Rotterdam markets accessible again Markt010 is a local platform that connects Rotterdammers to the market in a safe manner.

When the three Rotterdam friends Quinten Mulder, Jorrit de Vries and Jort van Dalen heard that the Rotterdam markets were closed due to the corona crisis, they came up with the platform markt010.nl. The three initiators of Markt010 believe that public markets play an important role in society. ‘The market is the heart of the city, and we’d like to keep it beating during the corona crisis. Our two motives are: to keep the Rotterdam markets going – in a different and safe form – whereby we enable Rotterdammers to continue to buy fresh products at fair market prices. And secondly, to support market vendors,’ says initiator Jort van Dalen.

Every Tuesday and Saturday morning, Martk010 meets the market vendors on the grounds of the ​​student rowing association Skadi at Noorderkanaalweg 20-22. The cheesemaker Dirk Pols, fruit farmer Wouter, nut farmer Hoppema, baker Jan Willem and greengrocer Rachid deliver their fresh products here. According to cheesemaker Dirk, Markt010 is a good initiative: ‘Market vendors in Rotterdam have gone from 100 to 0 percent, so yes, then you’re happy with any form of income. That’s why it’s good that young people are interested in the market and want to support us in this.’

People order and pay online before the collection days so that the market vendors know what to prepare. Rotterdammers can then safely and efficiently collect fresh cheese, vegetables, fruit, nuts and bread. Markt010 has two drive-throughs: one for cyclists and pedestrians, and one for cars. All volunteers wear gloves and disinfect their hands according to the corresponding regulations. As a result, Markt010 complies with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) regulations. ‘We are trying to expand the range of market products so that as many fresh products as possible remain available at market prices,’ says Jort.