Inside the Centrale Markt, situated in the western facade, there was the “Praathuis,” Willem Hanepen’s coffee corner that evokes memories for everyone from that time. It was called that because on Mondays, the merchants would gather here to chat about the week over a beer and a cigar. After Willem’s death, the Praathuis was taken over by Corry and Chris Kok. They also had a canteen on the first floor, next to the auction. Chris Kok is said to have made the best meatballs in the market.

Another well-known entrepreneur in the Centrale Markt was Joop Bommels, who had been making his rounds with his herring cart since 1956. He was a popular figure. “I’ve eaten a lot of fresh herring. His decision to go around with his cart was a smart move; it meant we didn’t have to leave our stalls,” someone said.

In 2019, most of the hospitality establishments on the market grounds have disappeared, but Bommels’ herring cart is still there. It is no longer in the form of the old handcart but as Brenda and Rik Bommels’ sandwich shop (see photo), established in a fixed spot right in front of the central hall since 1992. It is an important meeting place at the Food Center where you can still get the best herring sandwich in the area. Their sandwich with filet American is also well-known. According to Frans Croese, connoisseurs always order it “with everything on it.”

Rik Bommels explains: “Father used to close his cart around noon; that was the end of business. But since the advent of freezers, we have customers all day long. Vegetable vendors and market traders have breakfast here when they do their shopping at six in the morning. Even the butchers and cattle farmers are early. Taxi drivers come for coffee around ten o’clock. Colleagues from the Food Center come for a sandwich during lunch, and later, people from the hospitality industry with evening establishments join in.” Rik does his own shopping; apart from herring and bread, he buys everything at the Food Center. “Our filet American comes from a butcher here who supplies Michelin-starred restaurants. The filet and herring are bestsellers, just like the meatball or half-and-half sandwich. Dutch fare. I occasionally try something different, like goat cheese with walnuts and honey… but no, it doesn’t sell. The passing of our mother Willy was a heavy blow. She was the warm center. Father Joop also passed away a few years ago. Luckily, my sister Brenda and my wife Annemieke filled the void. Bommels Broodjes remained the market’s gathering place in that way. Here, you hear everything.”

Then the tall tales start rolling in. Stories about clever bank robbers who once replicated a money transport vehicle and collected money from a bank branch on the premises: “Unfortunately, a neighbor saw the preparations. The police were waiting for them outside. And about the bull that escaped from the slaughterhouse. It ran past these windows and gored an employee of De Kweker; he had quite a bump. The bull couldn’t be caught until a cow was brought out to lure it away.”

Photo: Brenda and Rik Bommels busy at work in “De Haringkar” (The Herring Cart).
Thanks to Rik Bommels, Frans Croese, and Ronald Poelstra.
Text: Jobbe Wijnen.