Flohmarkt (Flea Market) in Rheinaue

A view of the flea market in Rheinaue Bonn with the notable Post Tower as background.

April marks the start of fleamarket (Flohmarkt or Trödelmarkt) here in Germany. From a small Sunday flea market to the biggest of all, the flea market in Rheinaue, Bonn. This happens every third Saturday of the months of April to October.

A flea market or swap meet is a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered. It may be indoors, such as in a warehouse or school gymnasium; or it may be outdoors, such as in a field or under a tent. The flea-market vendors may range from a family that is renting a table for the first time to sell a few unwanted household items to a commercial operation including a large variety of new or used merchandise, including scouts who rove the region buying items for sale from garage sales and other flea markets, and several staff watching the stalls.

Food stalls line the  front part of Rheinaue going to the flea market.

Always present is the Chinese Noodles stall.

Ludwig - Erhard Allee 

Many flea markets have food vendors who sell snacks and drinks to the patrons, and may be associated with carnivals or concerts. Some flea market vendors have been targeted by law enforcement efforts to halt the sale of bootleg movies and music or knockoff brand clothing, accessories, or fragrances.

You should be early to arrive if you want to have a parking space.

To be safe, just take the bus so there will be no parking problem.

Welcome to Rheinaue!

Flea market vending, though similar in structure, should not be compared with street vending. The correlation between the two, though existent, is not exact. Flea market vending, as we know it, presents distinct elements setting it apart from street vending. Street vending takes place where a large crowd gathers and relies specifically on impulse buyers to be present, but who are in the area at the time for underlying reasons. The flea market, however, is the arena and the vendors are the show that attracts the crowds that gather for the sole purpose of buying. Flea market vending is also set in a controlled area that is governed by a self-imposed code of conduct. Unlike flea market vendors, and more often than not, street vendors do not knowingly recognize a code of conduct.

Very German: Currywurst with pommes (Curry Sausage with fries).

A Turkish addition but was a favorite in Berlin: Döner Kebap (Shawarma),

A Latin America Specialty: Churros!

Different Terms for Flea Market

Different English-speaking countries use varying names for flea markets. In Australian English, they are called trash and treasure markets, trash and trivia or (more commonly)swap meets. In the Philippine English, the word is tiangge, believed to be a loanword from the Hokkien spoken by Chinese Filipino migrants, or possibly from Nahuatl tianguis via Mexican Spanish. In India it is known as "Gurjari" or "Shrukawadi Bazzar". And here in Germany, "flohmarkt".

This is one of my favorites: Reibekuchen.

Flea market stalls and kid rides line side by side.

The whole walking area of Rheinaue is being visited by patrons both young and old.

Cherry blossoms and high above, a plane trailing an ads (plane not visible)

Some vendors went as far as making a clothes line to showcase their wares.

Not everyone who comes to the flea market buys. Some just want to enjoy the sun and the food.

History of Flea Market

The origins of the term are disputed, but according to one theory the Fly Market in 18th century New York City began the association. The Dutch word Vlaie, or vlie, with the v being pronounced f, meaning a swamp or valley, was located at Maiden Lane near the East River in Manhattan. The land on which the market stood was originally a salt marsh with a brook. By the early 1800's the "Fly Market" was the principal market in New York City.

With its surface of 160 hectares - 125 hectares on the left bank of the Rhine and 35 hectares on the right - it nearly measures up to the size of downtown Bonn.

A network of footpaths with a total length of almost 45 kilometres sprawls across the park.

The terrain is located in the geographic heart of Bonn together with the CAESAR research centre and the Post Tower.

Since its creation for the National Horticultural Show in 1979, the Recreation and Leisure Park has become a landmark of the City and a very popular recreational area.

Bargained goods are labeled for sell at 0.50cents.

Selling becomes a family outing as well.

Cherry blossoms makes the pathway more attractive.

A novelty in the execution of the biggest landscaping project of its time in the Federal Republic was the absence of fences in order to enable the citizens to use the recreation area from the very beginning.

Even the old china ware are being sold off.

Collection of cook books can be sold for 3€.

The park was split in three zones: the strip of flood plain along the bank of the Rhine, a zone with clusters of trees and a mixed area with vantage points in the transition zone towards the city.

Even antique collections can be bargained off. Make sure you just know how to haggle.

Instead of throwing old toys of the kids, you can bring them here and sell them as well.

This is the version of Pinas ukay-ukay.

LP's can be bought as well.

Knick knacks and old books find their way here.

If you have a new place to decorate, you can start off small by picking various stuff from  loads of displays.

Not everything sold here is second hand. Even brand new and hand made jewelries abound.

This hand made wood products does not come cheap for its a rarity here.

Furnitures with character are easy to find if you are early.

Don't throw away those old shoes!

Historical pieces of course have a price.

Shot from the upper hill.

I love this vintage ceramic sink! Plan to buy one in the future.

Mannequins, bears and dolls.

They even have their own puppet hospital here to sew and mend the old ones.

If you're not picky, you can buy second hand clothes for as low as 5€.

Shells are a novelty for the collectors.

Since they don't have much seashore to speak off, they love the conch shells.

Artistry at its best.

Date anyone?

The area is very accessible as it is on the main road of Ludwig -Erhard Allee.

Toy car collector? Then bargain away!

Game boards, puzzles are part of the German family past time.

DVD's both old and new are accessible.

Very organized parking areas.

Bus stop going to Bonn Main Station. Very accessible for you can take either 610 or 611 bus.

Rheinaue is set up in a very picturesque hillside of Rhine.