Activities out and about

Boerma Instituut

It’s lovely to look at flowers, but even lovelier to work with them yourself. At the Boerma Instituut, the only private school for flower arrangement in The Netherlands, they’re happy to help you learn the ropes. The school offers workshops, courses and professional training for beginners and advanced flower arrangers.

The Beach

There’s a place in Aalsmeer where it’s always summer: The Beach. This indoor sports centre boasts eight sand courts for beach volleyball and other beach sports. The building is a former flower auction, Bloemenlust, which in itself is well worth a visit. The centre also has a restaurant and a restored auction room, used for presentations and parties.

Bike rides

A classic bike ride in this area is the ‘rondje Poel ’ circuit, a tour of the lakes and waterways of the Westeinderplassen. The route along the forts of the Defence Line of Amsterdam (Stelling van Amsterdam) also offers beautiful views. Lovers of history and culture can purchase a guide to this historical cycle and walking route.

Craft Route

Those who have more time to spare can explore heritage crafts in the fringes of the ‘Groene Hart’, the peaceful countryside bounded by Holland’s largest cities. The Amb8route (Craft Route) includes a soap maker’s, a pottery, an eel fishery and a flower bulb nursery. The trip is also suitable for groups.

Green fingers

Covering an area of 80,000 square metres, Tuincentrum Het Oosten is a paradise for people with green fingers. You can easily spend hours there – in spring and summer as well as at the end of the year when the garden centre stages a spectacular Christmas market.

Recreation on the water

When the weather is warm, locals and visitors alike head for the ‘surf island’ on the Kudelstaartseweg. The beach and pier are popular sites for sunbathing and swimming. Nearby is a sailing school, which offers surfboards and boats for hire.

Shopping

The biggest local area for shopping is Aalsmeer-Centrum, with everything from supermarkets to designer stores and boutiques. There are neighbourhood shopping centres in Ophelialaan, Kudelstaart, Aalsmeer-Oost and Hornmeer, each with one or more supermarkets and a variety of other shops.

Group outings

Looking for a good day out for a group? Bureau Binnenwaaien offers tailor-made itineraries taking in the unique attractions of Aalsmeer and Kudelstaart. You can visit a flower nursery with a guide, for example, or take a local craft tour. Cycle or coach tours can also be arranged.