Amsterdam street markets
zaterdag, 07 mei 2011
Who doesn’t enjoy visiting a street market once in a while? I definitely feel the urge every now and then to head outdoors and walk amongst real people.
Here are my personal suggestions on a couple of street markets in that you may want to visit during a short Stay in Amsterdam.
Before I get to the actual recommendations, you ever gave thought to what it is exactly, that makes these street markets so special?
To me, it’s that feeling that street markets bring so many things together that represent life. Life, the way it is for everybody. And everybody comes to street markets. Income, religion, political or ethnical background no longer seem to matter. It all vaporizes under the loud voices of merchants to yell out what their special offers are today.
And no matter what street market you go to, local people, like me in this case, enjoy to visit street markets to get in their weekly portion of fresh fruit, fresh cheese and fresh vegetables.
Sometimes I even go hunting for a couple of bargains. And everybody runs into neighbours and friends here, has a chat, and continues their personal market tour.
All in all, century old traditions and today’s life meet. Right in front of your eyes. And we all get to be part of this mixture of past merchant glory and present market trade.
Talking about past glory, the Amsterdam market culture dates back to the early 18th century. The first stalls were set up in the Jewish Quarter in 1783. Nowadays you can find about 30 different markets throughout the city. Some of them open up on a daily basis, others once or twice a week and a couple on a seasonal basis.
Here are three markets that are worth visiting in Amsterdam.
Noordermarkt
The Northern market is a traditional market place with a very special modern touch. For about a century traditional pigeon and canary markets stood here each Saturday. However when this market lost its touch and its visitors, a popular cafe (Winkel) set up nine biological food stalls here.
The biological food became popular quickly with the local crowd, as it’s hard nowadays to find truly healthy food. Nowadays visitors come over from the entire country. This market is a social attraction nowadays, and you’ll find only natural products here. Nothing to take away on a journey, just things to take up to your apartment that you can eat during your stay in Amsterdam.
Albert Cuyp markt
Right in the heart of the Pijp- one of the famous boroughs in central Amsterdam you’ll find the the Albert Cuyp market. This is one of the larger and more famous markets of the city. Existing for over a century it’s a popular and multicultural market that receives visitors from all over the world. You can find anything over here from fruits to bike accessories, cheese to cosmetics and from spices to plants.
Prices for most that you’ll find are low, but product quality often reflects this, so beware. Flowers are less expensive here than at the famous Bloemenmarkt (see below). The Albert Cuyp market is open all year except for Sundays.
Bloemenmarkt
Absolutely unique in it’s kind- you can’t find a floating flower market anywhere else in the world as far as I know- this is a place I always recommend to visitors. Do you enjoy flowers as much as the Dutch do? Then this is where you will want to have a look. On the floating flower market you can buy all sorts of plants, flowers, herbs and flower bulbs. Interesting note for tourists, the bulbs are ready for export.
The boats that are host to this small market are open 7 days a week so come around when you feel like it. The Flower market is located near the Muntplein, on the Singel between Vijzelstraat and Koningsplein.
I am out of here. Writing about all this fresh food got me hungry, so I am getting myself some bananas and some apples. Will I see you at the market?
With warm regards,
Ingmar Sloothaak
General Manager
Htel Serviced Apartments
