12 minutes down river is all it takes to break away from the city centre of Amsterdam and arrive on a landscape far removed from cutesy embellished doll houses, or glistening romantic canals.
Understandably, initially catching sight of the vast landscape of deteriorating concrete could seem a little eerie, but fear not, the vibe on NDSM Wharf in Amsterdam Noord (North) is far from sinister: the initial idea for redeveloping this area was deeply rooted in a sense of community.
Being the product of an urban redevelopment proposal created by a collective of creatives and skaters, conversion of the riverfront area from an abandoned shipping yard commenced in 2002. Now a major hub of artistry and energy, the area has a skate park, restaurants, a venue of sorts for live underground music and a plethora of shipping containers housing student accommodation and artist studios.
In one of the gargantuan buildings on site, a mammoth flea market takes place one weekend a month with approximately 500 stalls on every occasion.
For a very small entry fee (3.50 EU for adults), access is granted to the largest trash and treasure market in North Holland. Stallholders come from across the low lands, and vary greatly in age and personality, from bored students, serious vintage resellers, aspiring entrepreneurs, cunning merchants, and lovely mother hen types that are clearing out sentimental possessions that are gathering attic dust.
In genuine market style, haggling and negotiations are welcome, but having said that, everything for sale is insanely cheap. It’s for this reason that city hipsters come to scout for illusive retro period-specific lamps, young couples arrive looking to inject some vintage into their abode, and families on a day outing mix with groups of locals and expats while those representing the baby boomer generation like to mingle and savour a taste of the past.
During the winter months there is only a small area of stalls outside including the mandatory super crunchy fries and soft little poffertjes stalls which nourishes clads of hungry and cold shoppers. In the summer, the stalls move outside and the crowds meander slowly, basking in the joy of shopping in the sun.
In the afternoon, watching ecstatic bargain hunters flock onboard the ferry back to the mainland is entertaining in itself, with most managing to fix their awkwardly sized furniture purchase solidly somehow to their bikes, or clutching crates heaving in weight with the most random of articles.
To get there, board the ferry from the far left side of the wharf behind Centraal Station, and enjoy the journey. No need to wonder about where to get off, there’s only one stop, and you’ll know you’re close once the partially submerged submarine is in view.
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Market dates for the remainder of 2011:
5 and 6 March
2 and 3 April
7 and 8 May
5 June (Outdoor)
3 July (Outdoor)
7 August (Outdoor)
17 and 18 September
8 and 9 October
5 and 6 November
* subject to change: check website for more details
What the kids are saying on Foursquare:
“Be early! Fantastic market” – Sanne V.
Ij Hallen Fleamarkets
T.T. Neveritaweg 1
Amsterdam
0229 581598
www.ij-hallen.nl
Open 9am – 430pm, first weekend of every month – check website for details
Ferry: NDSM Ferry, Far left stop behind Central Station at 15 minute intervals
Bus: 91 and 94 to Klaprozenweg, 35 to Aataturk
1 comment
Market love, by Rani Nugraha | pia jane bijkerk says:
Mar 18, 2011
[...] week, I want to introduce you to a character-loaded and unique location in Amsterdam that hosts a giant flea market once a month. A short ferry ride to the North of the city, the flea markets on NDSM wharf are an occasion where [...]