Amsterdam markets

Visiting one of Amsterdam’s open-air markets is a must. There’s a first-rate flea market on Waterlooplein, several lively street markets selling everything from fresh veg to clothes, plus smaller, specialist markets devoted to everything from books to flowers.

Albert Cuypstraat market De Pijp, w albertcuypmarkt.nl. Long and slender, Albert Cuypstraat is the heart of De Pijp and it’s here you’ll find the city’s biggest and best open-air general market stretching east for over a kilometre from Ferdinand Bolstraat to Van Woustraat. There are scores of stalls selling everything from cut-price carrots and raw-herring sandwiches to saucepans, Day-Glo thongs and eccentric bygones. Check out, too, the shops that flank the market on each side, and the Indian and Surinamese restaurants down the side streets – they’re often cheaper than their equivalents in the city centre. Daily except Sunday 10am–5pm.

Bloemenmarkt Singel. Stretching out between Koningsplein and Muntplein, this very popular floating market specializes in flowers and plants, ostensibly for tourists, but locals congregate here too. Mon–Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 11am–5pm.

Boekenmarkt Spui w deboekenmarktophetspui.org. The city’s best secondhand book market, a rambling affair with many an interesting find lurking in the unsorted boxes. Fri 10am–4pm.

Boerenmarkt Noordermarkt w boerenmarktamsterdam.nl. Next to the Noorderkerk, this farmers’ market offers all kinds of organically grown produce, fresh bread, exotic fungi and fresh herbs. Sat 9am–4pm.

Flea Market Noordermarkt. A junk-lover’s goldmine with of all kinds of bargains, tucked away beneath piles of useless – or semi-useless – rubbish. Get here early. Mon 9am–2pm.

Flea Market Waterlooplein. A real Amsterdam institution, sprawling and chaotic, this is the final resting-place of ancient clothes, antique junk and secondhand records. Mon–Sat 9am–5pm.

Kunstmarkt Spui, w artplein-spui.nl. Low-key but good-quality fine and applied art market enabling mostly Dutch artists to sell their work direct to the public. Late March to Oct Sun 10am–5pm.