Admit it: most earthly pleasures are linked with envy. So when
everybody else, exhausted from the weekend, has to go to work, some
lucky ones can visit the Noordermarket.
Between the Korte Prinsengracht and the beginning of the Prinsengracht you’ll find a beautiful triangular square lined by the church (Noorderkerk) nice cafés and restaurants. The Noordermarkt was named after this church, which dates from the seventeenth century.
Here, every Monday morning, you can see people (mostly women) cycling or walking from the bridges, laughing, and flocking to this little spot. What is so much fun about this market that it has become a magnet for people over the years?
Aside from the envy factor, it may have something to do with the feeling that there is always somebody you know around, and indeed there is. Last time, I lost my little daughter Prune and started panicking. Soon after a woman found her, and as I looked her in the face I recognized my old roommate Roline.
King Louie/Petit Louie
It's amazing as well that some market sellers have stayed there over the years. One of my favourites is the King Louie/Petit Louie booth, selling women’s and kids’ clothing from different collections.
Exota
The labels are cut out, but if you find this a problem they have a shop Exota Hartenstraat 10 where they sell the current collection. My most recent Monday treasure: the curtains of my youth, original 'Nijntje' (miffy) from the seventies.
Cafe WINKEL
To complete the morning, join the queue of cafe WINKEL (Noordermarkt 43) for a warm piece of apple pie. The rumor goes that they bake the best apple pie in town. I deserve to be stoned at once for revealing this myth, but actually the pie is delicious and don’t we all like to believe in fairytales?
On Saturdays, a part of the Noordermarkt joins the organic food market, but it doesn't have the same dazzling atmosphere given that for most hardworking people are off from work and there isn’t a soul who will envy you.
Noordermarket: Mondays market 9 -13. Saturdays: Organic food market 9-16.00
