Madri Gerber from De Wijnlijst , Marnella Döckel-Erasmus and her team from Kuierkos and Bernadette van Heerden's vision for the market was to create a true South African experience and to take you on a road trip through our beautiful country. Not only an experience for the South Africans who miss home but also an experience for those who love our country as much as we do.
Their aim was to create a platform for South African creatives and entrepreneurs living in the Netherlands to showcase their art/talent/product/idea. They teamed up with South African Tourism to achieve this.
No one could have dreamt that so many people would flock to this market. Clearly there is a need for South Africans to come together where they can enjoy art, craft, food, music and just have a very lekker time!
As I walked through the market taking photos it felt like I was back in Jozi or Cape Town, they literally recreated South Africa with all of its flavour in the middle of Haarlem, the Netherlands.
I heard people greeting each other with Howzit?! / Hoe gaan dit met julle?! / So lekker om julle hier raak te loop!! / Long time no see!!
You could eat all of your favourite food like bobotie, bunny chow, boerewors rolls, melktert, koeksisters, biltong, rusks and have all of your favourite beer, wine and cold drinks!
The day was filled with activities and workshops like:
How to tie the perfect headscarf by Dienaba Konate from Neya Concept and a book signing and reading by the beloved Afrikaans writer Marita van de Vyfer.
And of course what is a South African Market without some music and dancing!
Patrick Mngeni, Bathembu Myria and Nonhle Beryl had us all stomping our feet to gumboot dancing, swinging to Pata Pata and in tears as we sang Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika with our hands on our hearts.
Talented Stephan Dixon & Gerald Clark, Frazer G. Barry& Lee Ursus Alexander and Jazzwana all brought their own flavour of South Africa to the party!
And yes, not everything was perfect, and there is room for improvement, but thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the initiative to arrange this market. You brought so many beautiful people together! Next year will be bigger and better!
Well done nê!
(scroll to the bottom to see links for all vendors, performers and artists)
Kuierkos, De Wijnlijst, AWÊ, Zufrique, Afrikos, Inge van der Ham,Chantel Frankfort (Clarys), Amanda Kortsjens, Papenfus Design, Nerine Jones, Match Set Love, Culticuli, Neya Concepts,Nuweland, Rhi-Fires, CC Bloemendaal, Treffers Radio, Jenni Designs, MG Maker,BMS travellers, Sosa Charity, Ubuntu Kunst, Marita van der Vyver,Neolife, Schattig, Sa Tourism, Linker Africa Tours, Tshega – Basadi, Hekpoort Heksie Chillies, VR experience, Green Wall
Enterntainment: Nonhle Beryl, Jazzwana, Frazer G. Barry, Stefan Dixon, Gerald Clark, Lee Ursus Alexander
Dance: Patrick Mngeni, Bathembu Myria
The images are the property of Vicky McLachlan Photography. Please click HERE for bookings and orders.