Edmonton’s event a top draw for DCC

Dutch Spring Market now 21

EDMONTON, Alberta – The stalls at any Dutch market are much more than displays of merchandise and wares, they also are as much community meeting points and windows on culture and traditions. The Dutch Spring Market at the Dutch Canadian Centre, these days also home to several Scandinavian groups, in that sense is no different from those weekly markets back home.

Now the 21 annual event, the Dutch Spring Market is attracting market goers from far and wide, with former Edmontonians taking in the day hoping to meet old acquaintances, devour some Dutch delicacies (a given on any Dutch market) as well as find original arts and crafts to adorn home or yard and as presents.

Organizer Peter Van Leeuwen has rented out a record number of stalls this year, leaving him only a few spare spaces. The former May 1949 Tabinta passenger who retired from his meat and deli business, expects an ever broad selection of foods, merchandise and services at the market. Some vendors are even expanding to two or three stalls.

A special attraction this year is a display of antique Thunderbirds, including a vehicle owned and restored by Groningen-born master clock maker Hess Nyenhuis. Showing his T-bird at events such as at the DCC is fairly well routine for the Golden Clock store owner who take off enough time to show his vehicle in other parts of Canada and the U.S.A.

Edmonton’s DCC is one of only a few such club facilities owned by a Dutch Canadian society. DCC maintains an active schedule of events and attracts thousands of people from the broader Dutch community to its premises.