Amsterdam: Hunting for Treasure

Need a pill box hat, a teddy bear missing one eye, a sterling silver sugar shaker, an empty Cadbury chocolates tin, a painting of ships at sea or an abandoned Barbie doll? You think you don’t? An afternoon at the flea market will change the way you feel about these objects.

The vendors at IJ-hallen flea market start setting up very early. Within a few hours fellow vendors and professional dealers snap up the best bargains.

My advice is: arrive early, do a quick round to see what is the going price and bargain. Start looking for your own Van Gogh or Rembrandt.

WHEN: 6 and 7 February, 9 am – 4.30 pm
WHERE: IJhallen, TT Nervitaweg 15
ENTRANCE FEE: 3,50

HOW TO GET THERE:
Take the (free) ferry from the back of Centraal Station to NDSM Werf. This was the place of Amsterdam’s shipbuilding industries. They have now long gone and this industrial area is being redeveloped. Young artists and new companies have moved in. If you are not interested in the flea market, wander about this part of Amsterdam. It is completely different from tourist Amsterdam.

photo credit: personal collection