Status: 04/03/2022 1:54 p.m
After more than 15 months of Corona interruption and eight months of restricted operation, the Hamburg fish market was fully open again on Sunday.
The previous streams of tourists are still missing, but the barkers can once again advertise their products at the top of their lungs. Yelling was not allowed until now. In addition, after the partial reopening of the market last July, only half of the stands have so far been allowed to be set up. It’s different now.
Aale-Dieter and colleagues are very happy
Aale-Dieter is happy: “People want to have fun again, they want to hear snappy jokes.”
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Much to the delight of Aale-Dieter, who, as a living fish market legend, has been there for 63 years, according to his own statements: “People want to have fun again, they want to hear snappy jokes, they want eel, salmon, bananas, cheese,” says Dieter Bruhn. Around 150 onlookers gather in front of the stand of the Dutch Flower King, while the barkers want to bring palm trees and flowers to the people. “Who has no money?” yells the flower king after unsuccessfully selling two blue orchids for ten euros.
District office speaks of a successful premiere
In any case, for the responsible Hamburg-Altona district office, the first fish market with full capacity after the break with around 150 traders was successful: “We are completely satisfied with the return to normal,” said spokesman Mike Schlink. With an estimated 35,000 visitors, the popularity was roughly at the “pre-Corona level”.
Fish market atmosphere back
And the dealers also draw a satisfied conclusion. “I was pleased that all the dealers went back to their old places and that the barkers were there again,” says Wilfried Thal, President of the State Association of Ambulant Trades and Showmen. The old atmosphere was immediately there again. “Hamburg wakes up again on Sundays with the fish market.”
AUDIO: Fish market fully open again (1 min)
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Pandemic pause since March 2020
In March 2020, the Hamburg fish market, which can look back on a 300-year history, had to shut down due to the corona pandemic. In July 2021, it was allowed to reopen with half of the stands, subject to conditions. The fish market will continue to take place from 5 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. in the future.
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