Waterlooplein Market

Waterlooplein is a large open square in the east of the old centre of Amsterdam, between the Amstel river and the Jodenbreestraat, and its market is the best-known flea market in the Netherlands. The square itself is a creation of the late nineteenth century. In 1882 two canals here, the Leprozengracht and the Houtgracht, were filled in to make a broad public space and to improve hygiene in a crowded district, and the market that had been trading in the surrounding streets moved to the new square. It has stayed there, in various forms, ever since. The name recalls the battle of Waterloo.

The district has an important history. For centuries this was the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam, where Portuguese and Ashkenazi communities settled after fleeing persecution elsewhere in Europe, and the market grew up as a trade in second-hand goods that suited the area's merchants and craftsmen. In the Second World War the Jewish population of the district was deported and murdered, and the neighbourhood was largely emptied and run-down afterwards. Traces of that history remain around the square, among them the Portuguese Synagogue, the Jewish Museum and the Mozes en Aäronkerk, the church of Moses and Aaron, which has an unusual name and a classical facade. The city hall and opera house, known as the Stopera, was built on the square in the 1980s.

The market is a mix of the practical and the curious. Stalls sell clothes, particularly second-hand and vintage garments, as well as shoes, bags, leather jackets and jewellery, along with books, records, bicycle parts, tools, old household goods, antiques, souvenirs and curiosities of every kind. Quality varies enormously, so it pays to look carefully and to bargain with a smile. Stallholders range from regulars who have worked here for decades to occasional sellers, and the atmosphere is informal and cheerful. Food stalls and nearby cafes offer snacks, from chips to international dishes, and a break between rounds of browsing is easy to find.

The market is open most days of the week, with longer hours on Saturday, and it is free to walk around. Details change, so check before going if you plan a trip specifically for it. Arrive early for the best choice and fewer crowds, carry cash, since not every stall takes cards, and keep an eye on bags, as pickpockets can operate in a busy market.

The square suits bargain hunters, collectors and curious visitors, and it can fill an hour or two. Rembrandt's house, the Hortus Botanicus and the Jewish Cultural Quarter are all within walking distance, and the Waterlooplein metro and tram stops are on the square.