One of the largest open-air markets in Europe, De Haagse Markt sits on Herman Costerstraat with more than 500 permanent stalls stretching across 450 metres and three wide walkways. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9am to 5pm, roughly 35,000 people pass through it — and once you’ve been, you’ll understand why. This is not a quaint farmers’ market with artisan candles and €8 sourdough. This is the real, loud, colourful, chaotic heart of the city.
Dutch cauliflower sits next to fresh ketoembar coriander, baklava, sharon fruit, and fresh fish. Street food stalls cover Turkish, Moroccan, Antillean, and Dutch cuisines alongside cheaper clothing, flowers, rugs, household items, and more. It is, in the best possible way, a place where everything exists and nothing costs what you’d expect.
Which brings me to the question I decided to answer on a recent Wednesday morning: what can €35 actually get you here?
I arrived at 10am, cash in hand — many vendors prefer cash, so come prepared. Here is my mini haul
Fresh produce — a bunch of fresh herbs and veggies, mangoes, and fresh Hollandse strawberries and salmon for 4 people. Prices here are significantly lower than at supermarkets, and the quality of meat and fish is often better Total €21
Street food —2 chicken pasties Total €8
Flowers — Fresh roses for €5
Grand total of €34 for a light lunch, flowers and dinner for 4 people
What to know before you go
The market is best experienced without a list and when you’re not in a rush. Go with a rough idea of what you need, then let the stalls take you where they want to. The market is divided into several sections covering food, clothing, living, and nature.
Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking on uneven surfaces and covering more ground than you expect. Bring a tote bag, or two. And bring cash — it will make everything faster and occasionally cheaper.
One more thing: the market reflects the genuinely multicultural population of The Hague in a way that few places in the city do quite so openly. Walking through it on a busy Saturday morning, hearing five languages in ten minutes, eating something you’ve never tried before, is the real thing the Haagse Markt gives you.
De Haagse Markt is located on Herman Costerstraat, between Hobbemaplein and Hoefkade. Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
Sherika Rooplal-Clappers is a contributing writer for The Hague Online, covering culture, lifestyle, and local events. With a passion for storytelling and international perspectives, she highlights the people, places, and experiences that make The Hague a dynamic city.
Images: Sherika Rooplal-Clappers