European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 4, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Stacks and stacks of wooden shoes a a dutch Staple. There a always a Story to accompany every item by Effie Bathen staff writer in a Canvas covered Booth on Amsterdam s Waterloo Plein a craggy faced dutchman in a sweater tells the Story of a farmhouse he had just visited drinking a cup of steamy hot chocolate he holds out the antique tools he had acquired on his visit. He also Points to a Box of primitive Blue and White tiles from the House s fireplace. He tells you the name of the family who owned the farmhouse. He does not Tell you his name. Flea Market vendors tend to be like that. Long winded when it comes to unwinding a tale about something they Are Selling. Always willing to Tell some Story about this or that pair of skates once belonging to the fictional children s Story character Hans Brinker but secretive about some of the details of their Trade. _ nevertheless americans Are usually delighted that the folks of the canal laced City speak fluent English. The Amsterdam Flea Market normally. Held monday through saturday has an old world flavor with its Broad canals and tidy rows of peaked houses. The Market s Booths Are filled with once �7. Silver bladed skates Delft porcelain and figurines of Little dutch girls and boys kissing. _ wooden shoes Are everywhere. It a sometimes so Are wooden indians. The City s dutch indonesian heritage adds a touch of the exotic with rugs and colourful scarves. _ above it All Lyric tones of Antonio Vivaldi and Wolfgang amadeus Mozart pour from another stand Selling everything from reel to reel tape players to pop _ compact discs. The Cost of a compact disc of Johann Sebastian Bach s Viola concert in e is 5 guilders. At an Exchange rate of about 1.75 dutch guilders to the . _ Dollar the pleasure is about $2.85. A. Hannah von we Ogaarden is the hostess at one of the most colourful shops. Her Little Corner of the Market is filled with antique dresses. Some Are from costume shops Orold wardrobes of the City s Heaters. For those fascinated by antique Silks and brocades it is a Haven. One of her favourites is a Gold lame gown from the roaring 20s. It hangs at the Back of the shop with some gowns she has collected since she was a Young girl. Some in her collection Cost about $140. _ today Many Young couples buy some of the elegant clothes for their weddings she said. She likes to Tell the stories of How she came upon the costumes. Bargaining of course is always Quot _ expected. If a Vendor tells you 50 guilders look him straight in the Eye and offer him half. It will not sell for that but it is part of the game. When haggling smile smile smile. It May save you dollars dollars dollars. It s Likely you will be laughing anyway. Flea Market purchases always seem to have Little flaws you can Point to and r Knock a few guilders off the Price. It Flea Market Ped Lars generally include Bona fide antique dealers professionals who work Market circuits people who Are cleaning out their closets and occasionally thieves in the night most of the Amsterdam Crew seem to have regular businesses. A a you can buy everything from strings a to machine guns at Flea markets across the Netherlands according to american Sonny Ray of Oesterberg. A a a a a he said almost every City has its own kind of or Flea Market on the weekends. A _. Most popular among americans Are ones at Beverwijk about a t5-mile drive North of Amsterdam and Couick near Nijm . = others include markets at vials Valkenburg a Ipsden and Eik in Kessel Simpel veld. _ for further information Call the tourist information office in the City you plan act visit. Lea markets a woman looks Over the goods above while Vendor Hannah von we Ogaarden shows off some items in her antique dress shop left. A amps photos by Effie Bathen a ugust4, 1994 stripes Magazine
