2023-12-09 16:26:00
“That ? 1€. This one is 20. The other one is 5.” Place du Jeu de Balle, everyone knows Rachid. From his pockets, he takes out a quantity of shiny coins to give change to buyers. “I’ve been doing the market for 35 years. I started with my father,” he says in front of his display where small figurines, vases, books, clothes and glasses are displayed. A joyful brol in which day-trippers and regular bargain hunters rummage.
Rachid, well-known salesman from Marolles ©Ro.Ma.
This Saturday, despite the freezing December rain, there are many sellers like Rachid on the Place des Marolles, sheltered from the arbors. It must be said that this weekend has a special tone: the market is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Initially located in Anneessens, the flea market moved to Place du Jeu de Balle in 1873. And since then, the event has been held there daily. Unique frequency in Belgium for a flea market. For the occasion of the anniversary, a stage was set up, with some concerts.
Discover the true history of the flea market on Place du Jeu de Balle in Brussels, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary (PHOTOS – VIDEOS)
Before school, at 5 a.m., for 20 francs
Place du Jeu de Balle, some sellers are part of the flea market decor. Amar and his friend Jamal, for example, have never left the neighborhood. “When we were kids, we came from Anneessens before school, at 5 a.m., to help unload the trucks. We earned 20 francs, and we were happy. We might go and buy what we wanted with it,” says Amar, who now makes no secret of suffering from back pain from unpacking and repacking merchandise every day.
Armed child in the Marolles for the filming of a video clip: fourteen people arrested, three placed under arrest warrant and a very large amount of loot
”I kept my parents’ location. We haven’t moved,” smiles Catherine. She knows the flea market like the back of her hand. “I still remember the barracks, which were set up back there.” Sitting alongside her friend Barbara, she notices that she is now one of the only women among the merchants. “In the past, it was the opposite. Husbands emptied houses and wives sold.”
Catherine and her friend Barbara ©Ro.Ma.
With nostalgia, old-timers tell how the market was once appreciated by foreigners. To the great pleasure of the Marollian sellers. “Americans loved Art Deco. The furniture left immediately. Now, we hardly see any furniture here,” notes Brahim, who have been present on the cobblestones for half a century. “The Germans came with their Deutsche Marks, which was very advantageous,” adds Amar.
Over time, English, German and American aesthetes left the place. Nowadays, tourists passing through Brussels no longer spend much. “Whatever is too big is impossible for them with suitcases. They rarely exceed €10,” says Hicham.
Hicham, salesman since 2008 ©Ro.Ma.
“We sell less and less, and less and less expensive”
Among the onlookers and tourists, we find regulars. “This is the breadbasket of Europe. Look at the photo albums: we travel,” smiles a Brussels resident. “I’ve been coming since I was little,” says Dominique de Schaerbeek. “I wander around, and sometimes I buy something.”
An observation that comes back from both sides of the Marollian square: business is more complicated than before. “We sell less and less, and less and less expensively.” One cause is often singled out: “The Internet has broken everything,” laments Amarouch, who has been present for 32 years. “There are even people who now take photos of the products. They put them up for sale on the internet, they shop around for the time to find a buyer online… and then come back to buy,” says Catherine, still stunned.
Amarouch, on the market since a young age ©Ro.Ma.
“Young people are less interested in antiques, which is a shame,” says Rachid. The price of the location and its increase over the years are also noted. Allow €250 per month for a space at Place du Jeu de Balle. “I have two locations next to each other. In months when we don’t sell much, it’s difficult to find the €500,” a merchant tells us.
The charm of negotiation
Among the sellers, we also find young people. Adam followed in the footsteps of his father Brahim. “I’m taking back the torch. From Monday to Friday, I am a welder. On weekends, I come here. Now we have our two stands next to each other.”
Brahim and his son Adam ©Ro.Ma.
Not far away, young Nabil just created his stand three years ago. “Everything is going really well.” On TikTok, his page has more than 20,000 subscribers and he uses it to attract people to the flea market. “I post videos of what we have and people are interested.”
Nabil tries to raise awareness of the market via Tik Tok ©Ro.Ma.
Most sellers tell us they find their goods through garage sales. In addition to antiques, clothes, crockery, books are also sold… “What was an antique market has become a flea market,” notes Abdel.
On the shelves, no prices. You have to ask… and then the game of negotiation begins. “Negotiating is the charm of the flea market,” smiles Hicham. “There is always a way to negotiate and find an agreement,” concludes Rachid.
Abdel, present for ten years ©Ro.Ma.
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