I love good food. If it happens to be healthy as well, I am even happier. In Amsterdam (and in the Netherlands in general), the worldwide movement towards organic and biological food is very much alive. More and more people are realising that a healthy life starts with what you put on your plate, not with products packed with chemicals and clever marketing. It’s no surprise, then, that Amsterdam is home to plenty of organic shops and a handful of much-loved farmers’ markets (Boerenmarkten).
One of the best-known, and arguably the most atmospheric of these is Noordermarkt. Long before it became a go-to spot for organic produce lovers, this square hosted a pigeon and canary market. Today, it has transformed into something more contemporary.
Set in the heart of the Jordaan, right next to the Noorderkerk, Noordermarkt feels like a natural extension of the neighbourhood itself. On Saturdays, it’s buzzing with locals, curious visitors, and regulars who clearly know exactly which stall they’re heading for first.
It is open each Saturday from 9.00 to 16.00 and it’s packed with fresh, local produce: fruits, vegetables, fish, honey, fresh handmade pasta and great cheese of all kinds. The best mushroom selection can also be found here — wild, freshly picked from the woods or grown by the local farmers (but no, the hallucinogenic mushrooms are not sold at the market, you’ll need to find a Smart-shop for that). There are small artisans selling home-made jam, juice and sweets, while sea-food lovers can enjoy fresh oysters eaten right on the spot, accompanied by a glass of wine. Pancake aficionados (and who doesn’t love pancakes?) can skip the oysters and head straight for the pancakes stand. Raw foodists will be delighted to find a good assortment of super-foods and all the supplements they could imagine. No matter your preferences, you are bound to leave Noordermarkt happy, with everything you need to prepare a nice, healthy meal safely tucked into your bags. Price-wise, it’s not cheap; the vegetables are more expensive than in the supermarket, but the quality and variety compensates for that.
Talking about all the food (and salivating a bit while at it), I almost forgot to mention that there is a flea market right next to the food market (or, better said, mixed with it), where antiques or different handmade objects can be found. This flea market on Saturdays is only a few stalls, but you’ll find a larger flea market on the spot and surrounding area (Lindengracht) on Mondays, from 9.00 to 14.00.
How to get there? It’s a ten minutes walk north from Westerkerk (close to Anne Frank House) or by trams 5 or 13, stop at Marnixplein and then a five minutes walk on Westerstraat, towards Noorderkerk. Also buses 18 and 21 to Nw. Willemsstraat stop. More info about the market and the producers can be found on their website: Biologische Noordermarkt.
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