The flea market is finally open again: ‘I’m going to have a sniff’

The wall clock in the living room strikes half past five in the morning and Wim Bennik (70) strolls restlessly through the house. “Take a look. That has to come… and this… oh yes… television off…” His wife Anneke, from the scooter: “You’re late, sir”.

It takes some getting used to, the first flea market of the year. The construction of the stall yesterday took much longer than usual. All those clamps, slats, screws. If he took the wrong uprights again, you’re messing with that again. They have lost the routine.

“I think we have everything, don’t we?” Wim quickly puts on a T-shirt, pulls a sweatband around his head and takes the car keys. “We can go.”

The couple from Zaandam used to visit markets every week. In Vijfhuizen, Hoorn, Nieuw-Vennep. But because of corona, the last one has been almost a year ago. Only this month, when the cabinet allowed events, did the first flea markets reopen. And how Wim and Anneke missed it. Especially the people. Because a flea market is like a campsite with regular guests. Sellers and customers have sometimes known each other for years. But because of corona no one has been able to see each other. See you this Saturday, on the grounds of the IJ-hallen in Amsterdam-Noord.

“Hey! Hey!” Wim and Anneke Bennik already meet acquaintances in the parking file. And once at the stall it goes on for a while: “Tomorrow!” “Morning.” “Hi!” “Hey!” “Everything good?” “Will you come and see me later?” Anne smiles. “Nice, isn’t it,” she says. “You’ve been out for so long.”

While Anneke surveys the market, Wim pulls one bauble after another from his trailer. Mirrors, glasses, crystal; everything that shines. “We often get compliments,” says Wim. “That we have the most beautiful stall on the market, and the cleanest.” A pinch of Dusty from the Wibra is sufficient, he reveals. “Degreases great. Snack bars also use it for their fries.”

Three garage boxes with shine

The collection started with one Egyptian perfume bottle. Then Anneke got a taste for it. While shopping, she also went to a shop with crystal. And now in Zaandam they have three garage boxes full of shiny work, and the walk-in closet, and the hall, and the living room, and the bedroom. They buy and sell and they have been doing so for over twenty years now. They started it after their life as inland skipper.

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“Isn’t it hanging too high?” Wim says with a disco ball in his hand. “No, that’s fine,” says Anneke. In the past, she always did the furnishing of the table. She could have been doing this all morning. Little things in front, big things behind. And mirrors everywhere to give the crystal work extra shine. But it is no longer because of the tightness. Anyway, it was a bad year. Hospital in, hospital out. They didn’t know what it was. The heart valve, it turned out later. So now the oxygen is with it. And an extra battery for the oxygen, that of the caravan, because otherwise she won’t make it.

“Heeee Kareltje!”

“Good morning! How are you?

“Have you been anywhere?”

“Apeldoorn, that was the first.”

“Lucky Today!”

“Same!”

“I’m going to have a sniff,” says Anneke. She takes a tour of the market, spying along the stalls looking for anything shiny. And everywhere she goes people say hello. “How much does that mirror cost? Five euro?” She pulls out her wallet.

Back to Wim: “Look what I scored!”

Wim, proudly: “Hello, hello!” With a big smile he puts the mirror in the booth.

“Can we ask thirty euros for it”, says Anneke. “With a little haggling maybe five off.”

She learned the art of trading as a skipper’s child. After unloading the cargo, there was always some ‘wipe’ left behind. Feed, pieces of rope. Traders came by and Anneke was allowed to negotiate as a young girl. “Always be strict. And if you see that someone really wants something, they will pay for it.”

It’s nine o’clock and the crowd is pouring in. Wim, still busy with the display, is taking it easy. “We’ll be there tomorrow too.” What he does notice, he says with a coffee in hand: it is less busy than usual. “And it’s not nearly as full with stalls either.” Conscious policy, says the organizer, because of corona. After the increasing infections and the press conference on July 9, it even seemed uncertain whether the flea markets were allowed to open. Is it an event, multi-day, standing or sitting? After long consultation, the flea market has been designated as a transfer location.

“How much is this?” The first customer has registered. And then also the first buyer. Two Japanese. They offer 24 euros for five old-fashioned rugs, but Anneke is unrelenting. “Fifty Euros”. “Thirty nine?” “Forty four.” “OK.” Anneke had bought them for one euro each, on the market in Vijfhuizen. Most of the profits go to their grandchildren, three young girls. “We buy toys from, Lego.” Anneke shows a photo: “Look what a cutie”.

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