eBay old school – flea market feeling in Munich

Herbert has left home at three in the morning already. The bus fully packed with rummage from grandma's snuggery. When he arrives in Riem, the first set up tables and hat stands. Herbert opens his paste table and puts well-folded tableclothes next to old alarm clocks, drusy ashtrays and a textile covered radio. At the next stand they expose contents and leather jackets, on the other side a young guy is selling DVDs, vinyls and small music boxes. Herbert meanwhile pours a cup of coffee from a thermos flask.

It's shortly after 6 am and the first collectors with big bags populate the Riemer Trödelmarkt. On the new trade fair area in Riem Munich's largest flea market takes place on Saturdays. What is greatly appreciated here is the good mix of private people and traders.

Munich offers collectors, chasers and treasure hunters of all kinds possibilities to indulge in their passion. In all districts there's at least one flea market: be it prominent squares like Münchener Freiheit, Theresienwiese or in restaurants and churchly institutions. In summer patio gates open up for a weekend in Glockenbach, Schwabing and Maxvorstadt granting surprising insights into daily contents. Yet, the real happening is not the rummage, but the fondly vegetated patio oases.

Who comes to the flea market at 6 am, is a professional. With an unstable look on their face, not remaining at one stand for long, the hunters scurry from offerto offer. Some put on their pokerface. Herbert knows this allegedly tough look. Bargaining is the order now, not letting the product to the customer to easily, but still keeping him interested while not letting the price go down toomuch. A little later the treasure hunters and collectors keep coming. They stroll through the rows, have a chat here and there and bargain less. For them it's often more about the origins, the history of the desired object.

At the flea markets in Freimann and at Olympiapark you will find useful and bizarre objects for a reasonable price. Next to the horse track in Daglfing you can dwell among Biedermeier furniture, tin jars, coins and noble glass. Tradition is big at Antikmarkt at Nockherberg that's taking place in the fall. More affluent customers love the royal Bavarian furniture as well as gems from the Wilhelminian era.

Meet-ups for collectors are theme forums for elektronics, clocks or model railways. The Elserhalle has specialised in DVDs, comics and action figures and in the old mensa fan annual Gothic Market takes place. A special thing is Auer Dult. Besides the illustrous fair activity traders offer books antique furniture and other rarities around Mariahilfkirche.

For Herbert this long day was a good one. He has gotten rid of a quarter of his salmagundi and is happy with it. He prefers Riem to all other markets. For here kitsch lovers as well as tinkerers get their money's worth.

by Karin Nagl