The tour is an initiative of the Friends of BOEi. Participation was free, but donations were welcome to support the restoration efforts of the Friends of BOEi. To make a donation, please visit the website here.

As a visitor, you will have a unique insight into the restoration of this brick colossus, once the largest covered market hall in Europe. The tour lasts approximately 40 minutes.

Arno Boon, Director of BOEi: “The official start of the restoration will not take place until January 28th, but observant passersby have already noticed that the Centrale Markthal has been scaffolded in recent weeks. Years of planning, preparation, and design are now being translated into traditional craftsmanship. We are excited to take the public along in the coming years to witness the transformation of this new part of Amsterdam.”

Development Manager Jeroen Ketting and Architect Pim Boomgaard will guide online visitors through several unique areas, including the old paternoster elevator, the recently opened basement corridors, and the roof of the Centrale Markthal, which will be covered with hundreds of solar panels. There is also a sneak preview of an audio tour featuring the ‘market stories’ collected by BOEi, which can also be read at www.centralemarkthal.nl/journal.

Ultimately, the Centrale Markthal aims to become a gathering place for culinary, creative, and sustainable initiatives in Amsterdam. The restoration is made possible with the support of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the Municipality of Amsterdam, the Friends of BOEi Foundation, the Province of North Holland, Marktkwartier West, and the BankGiro Lottery.