King’s Day Flea Market in Groningen Leaves Unexpected Items Behind

It is not surprising that some things are left lying around at the end of the flea market on the Praediniusingel in Groningen. Half a dinosaur head, an airplane without wings, a plush spotted cow toy – these are not popular toys. But Driss Azougarh (62) also knows what was really flying over the counter this King’s Day. “All Lego sold very quickly. My 14-year-old son is very happy, he has earned more than 100 euros with it. He wants to save that now.”

It’s a tradition on King’s Day: the free market on the canals in Groningen. Countless residents sell their wares on stalls, carpets or crates in the hope of raising some money. But when the market ends at 5pm, there are always things left. Things that nobody seems to want.

Blowing kisses

Jewellery, crockery, shoes and detergents. All sorts of things are still lying in banana boxes by the canal, waiting for a new owner. ‘Everything is free’ is written on a piece of cardboard. It must have been a better idea to just get rid of it than throw it away needlessly. Travelers quickly circle the Ubbo Emmiussingel like vultures to see if they see something they like. Just in case you need a stuffed deer head, an old hair dryer or a Book of Mormon.

Driss Azougarh knows why he doesn’t lose some things on the cobblestones. For example, books, CDs and cassettes are not very popular. “We live in a digital age, people don’t have to do that anymore. I think I’ll just offer these things for free in a box for my house next week.” He has been selling things at the flea market for 15 years. “I like the atmosphere and the happy kids running around the most.”

Homemade badges

Later, Betty Vermeer (55) and Inge Schuurkes (54) pack their homemade sailing rope bracelets again. The two friends managed to sell about a quarter, and there are still hundreds of copies left in the boxes. “I expected a bit more from him. I think they’re very beautiful myself,” said Vermeer, laughing. “But I had a good day, it’s just for fun.”

Schuurkes agrees with this. “We thought: this is going to be urgent. It didn’t work out. But it was a lot of fun, a lot of people also wanted to take their picture with us in these orange cheer suits.”

When it’s almost 6:30 pm and many of the vendors have already packed up, a red city garbage truck drives into the street. The waste collectors use brute force to throw the remaining items into the back of the vehicle. It is much more than last year, they confirm. One of the men summarizes what was found: “We come across all kinds of things, but it’s always: garbage.”