“This doesn’t look like the type of area where a market would be held”, I muttered suspiciously as I cycled into a barren shipping yard on a crisp Sunday afternoon in November. The area was still, lifeless, except for the distant figure of a security guard huddled in a doorway, smoking a cigarette.
I cycled towards her. “Excuse me, I’m looking for the Mannenzaken market at Roest…” my voice trailed off doubtfully as she looked me over.
“Over there,” she pointed towards a small lane-way which disappeared behind a line of warehouses. “Down that street.”
I smiled my thanks and cycled towards the lane-way, unsure whether I felt comforted that she knew the area or unsettled by how out of character the location seemed for a market. I turned the corner and cycled past a large office building and through the shipping yard. In the distance, three cyclists dismounted their bikes and walked out of view behind a fenced-off barricade. Between the cracks, I caught sight of the dancing flames from a fire pit.
“That’s got to be it.” I dismounted my bike and walked towards the fenced barricade where I was confronted with lanes of bicycle parking. A red double decker bus cornered off the area behind it, creating a wall of privacy. It seems I’d found a pocket of edgy, urban life, hidden behind the shipping yard.
There was lots of space to park my bike when I arrived, but my view of the area was still blocked by the painted double-decker bus.
The rest of the yard came into view as I walked past the bus.
I love how this bin was decorated.
It was a chilly day, so I was grateful for the bonfires in the yard. In the distance, you can see the large office building that lined one side of the lane-way I had cycled down.
After exploring the courtyard, I entered the warehouse to the left, pushing through the PVC slip door. The large room had been stripped back to show off the railings and pipework. Many of the walls were decorated in painted murals, adding character to the otherwise stark building. Vendors selling their wares decorated the space; rails of brightly coloured suit jackets, wooden bow-ties, pocket knives and other “manly” items were on display.
To the left of the yard was a warehouse; this is the view inside once you pushed through the PVC strip door.
Check out these colourful suit jackets that were for sale!
The vendors showcased all sorts of “manly” items, including: Swiss army knives; wooden sunglasses and bow-ties; art-prints; sex-toys; leather wallets, and more.
There were a number of activities taking place at the market. One of the vendors offered people the chance to have a photo taken using an old fashioned camera. The images were printed on an aluminium slate.
A view of the back of the old fashioned camera. The image captured by the camera is displayed upside down to the photographer.
After exploring the warehouse, it was time to head back into the cold. I huddled by the fire-pit but noticed as people casually walked in and out of the building to the right (that’s when it clicked that the building must be Roest!) I opened the door and pushed past a red velvet curtain into a bar where groups of people chatted over beers and glasses of warm gluhwein.
Back in the courtyard, the fire was dying down. Fortunately they had a few more wooden barrels to burn.
More vendors lined the walls to sell wooden chopping boards, artistic prints and wooden jewelry. In a corner of the room, hidden behind a barrier of plants, a small space had been reserved for small groups to participate in sex-themed seminars and discussions. Bursts of giggles from the female participants could be heard above the music in the bar.
Stepping into the building, I pushed past the red velvet curtains and discovered the Roest bar.
The DJs at the market were particularly dapper in their suits and ties. They were probably the most official-looking DJs I’ve seen.
A male choir entertained people with catchy (non-English) tunes. They were accompanied by an accordion and guitar.
As the afternoon light faded and a deeper chill dampened the air, I realized it was time to head home. The coloured fairy lights that decorated the area now twinkled brightly against the dulling sky, illuminating my efforts to unlock my bike.
As I cycled through the shipping yard, it occurred to me how much my opinion of the area had changed after my experience at Mannenzaken. My suspicions for the area had changed into interest for future events.
In a city rife with markets, where much of the same wares can be recycled between events, I almost passed over checking out the Mannenzaken market. Although I did recognize a few of the vendors and their wares, it was actually the atmosphere that I enjoyed best about the experience. It seemed like more of an event than a simple market with queues of people tiptoeing past tables of goods. Between the musical performances, DJ, workshops, bonfires, bar and BBQ, there was something to keep everyone occupied, in a casual, friendly and unpretentious setting. I had a great time at the Mannenzaken market and hope to see more themed markets in the future.
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