The City With The Best And Most Markets In The World!

If you love markets then you don’t have to look any further than Amsterdam! Amsterdam has the best markets, all within walking distance of each other. Where else can you visit 8 markets in one day?!

The Dutch have always been famous for exploring and trading. At one point, Amsterdam was the trading capital of the world! even New York was discovered by the Dutch and named New Amsterdam originally. Nowadays many Dutch people still turn to there beloved markets to get their groceries. If you are ever in Amsterdam, make sure you visit these beautiful markets. In this blog I will name the most famous ones and will explain what you can expect from each one.

Albert Cuyp
This market was founded in 1905 and is probably the best option for tourists because of the mix of authentic Dutch food and souvenirs. You can visit this market daily except on Sundays. The market offers 260 stalls and is the biggest open-air market in the Netherlands. My favorites on the market are Greg Monsieur Tosti’s and The real fresh Stroopwafels. The Stroopwafel (a delicious caramel waffle) is a must eat when you are in Amsterdam anyway!

Dappermarkt
Compared to the Albert Cuyp, this market is more of a market that locals use for their fresh fruits and vegetables. So if you're eying a more local experience this is the market to go to! The market is the most affordable and multicultural market of the city and has a typical Amsterdam vibe to it. Within the city, there is a competition going between the Albert Cuyp and Dappermarkt; people who visit the Albert Cuyp speak badly about the Dappermarkt and vice versa. That tells you how serious the people from Amsterdam are about their markets...

Ten Katemarkt
This market is located just 2 minutes away from my house and is one of the smallest markets in the city.
It’s not that spectacular compared to the first two, but this market is located very close to the latest proud of the city the “foodhallen”. The foodhallen is an indoor food experience that is just super nice and ideal to have some drinks and bites while hanging out, mainly with locals. Next to the Hallen, they opened a small cinema, so if you want you can hang out there all night!

Flower market
The flower market is the world’s only floating flower market! Founded in 1862, this market is a must see and it's smack in the middle of downtown as well. The Netherlands is the biggest flower export country in the world, exporting a staggering 6 billion dollars worth of flowers all around the world every year. The flower market is a unique experience that is a must see if you are visiting Amsterdam. You can buy some bulbs to take home with you as well!

Waterlooplein
This market is the place to be if you love second hand stuff! Make sure you arrive early in the morning to find the hidden gems! You can wander, look and buy if you find that gem you were looking for. From vintage cameras, to used books to jewelry and the latest fashion, all at mostly reasonable prices. Each stall is different and unique. And who knows, maybe you will find, as has happened in the past, that autographed copy of Hemingway, or a John Lennon guitar. So set your alarm let the fun begin!
Just look at those piles of treasure… (I didn’t say there are only gems)

Westermarkt
This market is only there on Monday morning and Saturday. The Westermarkt is the ideal market when you want to discover the Jordaan area. Many tourist will be there already anyway to visit the Anne Frank House. The Jordaan is very authentic. There are narrow streets where no cars are allowed and most houses are still owned by people that were actually born and raised in Amsterdam. It’s a great place to go for a bite and just wander around. If you want to experience the best apple pie of the city, you can buy it at “Winkel” right at the square.

Artplein Spui
For over 25 years now, this market has been a big success on Sundays. On display is art by 60 contemporary Dutch and foreign artists. If you see something you like, you can buy it directly off the artist! The artist are always personally available and are more than happy to tell you more about their work process and techniques. Last week I bought my first $25 dollar piece! So there is something for everybody.

Ijhallen
The IJ-Hallen is the biggest and most unique flea market in Europe and is located in the most densely populated area in The Netherlands. Because of the size of the market, supply and demand are perfectly balanced and you will have a great chance of finding what you are looking for. The admission price is €5,-. Make sure you are there early so that the best items have not yet been taken. The market is hosted once a month and if you interested you can look at the link below to learn more about the coming events.
https://ijhallen.nl/en/agenda.php

I hope you enjoyed my list of markets in Amsterdam. You can all visit them in one day if you want. That’s how easy it is to get around in Amsterdam! What is your favorite market in the world?!