IN AMSTERDAM, SATURDAY'S NOORDERMARKT IS IN FULL SWING


Early morning in Amsterdam on the narrow streets beside the Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal) brings a myriad of cyclists, string bags filled with vegetables dangling from handlebars, shopping baskets overflowing with tulips and goldenrod tossing in the wind. 

Trees smothered with rosettes of pale new leaves line every canal.  On house walls, gnarled quince vines sprinkled with scarlet blossoms beckon passing artists to paint.

Saturday markets are a Dutch tradition and the 'Noordermarkt' in the Jordaan is a favourite.  Here shoppers wander through narrow aisles buying Dutch cheeses, organically grown fruit and vegetables, fresh herbs and flowers.  Early in the day the Vogeltjes market (Bird market) does brisk business selling fantail pigeons and a variety of fancy fowl.

Beside a flower stall, pails of tulips, sky-blue delphiniums, peonies and sunflowers spill in a riot of colour across the sidewalk and nearby a massive Dutch barrel organ belts out traditional organ music whilst its operator works the crowds with upturned hat and winning smile.


Posted by Anne Gordon on the 19th September, 2010.