On a cold April day we decided to give the city Leiden a visit, without any preparation or research beforehand. So on the way to this destination we quickly searched for things to do for "free" and saw that it happened to be a market day in the center of Leiden.
And though the weather forecast predicted a sunny day it was grey and gloomy earlier in the day, which didn't deter us from enjoying the day and looking out for those gems the market has to offer.
We noticed an abundance of fish stands and the large octopus got my attention. Unfortunately, we weren't able to purchase fresh meats or fish due to being on the go for the whole day. Ready to eat food was on the other hand unlimited.
After our Volendam experience with herring, we wanted to snack some more of that oily fish. The last time the vendor pre-cut the herring for us, but this seller served it the "traditional" way: whole, so that one could eat it from the tail in one go. Topped with pickles and onions also. We remarked that this herring tasted fresher and tastier in comparison to those we had in Volendam.
The change from selling winter to summery and flowy clothes didn't go unnoticed by us. Unfortunately it's hard to find my size on those racks. Furthermore, there was enough and a variety of produce, but we also had enough at home so we left those for another time.
Those beautifully intricately assembled decorating lamps were also displayed. Though I would love to decorate my home with these, I wonder how sustainable and "green" these are in modern living spaces. The decorative wooden boards seem like unique and thoughtful gifts.
The local tea and coffee vendor also had a great variety of flavors: 30 kinds of coffee and 200 types of tea.
When we reached the other side of the market - where more fish vendors are stalled - it was close to lunchtime and those fried fish snacks looked even more appetizing. This prompted one of us to take a look and to compare the prices. The cost was even better than Volendam - where we only purchased herring and kibbeling - and this person came back with three small cartons of fried goods.
He purchased fried shrimp, calamari and another type of shell fish (can't remember which one) in batter, which were piping hot from the frier and as fresh as one could get. My favorite was the calamari because of its spongey texture and the other two shared second place. The shrimp was a bit overpowering and oily and the other shellfish had an unknown, yet familiar taste. All delicious nonetheless.
You scored on the seafood this day. Calamari is my absolute favorite! Most times I have it dipped in a marinara sauce. That is the Italian style. I never did well in the markets with the clothing. I mostly had my mom ship clothes over for me. :)
I like all seafood, but some more than others. It looks like you might have oysters. Hard to tell. I love fried clams and mussels dipped in butter. Yummy! You showed off a fun day!
Are you living there or visiting? I like their cutting boards or charcuterie boards. How nice! Thank you for taking us along!
#MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through their markets, especially local markets and farmers' markets, and eventually branched out and evolved over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, and even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact that these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world.
Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday
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If there is something that is not lacking in this type of event, it is food and it is clear that you took advantage of it :) I am glad that this fair has been more accessible, that allows us to maximize our budgets and be able to buy more things.
Greetings, thanks for sharing and have a nice day❣️.