Geef om de Jan Eef is a unique organisation which unites residents and local shopkeepers in a bid to improve the safety and prosperity of the Jan Evertsenstraat. The Jan Evertsenstraat crosses Amsterdam neighbourhoods, West and Nieuw West. In the early 2000s, parts of the street were plagued by criminality and in 2010, Fred Hund was murdered in his jewellery shop along the Jan Evertsenstraat. After this terrible event, in 2011 the organisation Geef om de Jan Eef (care about the Jan Eef) came into being and has since then organised many social events which improve the liveability of the neighbourhood.
You can take the girl out of Ross-on-Wye,….
With this community spirit in mind I went to the Mercator Souk Market on Sat 28 Feb. The market is an eclectic mix of artisan foods, second hand goods and quirky upcycled items. The first thing I saw for sale was cider and perry from my old stomping ground, Ross-on-Wye! Ross-on-Wye is the town where I went to school. I also spent my first ten- bob note on an outfit for Sindy at Tilley’s toy shop in Ross.
Cider is becoming more and more popular in the Netherlands but it sometimes amazes me that I can get products from Herefordshire so close by. Café Zurich on het Mercatorplein also occasionally serves Herefordshire beef. It’s all part of the gentrification process I guess, but you won’t catch me complaining. I loves a bit of cideeer, I do! Visit Het Ciderhuis website for more info on where to order/buy English and Welsh cider.
Quirky lamps
I also loved the stall selling upcycled lamps from Kesbeke jars. I blogged about one of the few remaining factories in Amsterdam, Kesbeke pickles here. Pickle n Glow put model animals inside the used pickle jars and transform them into atmospheric lights. I particularly like Shere Khan! These would make great gifts for kids from 8 to 80.
I bought Mandarin and Honey chutney at Kitty’s Jam. Kitty also gives chutney making workshops in Utrecht. Chutneys are also becoming more popular here too. I guess it’s all the English cooks on telly that must have convinced the Dutch that English food and drink aren’t as bad as they thought, after all!
The Mercator Souk is held on het Mercatorplein on a Saturday. You can also hire your own stall if you’re planning a spring clear out. Upcoming dates for 2016: 26 March, 23 April, 28 May, 25 June, 24 September, 22 October, 17 December.
Amsterdam Oriole 
Lovely blog, Angela! I remember the area around the Mercator Plein (‘tuig’ etc.!) My children used to live in the Hudsonstraat (”meest gevaarlijke straat in Amsterdam”) I think they found it rather cool! And yes, I’m a great cider fan. I’m always searching for it and Symon replenished my store from a shop on the Bilderdijkstraat. But I’m always in for new addresses, so thanks for the link. And chutney! I always love making my own, and often take it as a gift when visiting. And yes, it’s very popular.
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Thanks for commenting, Sally. The perry was delish yesterday evening with fresh salmon. It cost an arm and a leg though. There’s also this place in Amsterdam, they started following me on Twitter, Appels en Peren – Ambachtelijke Cider en Poiré – Paardenstraat 7 (Rembrandtplein) – 1017 CX Amsterdam – First specialized Cider & Perry shop in Amsterdam.
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Lovely blog, Angela. Wecare in Brussels for a few days and yesterday went iff to explore Middelburg and Domberg…we love going tomthe Netherlands, and agreed yesterday that it’s because you find places that are ‘real places’ (but we couldn’t figure out as opposed to what!)
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Thanks for commenting, Paola. Zeeland is one area of the Netherlands I don’t know at all, it’s on my to visit list. It’s interesting what you say about ‘real places,’ there is much discussion right now about the Disneyfication of Amsterdam because of the high number of tourists that visit. Many of the shops in the centre cater for tourists and not residents. Thankfully in the neighbourhoods outside the centre a real atmosphere very much exists!
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