The Centrale Markthal in Amsterdam West is rolling out a 300-metre-long red carpet over a new footbridge; the longest red carpet in the Netherlands. The red carpet offers a new view of the city and the Food Center site and was devised by BOEi to involve the Centrale Markthal more in the city. On the eve of 750 years of Amsterdam, the enormous national monument from 1934 is entering a new phase: from a hidden gem on a closed site to a public building that is now home to around 40 culinary, creative and circular entrepreneurs.

Alderman Touria Meliani officially opened the footbridge on 8 November, which will be in use for a number of years pending the final redevelopment of the site into housing. Non-profit organisation BOEi, owner of the Centrale Markthal, wants to use the footbridge to simplify access and enable permanent and temporary users of the Market Hall to develop activities more easily. Visitors to the Amsterdam Winter Terraces, four weekends in November, will be the first to see it. The entrance is located at the main entrance of the Food Center site, at Jan van Galenstraat 4.

Arno Boon, director of BOEi: “In recent years, we have invested 16 million euros in the shell restoration, but many Amsterdam residents have still not discovered the building, partly because access was limited. We are now rolling out the red carpet for the neighborhood, city and visitors. For Amsterdam residents who do not yet know this beautiful national monument, a wonderful gift for the 750th anniversary of the city.”

The footbridge will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the coming period. Disabled people can reach the Centrale Markthal at all times via the main entrance of the site. BOEi is in talks with a number of creative users of the Centrale Markthal to convert the footbridge into an open exhibition space; the 300 meters offer sufficient space for this. The Centrale Markthal , once the centre of urban food distribution, is being repurposed by BOEi into a place for creative, circular and culinary entrepreneurs. A vibrant centre for food and culture, with a meeting place for people of all ages and backgrounds.