Zuidlaardermarkt

The Zuidlaardermarkt is an annual event in the village of Zuidlaren (the Netherlands), held on the third Tuesday in October.

The event contains a cattle market (known as the largest in Europe), a country market and a fair. The country market has about 350 market stalls each year and the fair is located in the centre of the village next to the horse market. Bovine animals are no longer shown, since the foot-and-mouth disease occurrences in 2001. The event enjoys popularity and large attendance by most Dutch, German and Belgian horsetraders. The history of the Zuidlaardermarkt goes back to the thirteenth century, the first time the market took place was in the year 1200.

Facts & figures

1883 horses and 62 donkeys were supplied to the Zuidlaardermarkt of 2004. The same year 350 market stalls formed the country market which had a total length of 2.3 miles. The market manager is Mr. Jaap Mellema from the municipality of Tynaarlo. The organization of the event involves a lot of volunteers, including a local choir.

External links

* [http://www.zuidlaardermarkt.info/ De officiële Zuidlaarder markt site] , the official website of the Zuidlaardermarkt event.
* [http://www.pieterdijkema.nl/photoos/zuidlaren/index_zuidlaren1.htm Pieter Dijkema] , website with photos of the Zuidlaardermarkt.