Vegetable market on Prinsengracht, Amsterdam
The System D Academy will research and test ideas how the market place can create a self organising urban development. This coincides with the current development of the historical Central Food Market of Amsterdam, a market area that is now in the process of being made part of the city again after years of being closed for citizens. Considering the plans for the Central Food Market, System D Academy sees the urgency to re-think this track, and bring the forces of the System D markets into play.
As international and corporate markets are more involved with how we access, trade and acquire our basic needs, System D Academy will investigate the potential of local and informal markets and consider their place in relation to the hyper-logistics of internationally run market places. Where are the gaps between local initiatives and the international market structure? What are the inefficiencies in current local markets? How can you go local and compete with the giants of international trade and logistics? What is the meaning of a market place in contemporary society? Can markets be leaders of social engagement, connectivity and the development of belonging to a City?
For this project, Freek Janssens developed a Market Tour that takes participants all the way back to the very first markets of the city, through the current developments and into the newest and perhaps future manifestations of the urban marketplace.
Meat Halls in Amsterdam, 17th Century
Impression of the new Food Center Amsterdam, 21st Century
Urban Markets Platform 