Jeu de Balle Flea Market

The flea market on the Place du Jeu de Balle, known locally as the Vieux Marché or Old Market, has been part of life in the Marolles since 1873. That year the city council moved the daily market here from the Place Anneessens, partly because councillors felt it spoiled the look of the new central boulevards. More than 150 years later, the stalls still fill the square every morning, making it one of the few flea markets anywhere that runs every day of the week.

What you find varies from day to day, and that is the appeal. Expect a jumble of second-hand goods, from furniture, crockery and old records to prints, curios and plenty of pure junk, laid out on tables or simply across the cobbles. Serious collectors and dealers arrive early to pick out the best pieces, while later in the day prices often become easier to negotiate. Bring cash and be ready to haggle politely.

The market suits anyone who enjoys browsing, from bargain hunters to people who simply like watching a neighbourhood at work. It is free to wander, and families with older children often enjoy the treasure hunt. The square is cobbled and can be crowded at weekends, so pushchairs and wheelchairs may find it hard going in places. Keep an eye on bags and wallets.

The market runs from 09:00 to 14:00 on weekdays and until 15:00 at weekends, with the busiest atmosphere on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Allow an hour to look around properly, and leave time for a coffee or a drink in one of the traditional cafés around the square. On the corner, the former fire station built by Joseph Poelaert in 1859 to 1860 now holds apartments, galleries and shops, with a café in its old portico.

The Place du Jeu de Balle is in the heart of the Marolles, a working-class district with a strong local identity. Porte de Hal station on metro lines 2 and 6 is a short walk away, and the Rue Blaes and the Rue Haute, both lined with antique and design shops, lead north towards the Sablon. Combine the market with lunch in the Marolles and a walk up to the Palais de Justice for the view.