The Evolution of the Dutch Flower Auction: A Tradition Transformed

🌸The famous Dutch Flower Auction Clock, once a highlight of the market, is no longer in operation.

🔄The flower market has transitioned to remote buying, with a reputation system in place for sellers.

🌷60% of the flower market's transactions are now made in advance through contracts.

💻Buyers, including international supermarket chains, are making private arrangements with sellers outside of the market to save costs on logistics.

🌍The market still attracts tourists with its impressive scale, but the famous auction clock is no more.

What was the traditional auction process like at the Dutch Flower Auction?

—In the traditional auction process, flower buyers would sit in a theater-like setting as racks of flowers were paraded in front of them. The auction clock would count from a high price to a low price, and the first buyer to press their button would stop the clock and purchase the flowers.

Has the Dutch Flower Auction completely changed due to the pandemic?

—No, the significant changes to the Dutch Flower Auction happened years ago, prior to the pandemic. The internet enabled remote buying, leading to the decline of the traditional auction process.

What percentage of flower transactions are made in advance through contracts?

—Approximately 60% of the flower market's transactions are now made in advance through contracts, bypassing the auction process entirely.

Why do buyers make private arrangements with sellers outside of the market?

—Large buyers, such as international supermarket chains, make private arrangements with sellers outside of the market to handle logistics themselves and reduce costs.

Is the Dutch Flower Auction still worth visiting as a tourist?

—Yes, the Dutch Flower Auction is still worth visiting as a tourist due to its impressive scale and logistics. However, the famous auction clock is no longer in operation.

00:00The video begins with the creator expressing the challenge of filming the video due to the desire to focus on a windmill in the background.

00:06The creator explains that they usually do extensive research and preparation before filming but had to make adjustments for this particular video.

01:12The creator introduces the location, Royal FloraHolland, which is one of the largest commercial buildings in the world where millions of fresh flowers are bought and sold daily.

02:44The video highlights the scale and efficiency of the flower market, where growers deliver flowers in the early morning and they are sold and shipped to buyers by lunchtime.

03:23The creator explains the traditional Dutch auction process, where hundreds of flower buyers would bid on racks of flowers paraded in front of them.

03:56The creator reveals that the traditional auction process and the famous Dutch Flower Auction Clock have been replaced by remote buying and reputation systems for sellers.

04:19The auction rooms have been closed down, and the market now runs on multiple auctioneers conducting online auctions simultaneously.

05:09The video emphasizes that tradition has given way to efficiency and the demands of the modern business world, with 60% of transactions being made through contracts and large buyers making private arrangements.