The Historische Tuin Aalsmeer introduces visitors to the history of regional flower and plant cultivation; the working auction clock from the former Bloemenlust also explores the auction system. Alongside this, the Flower Art Museum presents exhibitions of contemporary art, while walking and cycling routes and various activities on the Westeinderplassen offer other ways to explore. For planning your trip, flower culture, art, routes on land, and water activities can be considered as distinct points of interest.
Flower History and Auctions
The Historische Tuin Aalsmeer is a living museum about the history of flower and plant cultivation in the Aalsmeer region from around 1700 to 1960. Its time span covers several centuries, focusing on a long regional history rather than a single event. Visitors interested in Aalsmeer’s cultural background will encounter the subject of cultivation above all.
An auction clock built in the 1930s for the former Bloemenlust flower auction is still working. The auctioneer explains the auction system there. Together, these offer two different perspectives on flowers: the history of their cultivation and the process of their auction. The clock provides a tangible historical object, while the auctioneer’s explanation explores how the auction works.
Flowers and Plants in Art
The Flower Art Museum has a different focus. Its exhibitions place flowers and plants at the center of contemporary art. A visitor update dated August 28, 2026, reports that the museum has been temporarily closed since October 1, 2025, for renovation and expansion; reopening was planned for fall 2026. Check the latest information before your trip, as the update refers to a planned reopening.
Walking and Cycling Routes
The Bloemen & Kunst Tour is a five-kilometer walking route from the Flower Art Museum to the Historische Tuin and back in Aalsmeer. Another option is the approximately 19-kilometer circular route around the Grote and Kleine Poel on the Westeinderplassen. This loop can be completed on foot or by bicycle. The difference is therefore not just the route length: the Bloemen & Kunst Tour is described as a walking route, while the longer loop is also specifically described as suitable for cycling.
The Flower Mural Experience is another way to explore Aalsmeer on foot or by bicycle. It is a growing art route through the town. Aalsmeer is also part of the Wandelnetwerk Noord-Holland. The network connects Diemen with Aalsmeer, and Amsterdam with Uithoorn via Amstelveen and Ouder-Amstel. Local themed routes and a network linking several towns thus offer different ways to find your way around.
Natural Areas, Water Activities and Local History
The Westeinderplassen and the Oosteinderplas together form a valuable nature reserve. Swimming, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, and rowing are possible on the Westeinderplassen. Alongside culture and routes on land, you can therefore also make water activities a focus of your stay.
The Watertoren van Aalsmeer offers another historical perspective. Until the early 1990s, it served as a pressure-boosting installation in the drinking water system of Aalsmeer and surrounding towns. Its former function adds the history of local water supply to the themes of flowers and art. Together, these subjects offer different starting points for a trip to Aalsmeer: regional cultivation history, auctions, contemporary art, routes, and activities on the Westeinderplassen.
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