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#WeLoveBrussels

Place du Jeu de Balle flea market
by Sandy Tsakiridi
Sandy Tsakiridi. Brussels-based but citizen of the world,
blogger, foodie, art lover, passionate about travelling and
photography. Having lived in different cities around Europe
over the years, including Athens, London, Paris and nowadays Brussels, I love discovering new spots, trying different
flavours and capturing all those little things that make life
beautiful with my camera.

Follow me on www.smarksthespots.com
One of the most frequented spots by both locals
and visitors in Brussels is the famous openair antique market in  Place du Jeu de Balle /
Vossenplein. Located in the heart of the Marolles
area, right opposite Pin Pon, the market is full of
second-hand items, so be prepared for some serious
treasure-hunting and a bit of bargaining!
Open-air markets are a great part of life in Brussels and
one of the things I personally love the most about
this city. The Place du Jeu de Balle flea market brings
together numerous merchants who sell all sorts of
things from second-hand clothes and jewellery to props,
ornaments and other curiosities. The market is open
throughout the week (6:00 – 14:00), including weekends
when it stays open until 15:00. According to my experience, weekdays are far less crowded but there seems
to be more variety during the weekend.
Looking into the history of the market, I discovered
that the Jeu de Balle square was originally intended
to serve as a field for “balle pelote”, a very popular

game in Brussels back in the day, which is actually
similar to tennis. In 1873 the City of Brussels decided
to move the “den â met” (i.e. “old market” in Brussels’
dialect) from the Anneessens square to the Jeu de
Balle square as it was thought that it didn’t fit with
the appearance of the central boulevards.
Nowadays the Jeu de Balle flea market is, together
with the nearby antique shops in the Sablon, Rue
Haute and Rue Blaes,  the best spot to score some
real bargains. And speaking of great spots, there are
some lovely restaurants and cafes you can enjoy once
you’re done exploring, like Jef, Pei & Mei, L’Arriere
Pays, Le Perroquet and L’Atelier en Ville, 
If you love antiques or are looking for a fun Sunday
activity in Brussels, the antique market in Place du
jeu de Balle is well worth a visit. It’s a great way to get
a feel of the local atmosphere in Brussels and maybe
pick up a few quality items on the way too. Have fun
and don’t forget to send me a picture on Instagram or
Twitter with the #seemybrussels hashtag! n
© smarksthespots.com

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