The best food markets and flea markets in Amsterdam
Go for a stroll over Amsterdam’s markets and soak up the local culture. The city has several neighborhood open-air markets where you can experience the lovely colours, a variety of smells and sights. The market stalls offer a variety of products from (sustainably produced) food, flowers to vintage clothes, books and housewares. The best markets in Amsterdam are listed below. But first are here three tips for when you go visit one of these markets: 1.) Bring some small change, because big notes won’t help you with price negotiations. 2.) Have a bag or backpack with you as not all vendors have a bag for you. 3.) At flea markets the ‘early birds’ do get the best products.
Albert Cuypmarkt
The Albert Cuyp market is the most visited, most discussed and most famous street market in Amsterdam. It is probably even one of the biggest daily markets in Europe. The market already exists for over hundred years and is named after the painter Aelbert Cuyp that lived in the 17th century. With about 300 stalls there will be interesting products for everybody. Vendors sell all kinds of products from Dutch street food to fresh fruits, fish, flowers, luggage, household goods and clothing.
You will also find here the real Amsterdam atmosphere, the tolerance, the diversity of the city’s multicultural residents and historical nostalgia. The market is not only visited by locals, but also by a lot of tourists as it is located in the vibrant De Pijp district just south of the city center. Behind the market stalls are very interesting shops from great restaurants to clothing stores that you shouldn’t miss. It is very convenient to have a stroll as the street is closed for traffic during market opening hours. Tram lines 16 and 24 have a stop in front of the Albert Cuyp market.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00h to 17:00h.
Dappermarkt
The Dappermarkt is a lively multicultural Amsterdam neighborhood market, with vendors from countries like Morocco, Suriname, Vietnam, India and Turkey. Since 1910 the Dapperstraat is officially a market street, which makes this market over a 100 years old. In 2007 National Geographic Magazine ranked the Dappermarkt in the top 10 shopping market streets in the world.
This market has over 200 stalls with vendors that offer a great variety of food and non-food products at very attractive prices. As the Dappermarkt is situated in a shopping street, there are also many eateries and interesting shops. Some shopkeepers also offer their products with bargains on this market. At this culturally diverse neighborhood market you will find mainly locals that come here to buy their daily groceries, but it is also very attractive for tourists.
The Dappermarkt is located in Amsterdam East and it is very easy to reach. It is near train station Amsterdam Muiderpoort and tram lines 3, 7 and 9 have a stop in front of the market.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00h to 17:00h.
Floating flower market
The floating flower market, or Bloemenmarkt in Dutch, is located in the city center at the Singel between the Muntplein and Koningsplein. And it has been there since 1862. It has a row of glass market stalls on floating barges in the canal. This is because originally, in the distant past, the market received its supplies by boat. As the market is very colorful and has the fragrance of fresh flowers it is a very popular tourist attraction.
As its name reveals the market vendors offer all kinds of seeds, bulbs, beautiful flowers, bouquets, plants and of course the famous Dutch tulips in all kinds of colours. In December you will also find vendors that sell Christmas trees. Most of the bulbs are packaged in an appropriate way, so you can easily bring them back to your home country.
On the packaged bulbs you will find flags that indicate in which countries these bulbs are allowed through customs. If you have any doubts it is advised to ask the stall vendor about the import regulations. And some vendors even have a service to send the bulbs to your home address, which is even more convenient. In the same street you will also find some eateries and souvenir shops that sell local cheese and wooden shoes. Tram lines 1, 2 and 5 stop at the Koningsplein in front of the flower market. Nearby at the Spui you will find a stop for the tram lines 4, 9, 14 and 16.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00h to 17:30h. Sunday from 11:00h to 17:30h.
IJ-Hallen flea market
The IJ-Hallen flea market is probably the biggest flea market in Europe. The IJ-hallen are two industrial warehouses with about 750 stalls, but outside between the two industrial warehouses are also stalls and at certain market days it could happen that there are about 1500 stalls. The vendors sell all kinds of second hand products from vintage clothing, antiques, and records, to books, furniture and jewellery. At this flea market is lots of competition between the vendors, so if you love treasure hunting for bargains this is the place to be.
When you get hungry or thirsty there are also enough stands where you can get a refreshing drink or tasty snack. But even when you don’t want to go for bargain hunting this abandoned ship wharf is a lot of fun to visit as you will find a lot of creative and artistic expressions on and around the buildings.
You get to the IJ-hallen by taking the free ferry service 906 behind Amsterdam Central Station to NDSM-werf and then it takes just a 5 minute walk. Taking this ferry over the IJ-river makes your trip extra fun. Most markets in Amsterdam are free, but this market has an admission fee of five euros for adults and two euros for kids until 11 years old.
Opening hours: The flea market usually takes place one or two weekends per month from 9:00h to 16:30h.
Ten Katemarkt
The Ten Katemarkt is a busy multicultural market that is named after poet and vicar Jan Jakob Lodewijk ten Kate. It is located in the Oud-West residential area where people from this district come to seek for attractive priced products and to have a chat with one another. There are over 100 stalls that offer food as well as non-food products. These products range from fruits, vegetables and fish to flowers and clothing.
During the opening hours the market street is only accessible for pedestrians. Next to the to the Ten Katemarkt is the Foodhallen. This is an indoor food market that you should visit if you want to get a nice drink or a tasty bite. Tram lines 7 and 17 have a stop at the Ten Katestraat in front of the market.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00h to 17:00h.
Waterlooplein flea market
This cozy flea market is at a beautiful location in the city center. This part of the city was the former Jewish quarter. The market square overlooks the Josef Israël church, Mozes and Aäron Church, the graceful Zuiderkerk and is nearby the Jewish Historical Museum and the Portuguese Synagogue.
At this flea market the sellers offer a wide range of products like books, antiques, collectibles, bikes, art, vintage clothing, furniture and of course junk. As there are about 300 stalls you will always find some interesting bargains. Besides that prices are attractive are most vendors open for negotiations. The market has a bazaar-like atmosphere, attracts many tourists and can be crowded, but is absolutely worth a visit. Most convenient is to get here by metro, or to take tram lines 9, 14, or 16 which both have a stop at Waterlooplein.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:30h to 17:30h.