Liege market – walking by the river Meuse and La Batte

The market at La Batte in Liege is the oldest and largest market in Belgium. On Sunday mornings it snakes along the north side of the river Meuse through central Liege. It is one of those markets that sells a bit of everything – whether you are looking for tonight’s supper or a 1963 copy of Tintin you may be in luck. Although it has become a popular attraction for tourists it is still frequented by locals. As I was nearby and had a morning to spare I thought I would take a look at what was on offer. There were bound to be waffles…

The vegetables were piled high and looked luscious and bright in the Sunday morning sunshine.

There was a stall selling pre-printed number plates. I couldn’t help thinking that the chances were pretty slim of someone (a) being at the market whilst (b) needing a new number plate and (c) seeing the very one they needed for sale. And if you did need a new number plate and then saw yours for sale, isn’t that a bit suspicious? Wouldn’t you enquire how the stall-holder had come by the number plate? Maybe they do things differently in Belgium.

If you need crockery, Liege is the place for you. Also it has a large stock of creatures of various types. I had expected animals, as I could hear them squawking as I walked over the Pont des Arches into the Coeur Historique. What I wasn’t prepared for were the bird prisons that I saw. Belgium has a different attitude to les animaux to England.

I had the genteel idea that people would buy the animals and take them home to become much-loved pets or maybe to use as well cared-for guard-ducks.

One of the most important jobs – making sure the waffle machine is working

The Flaneur

All is vanity, a chasing after wind

Liege market – walking by the river Meuse and La Batte

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