Purmerend lies right in the middle of North Holland. That is why traders and consumers from all over North Holland came to Purmerend on Tuesdays (market day). Of course, the local residents were happy to profit from this. On Monday evenings, the good furniture was taken out of the living room and put upstairs, sand was strewn on the floors and living rooms on the Koemarkt were transformed into proper Tuesday cafés. Merchants used the cafés as offices where business deals were done, naturally while enjoying a drink or two.
Every week, hordes of cows stood on the Koemarkt, ready to be sold. But there was much more than just the trade in cows. Don’t forget cheese, fish, sheep and pigs. There was a designated square for every product group. That made for a lively city. Purmerend was so popular, people cycled from as far away as Drenthe to the city at ‘hay time’ to look for seasonal work. With the statement ‘I am strong and don’t eat much’ they tried to get room and board in addition to their pay.
Tuesday is still market day in Purmerend. In the morning, the inner city is filled with dozens of stalls. The cattle markets however a thing of the past, so the ‘square with the story’ has been given another purpose. It is the place to eat out, with cosy cafés and nice restaurants. A lot of events also take place on the Koemarkt. This really makes it the ‘living room’ of the city!
