The shards of King’s Day: this is something Driss (63) couldn’t find on the flea market in Groningen. ‘We live in a digital age’

It is no wonder that some items are left lying around at the end of the flea market on the Praediniussingel in Groningen. Half a dinosaur head, a plane without wings, a spotted cow plush toy – these are not popular toys. But Driss Azougarh (62) also knows what really flew over the counter during this King’s Day. “All Lego sold very quickly. My 14-year-old son is very happy, he has earned more than 100 euros with it. He wants to save that now.”

It is a tradition on King’s Day: the free market on the canals in Groningen. Countless residents sell their things on stalls, rugs or crates in the hope of raising some money. But when the market ends at 5 p.m., there are always things left over. Things that apparently no one wants.

Sniffing vultures

Jewelry, crockery, shoes and vacuum cleaners. There are still all sorts of things lying around in banana boxes along the canal, waiting for a new owner. ‘Everything free’ is written on a piece of cardboard. The thought must have been better to just get rid of it than to have to throw it away unnecessarily. Passers-by quickly sniff around the Ubbo Emmiussingel like vultures to see if they see something they like. Just in case you need a stuffed deer head, a vintage hairdryer or a Book of Mormon.

Driss Azougarh knows why he doesn’t lose some things on the paving stones. For example, books, CDs and cassettes are not very popular. “We live in a digital age, people don’t have to do it that way anymore. I think I’ll just offer those things for free in a box for my house next week.” He has been selling things at the flea market for 15 years. “I like the fun and the cheerful children running around the most.”

Homemade bracelets

Further on, Betty Vermeer (55) and Inge Schuurkes (54) pack their homemade sailing rope bracelets again. The two friends managed to sell about a quarter, and there are still hundreds of copies left in the boxes. “I expected a little more from it. I think they are very beautiful myself,” says Vermeer, laughing. “But I had a great day, it’s just for fun.”

Schuurkes agrees with this. “We thought: this is going to be urgent. It didn’t work out. But it was a lot of fun, many people also wanted to have their picture taken with us in these orange cheer suits.”

When it is almost 6:30 PM and many of the vendors have already packed up, a red municipal waste truck drives into the street. The garbage collectors use brute force to throw the remaining items into the back of the vehicle. It is a lot more than last year, they confirm. One of the men summarizes the finds succinctly: “We come across all kinds of things, but it is always: junk.”