Post by Abdelhakim El Hadji

Aalsmeer: how it began Aalsmeer originated in a marshy peatland. Around the 10th century the area was reclaimed, likely when early settlers dug drainage ditches along what later became the Uiterweg and Oosteinderweg. The excavated peat was tamped down between the ditches, forming a long footpath that became the basis for the ribbon-like roads that still define Aalsmeer today. Early inhabitants practiced farming, fishing and livestock rearing. By about 1350 farmers were supplying peat to the steward of the count. Continued peat extraction reduced available land, forcing more intensive cultivation. This led to tree nurseries and, as an undercrop, strawberry cultivation. Around 1880 outdoor flower growing began, and in 1896 the first rose greenhouse was built. The peat soil proved fertile for floriculture. By about 1912 two flower auctions were established in Aalsmeer, and the ornamental plant trade then expanded rapidly. CAV flower auction — a unique island cultivation tradition At the CAV flower auction, plants were transported to the auction by praam (flat boats). Even today there are still small island plots where lilacs (syringa) and other mainly cut-flower crops are grown, brought to the greenhouses from the land by praams and finished under glass. Unfortunately, this labor-intensive method of cultivation is gradually disappearing. Today the flower auction (marketplace) is the largest in the world. The Aalsmeer flag reflects the town’s heritage: red for strawberries, green for the leaves, and black for the soil. Historically, praams would arrive at the auction and products were sold directly from the boats. The islands are a unique sight — nowhere else in the world is fruit, vegetables and flowers grown in quite this way. Tourists still visit daily on special boats to explore the islands and experience Aalsmeer’s history. To keep the history alive and raise awareness, Aalsmeer holds the annual Pramenrace during the town’s festival week. Each year the prams are decorated to a different theme, creating a huge regional attraction. Many visitors line the shore to watch the race, and others enjoy the spectacle from boats. Aalsmeer is also home to one of the largest and cleanest lakes in the Netherlands, long popular for watersports — sailing, winter ice sailing and skating in colder years. Nearly every family in Aalsmeer has a boat, and there are many recreation islands as well.

Video Content