It should come as no surprise that the largest flower auction on the planet belongs to the Dutch, who are synonymous with the notion of the blooming flora industry.
Every day, approximately 20 million flowers from all over the world are sold off in this monolithic 243-acre building in a fast-paced, computerized auction. Buyers can either sit at terminals in the actual auction house to place their bids, or do it remotely from their offices. They used to roll the lots of flowers out for the bidders to see (and smell) but those days have given way to the less romantic but more practical method of showing photographs of the wares on the terminals, and leaving the actual goods in the freezers to keep them fresh. The Dutch style of bidding starts with the highest price, and then steadily drops, until someone's itchy finger hits the buzzer and secures the lot. A little like a high-stress game show, this is the center point of 50% of the world's cut flower market.
While 50% seems like a lot, it used to be almost 100%. Pre-sales, competitors in warmer climates, and direct shipping from growers have taken quite a bit of business from the once fun and bustling center, but it still does pretty well. Every weekday, buyers filter in to watch the clock as the euros count down and buy the most beautiful Amaryllis. roses, and of course Dutch tulips, among so many others–and they are the best of the best, having undergone several quality tests to even make it on the floor.
Despite its struggles with the changing market, the auction is still a fantastic place to visit, with the automated system of tracks and trolleys that move the product around, the tension of the buy, the thousands of beautiful blooms, and just the sheer size of the place. If you can get up early enough, you can visit the center and watch the action from a special gallery that puts you right in the middle (but of course just out of the way) of all the action.