What is a braderie?

A braderie is a large, annual street market, clearance sale, and flea market commonly held in Northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Often lasting a weekend, these events feature local shopkeepers selling goods on the street at discounted prices, mixed with bric-à-brac and antiques from private sellers.

What is the braderie?

The Braderie evolved over the centuries, from a trade fair to a huge flea market. Today, it is held every first weekend in September, perpetuating a tradition that goes back almost 900 years. Attracting more than 2 million visitors throughout the city of Lille, it is considered to be the biggest flea market in Europe.

What kind of items are sold at a Braderie?

What kind of items can I find at a braderie? You can find everything from clothes and toys to furniture and collectibles. Do visitors have to pay for the sales? Most auctions are free of charge for visitors, although some may charge a small entrance fee.

What is the difference between a Braderie and a brocante?

Braderie in France

A market or fair (sometimes the term foire is used instead of braderie) – and just like the brocante it means a sale to the public of used items. Generally speaking braderies are larger than brocantes but that seems to be the only difference that I can tell.

What is a brocante?

A brocante is a type of market or fair where second-hand goods, antiques, and vintage items are sold. Originating from France, these markets often feature a mix of furniture, collectibles, art, textiles and various knick-knacks.

A guide to Europe’s largest flea market | Braderie de Lille

What is a braderie in France?

A braderie (Dutch: [braːdəˈri]) or jaarmarkt ( Dutch: [ˈjaːrmɑr(ə)kt], respectively meaning 'roasting' and 'annual market' in Dutch) is a type of grand yearly street fair and street market found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Northern France and north-west Switzerland, mostly held in the summer months.

How do I care for brocante items?

Cleaning and maintenance

Avoid dishwasher and aggressive cleaning agents that can damage the surface and remove the patina. If you have items with a dark ir or greenish tinge (typically on copper), you can gently polish them with a paste of lemon and fine salt or a special brass/copper polish.

What is a brocante slang?

The correct pronunciation is BROH-CAHNT, with a silent E at the end. It translates to mean 'secondhand goods'. If you'd like to hear it pronounced by a real French person click on this link and play the little audio clip :) http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/french-english/brocante.

Where are the best brocantes in France?

Best Brocante and Flea Market Fairs in France

• L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Antiques Fair.
• Stereoscopic viewer and slides I found at a fair © mechtraveller.com.
• Rederie in Amiens.
• Maroilles © Havang(nl)/CC-BY-SA 1.0.
• Montreuil-sur-Mer Citadelle © Commune de Montreuil.
• Lille Braderie © Romainberthe/CC-BY-SA 4.0.
• Foire de Chatou.

What are some brocante decorating ideas?

To create a decor vignette with brocante vibes, simply layer vintage and antique pieces with a mix of rustic and natural textures. Old books, vintage linens, and perhaps a weathered mirror or antique frame to name a few are great pieces to incorporate.

What not to sell at a flea market?

First off, here's a short list of what you can NOT sell at the Flea Market at Menge: food items intended for immediate consumption (without prior market manager's approval) tires. used upholstered furniture or mattresses.

Where did the braderie tradition originate?

The Lille Braderie (French: Braderie de Lille) is a braderie, or annual street market/flea market, that takes place on the weekend of the first Sunday of September in Lille, France, in the northern Hauts-de-France region. It dates back to the 12th century, attracting nearly three million visitors each year.

What's the difference between brocante and flea market?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but traditionally, a brocante is a temporary market where professionals sell old objects, while a flea market is a permanent market offering a variety of objects, often of lesser value.

What does vide grenier mean?

The term “vide grenier” translates literally to “empty out the attic.” It's like a yard sale in France, but whole neighborhoods do it at the same time! Vide greniers are typically held on streets or public squares, but sometimes they are held indoors.

What is the best flea market in Paris?

The most famous flea market in Paris is the one at Porte de Clignancourt, officially called Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, but known to everyone as Les Puces (The Fleas). It covers seven hectares and is the largest antique market in the world, receiving between 120,000 to 180,000 visitors each weekend.

Do the French have car boot sales?

A lively atmosphere, unique interiors finds, old books passed down through the generations and quirky old objects are all guaranteed when you visit a French flea market, with car-boot salers, bargain-hunters and antiques dealers coming together to rummage and to barter – and even to be green through passing on vintage ...

What is the most sold thing in France?

The most sold item category in 2020 was clothing, followed by furniture and books.

What country has the best flea markets?

• Brooklyn Flea at Dumbo New York, USA. ...
• Portobello Road Market London, UK. ...
• Trödelmarkt am Fehrbelliner Platz Berlin, Germany. ...
• Mercadillo Historico del Jueves Seville, Spain. ...
• Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen Paris, France. ...
• Dry Bridge Market Tbilisi, Georgia. ...
• Feriköy Pazari Istanbul, Turkey. ...
• Choor Bazaar Mumbai, India.

How do I haggle at a Paris brocante?

Practice Your French!

Vendors are less likely to over charge you if you have at least a decent knowledge of conversational French or at the very least ask the price in French and make a subsequent quippy remark about the price if it wasn't what you expected or is clearly an overestimation of the item's worth.

What are common French Polish mistakes?

Applying Too Much Pressure on the Rubber

Professionals use a rubber to apply the polish. First-time users often make the mistake of applying too much pressure or not moving it freely across the entire surface.

What antique items should I avoid buying?

8 antiques to avoid buying at an estate sale

• Damaged furniture.
• Heavily worn textiles.
• Antique carpets and upholstery.
• Vintage lighting and electrical items.
• Incomplete sets.
• Unverified artwork.
• Opened paints and liquids.
• Ivory and taxidermy.

Why are antiques losing value?

Oversupply, changing décor tastes, and a younger generation that doesn't want (or have room for) cabinets of baskets have driven values down, and only unusual or very early examples are attracting collectors' attention. Collectors themselves recognize the decline.