in a pavilion in front of the Rijksmuseum and was delicious.
The museum was busy restoring Rembrandt’s Night Watch. The machines were measuring paint attributes, including humidity and temperature.
Painting of the tomb of William of Orange in Delft. We saw the actual tomb when we visited Delft in 2004.
Saskia by Rembrandt
This installation was at the end of the Vermeer exhibit in a grand stairwell. It was very very cool.
Shylight
After a rest at the hotel we had a late night supper at Sama Sebo, an Indonesian restaurant specializing in a Dutch interpretation of Indonesian cuisine, called a Rice Table. We counted 21 courses (all served at once).
The food kept coming. William asked our server, a lovely Indonesian man, whether this food was what he ate in Indonesia. He laughed, and said no, the food is Dutch.
Elaine enjoying some wine
Food glorious food..
