Dapperbuurt and Dappermarkt
Most big cities have a must-see multicultural district that will add a richer dimension to your visit. New York has Greenwich Village, London has Soho and Amsterdam has the Dapperbuurt. The highlight of this area is undoubtedly the Dappermarkt – which was voted one of the world’s “top ten shopping streets” by National Geographic Traveler.
The Dapperbuurt (Dapper neighbourhood)
Located to the east of Amsterdam’s centre, the Dappermarkt is a lively, multicultural neighbourhood which is undergoing a revival, thanks to an injection of investment and renovations. This working-class district has a rich architectonic history, with much housing dating back to the 19th century. The strong social ties of the neighbourhood have an influence on the Dappermarkt, which has been declared "Amsterdam's true people's market." The presence of the market and the attention given to keeping it clean also adds to the feeling of pride and safety in the neighbourhood.
Interesting background
Quite fitting for this vibrant multi-cultural melting-pot, the Dapper area and market were named after Olfert Dapper, a 17th century doctor and writer. Although he never travelled outside of Holland, he wrote books about history and geography. His book Description of Africa is still widely-referenced. The Dapper Market was designated as a market area nearly 100 years ago, and the Artis Zoo, Tropenmuseum and Oosterpark are all nearby. The Dapperbuurt has been immortalized in several poems, for example by the poets J. C. Bloem and Nescio. The streets are named after historians.
Dappermarkt
Voted best market in the Netherlands 2007/2008, the Dappermarkt is considered to be the most affordable and multicultural of Amsterdam’s markets. It is also often referred to as the "World Market" because of the incredible diversity of its merchants and products. There are more than 250 stalls which are built up and taken down every day – meaning there are metres of exotic foods to sample and textiles and other wares to admire. Open six days a week from 09:00 - 17:00 it is estimated that 15,000 people visit the Dapper Market every day.
Karel Appel’s birthplace
Renowned Dutch CoBrA artist, Karel Appel was born in the Dapperstraat number 7 in 1921. The building has now been converted to short-stay rental apartments for international and local artists, studying at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, which is where Appel studied. The house is open to visitors, displaying works by its artist residents as well as those Appel produced during his days in the Dapperbuurt.
For a true Amsterdam experience, take some dapper steps to the Dapperbuurt and Dappermarkt today!
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