Rotterdam’s Fishmarket Charm: 1920s Blaak in Vibrant Color!

This captivating colorized footage unveils the bustling Rotterdam Fishmarket on the Blaak in the 1920s—nearly a century ago—offering a vibrant glimpse into the Netherlands’ historic port city, Europe’s vital gateway via the Nieuwe Waterweg to the Maas and Rhine rivers. Filmed in the heart of Rotterdam’s old center, 20 years before its devastating German bombardment on May 14, 1940, the film captures fishermen hawking their catch to local traders and the public, with crude handling and questionable hygiene by today’s standards—yet a testament to the era’s raw vitality, not to be judged by modern eyes. A dazzling window into pre-war Rotterdam’s maritime life, this restored archive grips history buffs, food enthusiasts, and Dutch culture lovers, offering a breathtaking peek at the Blaak’s lively fishmarket frozen in time.