Lee - there are all sorts of things to look at in Amsterdam... some of them are very bulbous. Much depends on how long you have for exploring. If you could get to the flower auction in Aalsmeer that would be an interesting experience. Funnily enough I never went to an actual auction while I lived in Holland, but used to love visiting the wholesale florists and plant-sellers who occupy part of the cavernous auction building - see http://www.cultra.nl/. There you get a concentrated experience of the Dutch horticultural industry as they sell something of everything that passes through the auction to smaller traders/florists etc who don't need 10,000 roses all at once. You can just walk in and prowl about but you need an account to buy anything. What they offer of course depends on season but is always amazing. I once was able to buy bunches (50 in each) of Oncocyclus irises, imported from Israel. In Amsterdam itself the floating flower market is interesting, even if touristy, & there are a couple of bulb sellers. To those accustomed to the dullness of an English or American florist's offerings a visit to even a local Dutch florist's shop is a revelation. For a non plant-related activity Amsterdam is of course full of cultural interest, which could be combined with a horticultural theme. You could go to the Rijksmuseum to study flowers in old flower pieces - not to mention the Rembrandts etc. There are some surprising plant images in the Van Gogh Museum too. For food I would recommend an Indonesian meal - the Dutch East Indies connection is quite strong. I used to go to Sampurna, an Indonesian restaurant (http://www.sampurna.com/) by the flower market and have a rijsttafel - a selection of all sorts of small dishes of delicious things. Let us know how you get on! John Grimshaw Dr John M. Grimshaw Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Nr Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP