market
Waterlooplein Market
Amsterdam's most famous flea market — second-hand clothes, vintage, records, leather and curiosities, six days a week beside the Stopera and Rembrandt House.
Photo: Effi / Google
The Waterlooplein flea market is the city's oldest and most famous, running daily (except Sunday) on the long square wedged between the Stopera (city hall/opera) and the Amstel river.
Stalls sell second-hand and vintage clothing, leather jackets, records, army surplus, bohemian jewellery, fabrics and a great deal of unsorted curiosities. It's loud, lively and unapologetically scruffy.
The market dates back to 1885 when it was set up to house Jewish street traders. The neighbourhood was the heart of Jewish Amsterdam until the war; the Rembrandt House, Portuguese Synagogue and Jewish Cultural Quarter are all a minute away.
What to expect
Around 300 stalls of vintage clothing, leather and curios
Records, books, art and bohemian jewellery
Open Monday–Saturday, closed Sunday
Next to the Stopera, Rembrandt House and Jewish Cultural Quarter
Tips from locals
Haggle politely — small discounts are normal here.
Go on a weekday morning to dig before the tour groups arrive.
Combine with the Rembrandt House Museum directly behind the market.
Cash is widely accepted but more stalls now take cards too.
Did you know?
The market began in 1885 to give Jewish street traders, then banned from trading elsewhere, a fixed place to sell.
Until 1940 this was the heart of Jewish Amsterdam — the original square was much bigger before the Stopera was built.
The Stopera that towers over the market was built only in the 1980s after years of protest; it houses both the city hall and the national opera and ballet.
Rembrandt lived a minute's walk from the market on what is now the Jodenbreestraat — his house is open as a museum.
The market briefly closed during WWII when the Jewish traders were deported; it was revived in the 1950s.
FAQ
- When is Waterlooplein market open?
- Monday to Saturday, roughly 9:30–18:00. Closed on Sundays.
- Is it free to enter?
- Yes, it's an open-air street market — you only pay for what you buy.
- What's sold at Waterlooplein?
- Mostly second-hand and vintage: clothing, leather, records, books, jewellery, army surplus and miscellaneous curiosities.
- How do I get to Waterlooplein?
- Metro 51/53/54 and trams stop directly at Waterlooplein, beside the Stopera.
- Can you haggle?
- Yes, gentle haggling is part of the culture, especially for larger items.
Waterlooplein Market
Waterlooplein, Amsterdam