Amsterdam Waterloo Square
Flea Market

How did the Amsterdam Waterloo Square market come into being?

It was in the year 1880 that the Amsterdam Square was formed after the two canals the "Leprozengracht" and the "Houtgracht" were filled with water.
After this, the Amsterdam authorities declared that most of the Jewish merchants who had their businesses in and around the area of Jodenbreestraat should try selling their wares at the New Square.

Due to the persecution of the Jews in 1941, the Jewish inhabitants could not carry on their trade for long at the then Waterloo Square.

However, after the war ended, attempts were made to stabilize the market once again but regaining its former glory was not an easy matter.

Waterloo Market – Then and Now
At the Waterloo Square, the artistic attempts of the Viennese architect William Holzbauer and his Dutch compeer Cees Dam gave form to the City Hall and the Muziektheater where ballets and operas were enjoyed by people coming from both within and outside the city.

Previously when the Square was the place of trade for the Jewish traders the area remained busy with people and activities. The market remained open for six days a week except for Saturdays – the day for the Jewish Sabbath. The market sold things of all sorts and requirements.

After the resurrection of the new Flea market at the Square, the trade was successfully continued up to 1960s and 1970s. The popularity of the market lured American tourists, as Amsterdam then was a crowd-puller for hippies and their flowerpower movement.

The Waterlooplein, the other name for the Square became the principal place of congregation and the market provided psychedelic attires together with antiques, collectibles and other items of daily use.

At present, the Waterloo Square Flea Market is located at the back of the Town Hall. The market has 300 stalls displaying an unbelievable variety of items. This market sells everything starting with rare books to American blue jeans.

Still now the market remains open for six days a week and now in place of Saturdays, the bazaar stays closed on Sundays.

How to reach Waterloo Square
To reach the Square, you can board Trams of number 9 and 14 that take you straight to the Waterlooplein. Even the subways have Waterlooplein stops. If you are opting to take the car then remember to park your vehicle beneath the Town Hall.

If you wish, you can also arrive at the Waterloo Square by canal. This you can do by taking the museum boat tour and getting down at the Jewish Museum stop. From there, you just have to walk for two minutes to reach the Square.

Things you usually get at the Waterloo Square Flea Market

• A fashionable array of clothes, shoes and hats

• Leather goods of all varieties

• Fur coats sold during the summer seasons

• Accessories like African mask and German “lederhosen”

• A handmade batik from Indonesia

• Several antiques, curios and an incredible selection of second hand books of different languages.

In the year 2005, the Jewish Historical Museum attributed an entire exhibition of paintings and photographs all featuring the Amsterdam Waterloo Square Flea Market.

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