Sjoerd Kaandorp, also known as de Bordjesman, will interview entrepreneurial families who have been connected to the area for generations. Scenographer Elian Smits will share insights about her collaboration with Cordaan residents, people who worked on and lived near the site. Theater maker Marjolein Frijling will report on her quest to capture the sounds of Amsterdam-West with students from the Marcanti College. Culinary artists Mariana Martinez Balvanera and Eli Guerrero, together with the Kolenkit Chefs, will present a taste spectrum and tasting experience inspired by the flavors of Amsterdam-West.

We will conclude the program with these delicious bites and a drink.

After the program, anyone interested can receive a free ticket to view the Art Below Zero ice sculpture exhibition in the hall between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM.
In short: book your ticket soon and be there!

About the Central Market Hall

For over 80 years, the Central Market Hall in Amsterdam was closed off to the city, accessible only to food traders. Soon, this enormous hall will become a place where neighbors, locals, food professionals, and enthusiasts from all cultures can meet, united by a shared passion for food, culture, and innovation.

Repurposing

The Central Market Hall is located in the heart of the closed-off Food Center Amsterdam (FCA), often referred to as the “Belly of Amsterdam.” From here, restaurants, shops, and businesses in and around Amsterdam are supplied. On the northern side of the Market Hall, a new, smaller Food Center is being developed. The southern side will feature housing and a large grassy square.

About the Story Warehouse

The Story Warehouse is an essential platform for helping Amsterdammers narrate their own connection to this site. It tells stories about how the market adapted to the city’s evolving demands. The arrival of new Amsterdammers from Indonesia, Suriname, Turkey, and Morocco brought a need for different foods—garlic, Madame Jeanette peppers, coconut, dates, chickpeas, sesame, and more.

The Story Warehouse began during the Open Monuments Weekend 2024 with the storytelling project Zin in de Centrale Markthal (Savoring the Central Market Hall), which explores our senses: smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound. Working with various groups of site users and local residents, we are gathering stories that will culminate in an interactive installation at the Story Warehouse during Amsterdam’s anniversary year.

About Savoring the Central Market Hall

Savoring the Central Market Hall is a project by the Storytelling Centre Foundation in collaboration with DW-RS Foundation, BOEi, Cordaan, and various artists, local residents, and users of the Central Market Hall. It is supported by contributions from Stichting Amsterdam and the Municipality of Amsterdam, among others. The project’s first presentation will take place on Sunday, December 22. In the following months, the storytelling installation will take shape, to be launched with a small festival in late spring 2025.