The mornings are getting lighter, birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, passerby on the street are exchanging smiles, outdoor cafes are filling up, yes, Spring is upon us in Amsterdam. And if you are like us, you are ready to enjoy some ‘gezelligheid’ with friends and family in the form of delicious food and beautiful surroundings. If your blanket is ready but your basket is empty, Pure Markt—one of the best traveling markets in the Netherlands—is the place to go.

Since 2008, Pure Markt has provided locals and visitors with an opportunity to explore the different foods of Holland as well as the rest of the world, all set against a backdrop of the most beautiful parks in Amsterdam, Den Haag and Hilversum. Each market is open from 11:00 to 18:00 so you can relax, take your time and stroll leisurely through the dozens of stands of food vendors, vintage items, designer goods and gifts. When you need a rest, there is live music to enjoy and a solar-powered merry-go-round that is popular with younger visitors.

What to Eat—Our Favorites

You will never go hungry at a Pure Markt but could suffer the fate of indecision from too much choice. To help you maximize your experience and fill your stomach to its content, we recommend our favorite foods. A must for us, are the vegetarian gyros that you would never guess are vegetarian. The Chilean empanadas are also a go-to and chatting with the owners makes the wait time seem like a blink. If you are craving something from the sea, the freshly shucked oysters are a treat, especially when paired with an organic beer or reasonably priced bottle of wine. The potato spirals are a consistent favorite of kids. When you’ve sorted the mains, dessert from the American Baking Company and a cup of coffee are the perfect end point. If your stay has spanned lunch to dinner, there is also a variety of Dutch cheeses, Surinam roti, Indian curry, paella, dried sausage and more from which to choose.

Where to Go

Pure Markt Locations:

• Amstelpark, Amsterdam, every 2nd Sunday of the month from April through October and December
• Park Frankendael, Amsterdam, every last Sunday of the month from March through December
• Amsterdamse Bos, Amsterdam
• Piet Heinstraat, The Hague
• ‘t Kampje, Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
• Gijsbrecht van Amstelstraat, Hilversum

When to Go

For a full list of dates and times of the Pure Markt 2018 season, please check the Agenda. For any questions or comments, email info@puremarkt.nl.