Accordian music on a chilly Sunday afternoon. Old books, old albums and cameras, beautiful…read moretaxidermy with a bit of dust. People sipping coffee and lots a beautiful paintings underneath the shade of a Gothic church. I'm in love. I love all these Belgian pop-up markets.
Brocantmarkt of Saint Jacobs is probably the best antique market I've had the pleasure of stumbling into. Next to the Marché des Antiquaires du Sablon in Brussels.
With that, Belgium's love of pop-up antique markets outpaces most to all antique shops I've been to internationally in price and collection. Some of the stuff I saw here, which I've seen otherwise going for double/triple digits, were in the single digits and all lovely items. We were hard-pressed to try to not spend our money and eventually caved over a gorgeous photo album of worn crimson leather, but soft and in great condition. Inside old photos and memories, but something for inspiration-- places in black and white. We also purchased a small set of forks with engravings for a few euros.
There were lots of items I would have easily picked up if I wanted to splurge. Found a beautiful used paint palette, mounted animal hooves-- a boar and deer, a small collection of old cameras with leather cases, old coins from various places, old scarves in decent condition, a dried turtle, a mounted crocodile head. This is just a sampling of the oddities at this market. Along with were lots of old paintings and of course a large breath of books.
If nothing at the market interests you, it's nice to just come out and sit at the cafes lining the side. Bistro & Antiek Montparnasse is a pretty nice antique shop and bar. Lots of people sat outside enjoying the weather and drinking coffee, and no beautiful antique market should go without a talented accordian player. You are truly a gem Brocantmarkt!