Purmerend Market town
This historic town walk will take you past Purmerend's old markets, where the acquisition of 'market rights' allowed the town of Purmerend to grow as a trading centre for industry.
The market town attracted many farmers, traders and buyers 'from outside' and the markets were therefore of great economic importance to Purmerend and its 'Purmerenders'.
This interactive tour takes you past the special places and markets. Walk across the Kaasmarkt, Paardenmarkt, Koemarkt and many other former market squares and experience for yourself the important role the markets have played for Purmerend! This route is about 1.9 km long.
Useful information:
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Listen | City Hall
Purmerend is a bustling town with a historic centre, situated on the former River De Where and in the middle of three reclaimed major lakes of North Holland: the Purmer Lake, Beemster Lake and Wormermeer.
Listen | City Hall
Purmerend is a bustling town with a historic centre, situated on the former River De Where and in the middle of three reclaimed major lakes of North Holland: the Purmer Lake, Beemster Lake and Wormermeer.
Purmerend was also located at the junction of ancient trade routes between the trading regions of Amsterdam, Hoorn, Edam and Alkmaar. This strategic location allowed Purmerend to grow into a rich trading town, with beautiful buildings and a lot of economic activity. This was reflected in the town's many markets, where all kinds of goods from the surrounding area were traded from fish to vegetables and cattle. The markets are central to the town's prosperity and form a thread through Purmerend's history.
To the right on the square, you can see the town hall. This building from 1912 has had several predecessors standing on the same spot.
After the reclamation of the Beemster, trade on the Kaasmarkt increased steadily. Additional market places were much needed for the city's economic growth. To solve the lack of space, the municipality came up with a rather unusual solution. They decided to lift the then town hall and move it ten metres backwards something that had rarely been attempted before.
In 1633, the daring expedition began. To move the former town hall, the city council first removed two houses at the back of the town hall. Then jackhammers detached the building from its foundation and moved it 10 metres to the rear. Exactly how these structural engineers managed to do this is unknown. What we do know is that it was a prestigious project of which the city was very proud. This is evidenced by the little verse that was inscribed on a plaque in the facade of the old city hall in honour of the move. Want to read this verse? You can do so in the location menu. Continue your route to the left of the museum into the Peperstraat.
Listen | Gedempte Where
You are now walking along the Gedempte Where. A river used to run here on the site of this street. Namely, the river de Where. This stream connected the Beemster and Purmer lakes. That made it an important connecting route for shipping.
Listen | Gedempte Where
You are now walking along the Gedempte Where. A river used to run here on the site of this street. Namely, the river de Where. This stream connected the Beemster and Purmer lakes. That made it an important connecting route for shipping.
In the early years of Purmerend, around the year 1300, there was a ferry here across the River Where. This ferry contributed to the development of the town. After all, Purmerend was located at the junction of important waterways and land roads. And the ferry was the only place to cross the river. This made Purmerend the most convenient place in the area to trade.
Around 1970, the municipality decided to drain the Where. Purmerend's population increased and the car entered the townscape. To make the town centre more accessible to this traffic, the council filled in part of the River Where. As you can see, one of Purmerend's main traffic arteries still runs here today.
In the location menu, you can see pictures of what it looked like here when the river still flowed through town. Continue your route to the left with the road on your right.
Listen | Fish Market
Until the early 1600s, Purmerend was sandwiched between the rich fishing grounds of the Purmer, Beemster and Wormer lakes. Three large North Holland lakes that have since been drained.
Listen | Fish Market
Until the early 1600s, Purmerend was sandwiched between the rich fishing grounds of the Purmer, Beemster and Wormer lakes. Three large North Holland lakes that have since been drained.
Especially on the Beemster Lake and in the River Where, there was a lot of fishing. Much of this fish was traded in Purmerend. Hence, a large fish market developed here.
The fishing grounds around Purmerend were particularly famous for their tasty eels. From various corners of the world, traders came to the town to buy the famous Purmerder eel. Its delectable taste was probably due to the brackish water in the Beemster Lake and the Where. This was in open connection with the then Zuiderzee. This provided a separate habitat for the eel, which consisted of a mixture of salty seawater and fresh IJssel water.
The tasty fish was so popular in Western Europe that it was even shipped alive to London. In this metropolis, Purmerend had its own market stall, also called a fish bank, on the banks of the Thames. This was a privilege that brought the town a lot of money and benefited many a landlord. Like Willem Eggert, Lord of Purmerend. He travelled with Count William I in 1416 during his political visit to London. Not for political reasons, but specifically to promote the Purmerend eel, a true trade mission as we often see today.
Continue straight on and cross the road at the zebra crossing and walk onto the wagon fair.
Listen | Vegetable Auction
To your right, you can see a wide body of water. It looks like a river, but is not. This is the ring canal of the Beemster polder, all that remains of the former Beemster lake.
Listen | Vegetable Auction
To your right, you can see a wide body of water. It looks like a river, but is not. This is the ring canal of the Beemster polder, all that remains of the former Beemster lake.
When you stood on this quay five hundred years ago, you looked out over a gigantic lake miles wide. You could only see the other side when the weather was clear. On your right, on the other side of the bridge, the Where ran from the lake into the city. A few kilometres further on, this river flowed into the second large lake that bordered Purmerend; the Purmer Lake. The town was thus situated on the shores of two large lakes connected to the Zuiderzee.
Today, these lakes are polders. The first to be drained around 1612 was the Beemster. The Purmer followed ten years later. The reason for the reclamation was that rich Amsterdam merchants were looking for investment opportunities nearby. Moreover, they saw the new polders as a nature-rich outlying area to build country houses and enjoy outdoor life. In 1612, when reclamation technology had advanced far enough and investors had enough money together, they started draining the lakes. Another advantage of the reclamation was that North Hollanders needed more agricultural land. Here they could grow vegetables and raise cattle. And they needed it, because the population of Holland kept growing. Partly due to the increasing wealth of the seven united Dutch provinces at the beginning of the Golden Age.
All the vegetables grown in the polders had to be traded somewhere. As a result, a lively vegetable market soon developed in Purmerend. The covered vegetable auction was located on this quay. Agricultural products from the new polders were usually brought in by boat. These then sailed along a quay with a shelter. There, the boats moored and the vegetables were transferred into baskets, bags and crates and put on carts. On these carts, the merchandise was driven into the auction house.
Especially in the early 1900s, farmers in the Beemster, Purmer and Wormer produced more and more vegetables. And the vegetable auction grew like cabbage. Only to merge several times with other auctions. Until the auction disappeared for good from Purmerend after relocation in 1980.
Would you like to see a map of how Purmerend used to lie on the edge of the Purmer and Beemster lakes? And what this quay looked like at the time of the vegetable auction? In the location screen you will see photos, take a closer look. Continue your route straight ahead.
Listen | Chicken Market
One of the markets that got its own place, separate from the later Cheese Market, was the Chicken Market. In 1880, this poultry market was moved to the Slotplein, the spot where we stand today.
Listen | Chicken Market
One of the markets that got its own place, separate from the later Cheese Market, was the Chicken Market. In 1880, this poultry market was moved to the Slotplein, the spot where we stand today.
Unlike other Purmerend market squares, this square does not owe its name to the products traded there. Slotplein is so called because a castle stood here until the year 1741. This Purmersteijn castle was demolished because it had fallen into disrepair. This created a new square in town. A nice place for a new market, the people of Purmeren must have thought. In the middle of the car park you can still see old remnants of Purmersteijn castle's walls.
The new chicken market did not only sell chickens. Geese, swans, ducks, pigeons and game were also for sale here. Slaughtered or live, mostly transported and displayed in special baskets. And the market did well. So well, in fact, that Purmerend made the market square even bigger by filling in the moat that ran alongside the chicken market. This created an even larger market square. This is where the name Gedempte Singelgracht comes from, the major road that runs alongside it.
Are you curious to know what it looked like here when the Chicken Market took place? Or what the castle looked like? In the location menu, you'll find photos of the market and the old castle. Continue your route by standing with your back to the Purmersteijn castle and then walk into the little street Padjedijk, which is located diagonally left in front of you.
Listen | Merchandise and rag market
Clothing is of all times. But clothes shops have only been around since the last century. Before this time, people made their own clothes from fabric bought at a rag market.
Listen | Merchandise and rag market
Clothing is of all times. But clothes shops have only been around since the last century. Before this time, people made their own clothes from fabric bought at a rag market.
To your right, on both sides of the street until the junction, the Purmerend rag market was held from the end of the nineteenth century. When there were many market vendors, they were also allowed to display their goods on Westerstraat, near the junction in the distance on the right. Over the years, more and more different items were sold here. Hence the name changed from rag market, to stall or goods market.
From the fabric Purmerenders bought here, they made clothes in the well-known, North Holland and West Frisian costume style. With white caps for the women and wide trousers for the men. Want to know what Purmerenders used to look like? Take a look at the photos in the menu. Here you can also see a historic photo of the Warenmarkt. Continue your route straight ahead into the Gouw.
Listen | Butter Market
With the draining of the region's three lakes, Purmerend's economy changed. Fishing and related trade used to be the main activity for the market town.
Listen | Butter Market
With the draining of the region's three lakes, Purmerend's economy changed. Fishing and related trade used to be the main activity for the market town.
But after reclamation, the economic centre of gravity shifted to agriculture. So it was logical that more and more agricultural products were also sold in Purmerend. And that each product got its own market in town. Separate markets emerged for animals such as cows, pigs and horses. But also for vegetables and animal products such as milk, cheese and butter. On the spot where the extension of Avondzon retirement home is now, there used to be the butter market.
Butter is a truly traditional Dutch product, which has been made in much the same way for centuries. Continue your route straight ahead.
Listen | Horse Market
Before the 1950s, the horse was farmers' tractor. There were no agricultural machines yet, so farmers depended on these animals for ploughing, sowing, harvesting and transporting.
Listen | Horse Market
Before the 1950s, the horse was farmers' tractor. There were no agricultural machines yet, so farmers depended on these animals for ploughing, sowing, harvesting and transporting.
In these years, there was also a big trade in working horses. And especially in the market town of Purmerend, where there was even a separate horse market. It took place here, on this street, opposite the current ING, which then housed a school. It was therefore popularly called the horse market school.
After World War II, agricultural mechanisation began. Farmers needed fewer and fewer horses, so the horse market became smaller. The municipality therefore moved this market to the Koemarkt. And more major economic changes took place in Purmerend in the 20th century. The alderman for the economy will be happy to tell you more about it. To do so, click on video in the menu. After watching the video, continue the route by walking right up nieuwstraat and, after the little bridge, enter the path through the park.
Listen | Sheep market
This little square was home to the Schapenmarkt, Purmerend's youngest market. It only took place for the first time in 1952.
Listen | Sheep market
This little square was home to the Schapenmarkt, Purmerend's youngest market. It only took place for the first time in 1952.
Before that, sheep and lambs were in pens on the sides of the cow market. The Purmerend municipality moved the market to this location because the marketmen could make a driving corridor for the sheep here, surrounded by discharge pens. Cattle cars could also load and unload here on three sides. The location screen shows what the sheep market looked like then.
Due to increasing regulations for outdoor livestock markets and the declining trade in sheep, the sheep market disappeared from Purmerend.
Continue your route straight ahead towards the Koemarkt.
Listen | Koemarkt
The Koemarkt was the best-known market in Purmerend. This was because of its size, history and because it was still held here every Tuesday until recently.
Listen | Koemarkt
The Koemarkt was the best-known market in Purmerend. This was because of its size, history and because it was still held here every Tuesday until recently.
The last market took place in 2001. Due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, no livestock markets were allowed to be held outdoors from then on.
Purmerend's Koemarkt can boast many years of tradition. It first took place in 1572. To grow over the centuries into one of the largest cattle markets in the Netherlands. Between 1950 and 1980 were the heyday of the Koemarkt in Purmerend. On every Tuesday it was market and the square was populated by about a thousand cows and 4,000 sheep.
On the Koemarkt, various elements and structures are reminiscent of the former cattle markets. These include the old Market Master's House, nostalgic (beer) pubs and Hans Kuyper's iconic artwork. In addition, since 2020, you will find a beautiful event location here; the Markthal Purmerend. The name and look of the building are an ode to Purmerend's historical function as a market town.
Want to know what that was like? Watch the video in the menu. After watching the video, continue the route left along the koemarkt and walk back to the starting point of this tour in the koestraat.
Listen | Pig market
The Varkensmarkt was by far the most beautiful market in Purmerend. The market was held here, on Willem Eggertstraat opposite the Weeshuis.
Listen | Pig market
The Varkensmarkt was by far the most beautiful market in Purmerend. The market was held here, on Willem Eggertstraat opposite the Weeshuis.
Indeed, this street used to be surrounded on two sides by historic mansions with magnificent facades. Unfortunately, the former orphanage is the only one of these properties with a characteristic facade that has been well preserved.
In a way, the pig market is also the reason why a few mansions have disappeared. In fact, the market was such a success that more space was needed. That is why the municipality demolished two gable-fronted houses on Willem Eggertstraat, creating a small square.
In the 1950s, the market grew even more. The municipality even placed special pig pens along both sides of the street. By forming a causeway from an alley, farmers drove their pigs into the market and into the pens. This structural approach was also necessary. Indeed, the pig market had grown so large that about fifty thousand fat pigs and piglets were traded per year.
With the construction of the Willem Eggert shopping centre, the municipality moved the pig market to the Koemarkt in 1973. The supply of pigs had already declined sharply by then, partly due to the outbreak of swine fever. The last time there was a pig market in Purmerend was in 1981.
In the location screen, you can see what it was like here on the Pig Market with the special pig pens. Under video you can see moving images of the pig market that took place here. After watching the video, continue along the route into the schoolsteeg.
Listen | Cheese Market
Purmerend is a bustling town with a historic centre, situated on the former River De Where and in the middle of three reclaimed major lakes of North Holland: the Purmer Lake, Beemster Lake and Wormermeer.
Listen | Cheese Market
Purmerend is a bustling town with a historic centre, situated on the former River De Where and in the middle of three reclaimed major lakes of North Holland: the Purmer Lake, Beemster Lake and Wormermeer.
Purmerend was also located at the junction of ancient trade routes between the trading regions of Amsterdam, Hoorn, Edam and Alkmaar. This strategic location allowed Purmerend to grow into a rich trading town, with beautiful buildings and a lot of economic activity. This was reflected in the town's many markets, where all kinds of goods from the surrounding area were traded from fish to vegetables and cattle. The markets are central to the town's prosperity and form a thread through Purmerend's history.
You are now walking onto the Cheese Market. Purmerend's first weekly market took place here over five hundred years ago. First the weekly market was on Saturdays but from 1572 on Tuesdays. The spot where we are standing now was then called the Marktveld, a more appropriate name. After all, the square was not so big then and not demarcated by houses as it is today. It was an open field at the junction of roads. A place where many buyers and traders passed by. That made it the ideal location for the first Purmerend market.
This market initially traded all kinds of goods-cows, grain, fish and also cheese. But why then the name cheese market? This name was given to the square only later, when over the centuries the various commodities were given their own market, spread across the town. Like the cattle market, the rag market and the fruit market. Only cheese continued to be sold here. Hence, we now know this place as the Cheese Market.
The market's heyday was from 1800 to 1900. Back then, up to four million kilos of cheese were traded here in one year. That amounts to about 4,800 large, round cheeses per market day. That made Purmerend the second largest cheese market in the country after Alkmaar.
As cheeses were increasingly produced and sold at dairies, supplies declined further and further, and the Cheese Market was ended shortly before 1940. But even though this market no longer exists, its success contributed to Purmerend's status as d market town of North Holland.
If you want to see images of the Cheese Market, check the location menu. Continue right after the church and walk towards the Purmerends museum.
