Tips to score the best vintage treasures at Brocantemarkt Braderie de Lille
Do you love flea markets? And is a visit to the beautiful French city of Lille still on your list? Then the annual Braderie de Lille is something you should not miss.
This 80-kilometre-long market will be back on September 4 and 5, 2027, and we’re sharing our best tips for scoring vintage gems. Don’t feel like walking 46 kilometres through Lille yourself? We bring the best finds back to Amsterdam. Check out our latest vintage finds online or in our Amsterdam store.
Largest flea market in Europe
It is the largest flea market in Europe, with a tradition dating back many years to the Middle Ages and still held every year.
The flea market has approximately 80 kilometers of stalls from residents and traders throughout the city. It reminded us a bit of King's Day. In addition to the flea market, the city also has a big party with DJs and musicians playing everywhere on the street. And a LOT of mussels are eaten.
46 kilometres of treasure hunting
Last summer, I visited this huge flea market for the first time together with Wes from Studio Alloo. After walking 46 kilometres and filling four carts, it’s safe to say we came home with some pretty good finds!
From unique vintage lighting to small furniture, some of the pieces we find on our sourcing trips through France eventually make their way into our store and webshop. Curious to see what we’ve found? Check out our latest vintage items.
Below are our best tips for making the most of the Braderie de Lille.
This is how you score the best gems
- Part of the flea market starts on Friday evening at Façade de L'esplanade. Do you want to be the very first and score the best treasures? then make sure you arrive on Friday
- You can find the brocanteurs on the almost two kilometer long boulevard de La Liberte and along the water of the street facade de l'esplanade
- Maps are distributed in the city indicating where the markets and what type of market it is. Very handy to have with you!
- Saturday is the busiest day with sellers, Sunday there are many traders and fewer stands from the residents themselves
- For second-hand items you have to be just outside the city center. In the center itself you will find stands of the established shops and no second-hand items.
- Go early! Officially it starts at 8:00 am, but at 7:00 am it is still nice and quiet, and many stalls are already ready.
- Park your car at one of the metro stations. The metro runs every 4 minutes and takes you into the center very quickly.
- Negotiate! especially on the last day, sellers are more willing to drop in prices.
- Bring enough cash
- Bring a grocery/hand cart if you plan to buy more
- Wear good walking shoes
And don’t forget to look up every now and then and enjoy Lille itself. It’s a beautiful historic city, and during the Braderie there’s an atmosphere you really have to experience at least once.
Rather leave the treasure hunting to us?
We scour flea markets, brocante dealers and vintage spots looking for the pieces that stand out to us. No endless rows of stuff, just a curated selection of vintage lighting, furniture and interior pieces.
Check out what’s new in our webshop or visit our vintage store in Amsterdam.