Gent ends Saturday market on Vrijdagmarkt due to “..scarce fresh food supply..”

The future of the Saturday market in Ghent is under scrutiny as the city struggles to meet its fresh food and non-food balance requirements. According to agreements with the city, at least 40 percent of the market offerings should be fresh food, with a maximum of 30 percent non-food items. However, as of 2025-04-30 16:41:00, the Saturday market falls far short of these targets.

Currently, fresh food accounts for less than 6 percent of the Saturday market, while non-food items make up an overwhelming 73 percent. This imbalance has raised concerns among local authorities and market officials about the market’s attractiveness and future viability.

With fresh food being the backbone of a vibrant market, the city has decided to discontinue the Saturday market by September 26, 2026, focusing instead on the more successful Friday market. What does this mean for vendors and shoppers alike? And how will Ghent maintain its market culture going forward?

Why is fresh food so crucial to market success? The city emphasizes that a market’s appeal lies in its fresh food offerings, which are currently missing on Saturdays. The decision to end the Saturday market highlights several key points:

• Fresh food currently represents less than 6% of Saturday market goods, far below the 40% target.
• Non-food items dominate with 73%, exceeding the 30% maximum allowed.
• There are no candidates willing to restore the fresh food balance for the Saturday market.
• The Friday market remains popular and better aligned with city goals.

As the Saturday market winds down, will vendors and shoppers adapt to the new focus on Fridays? The city encourages residents and traders to embrace this change and support the Friday market’s continued success, ensuring Ghent’s market tradition remains strong and fresh.