Floristry students from Norton Radstock College, near Bath, in Somerset, were almost surrounded by bulb fields while staying in the town of Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, during the college's first-ever study trip to the country.
They discovered their four-star hotel was situated in the heart of bulb fields, which are visited by thousands of people each spring.
Lecturer Jacqui Weaver, who accompanied the group of 12, said: "The students were in awe at the size of the FloraHolland auction site. We witnessed a flower auction in progress, then watched the sold trolleys of flowers and plants being sorted into customer order bays before being dispatched to various destinations throughout Europe and the rest of the world."
During the visit, the students observed trends within the industry and explored Amsterdam's floating flower market. They also attended a floral demonstration given by Dutch master florist Astrid van den Berg.
Jacqui Weaver said: "It was a valuable experience for the students and they returned with a greater appreciation of how the industry works. Hopefully, they will be inspired to continue the progression of floral design in this country and follow the European movement towards craft orientated and eco-friendly production."
The college is hoping to repeat the trip next year and possibly organise another to the Girona Flower Festival in Spain next May.
