An accordion player at Edam's cheese market

At the famous Kaasmarkt in Edam (Noord-Holland) this morning, a remarkably photogenic little girl was playing the accordion, while seated on a stack of cheese wheels. Of course, I put a couple of euros in her spare clog to encourage her talent, as well as thank her for the photos.

Click photos to view detail.

I was impressed with this girl's confidence, as much as her musical ability.

I took over 700 photos of today's Kaasmarkt festivities, so expect more posts soon. Edam's cheese market originated in the 16th-century and continued until 1922. The market re-enactments every Wednesday morning during July and August draw visitors from around the world. Today I heard Italian, French, Spanish and Russia being spoken in Edam.

Traditionally, wheels of cheese are brought by boats and transported to the market square, where buyers and sellers bargain for the best price and the finest cheese. But the Edam cheese exported abroad isn't the same quality as Edam cheese in the Netherlands - the Dutch save the best for themselves!

Comments

[Natalie]

What a darling!

[dutchbaby]

Oh how I miss the young "boerenkaas"! Wonderful photos.

[Marilyn]

You mean we have to come there to get the good stuff?
What a cute girl, love your photos especially the one where she finally smiles.

[Tessa]

Just a precious post...

Tessa~

[jeanie]

She is SO pretty! And yes, very photogenic! What a smile! Now the cheese market is something I would love! I remember an Edam shopkeeper telling Rick and me about the difference in the cheeses that are exported and sold domestically in Holland. We agreed, when we tried Edam here (but we weren't sure if we were agreeing on rapturous memories or if our palettes were so good we could tell!)

You did hook us on Beemster which I am finding here in more specialized shops. We like it because it's delicious -- and it reminds us of you!

[m a sloan]

So darn cute!!!!!