The famous Lille flea market is back! It will take place on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 September 2024. It has a long history behind it, as explained by Pauline Triplet, author of a thesis on the city of Lille in the Middle Ages. Interview on the origins of the flea market, currently the largest European market, a former trade fair that extended throughout the county of Flanders and far beyond.
When did the Lille flea market start?
Pauline Triplet : The first written record of the Lille flea market dates back to 1127, which derives from the Lille fair. It was Galbert of Bruges, a chronicler who recounted the event chronologically, because a man had been arrested there. However, the city had a privilege granted by the County of Flanders: it was forbidden to arrest anyone during the fair. The Count of Flanders William Cliton, ignoring the rights of the city and arresting this man on the market square (now the Grand’Place), had thus provoked riots. Normans had been thrown into marshes on the outskirts of the city because of their origin, similar to that of the count who had had to flee the city.
Map of Lille, made in 1615
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© Municipal Archives of Lille
How big was the event?
Pauline Triplet : Difficult to say. However, we know that the fair brought together Flemish people, merchants from Hainaut, Artois, England, the Hanseatic League (now Scandinavia) and others. Before the 14th century, it was an international trade event, a wholesale trade event, where many sheets, canvases, fabrics and dyes were sold. Later, Lille fabrics from that period were found in Italy. We also know that Lille was part of a network of five Flemish fairs located in Ypres, Bruges, Torhout and Messines (now Belgium) which are the oldest Flemish fairs. Over time, these fairs would become more and more numerous.
Where does the word braderie come from?
Pauline Triplet : The word braderie comes much later. From the 14th century, the event changes. A document on the “lodges and stalls” (the stands) notes that we then find furriers (skin merchants), cobblers (merchants of poor quality shoes), grocers, roasters, fishmongers, at the Lille fair. Before the 14th century, the event is an international trade meeting around fabric. After, it expands and becomes more of a popular festival. It is in the 15th century that braden (roast in Flemish) gives braderie, in French.
How much area did Lille cover at the time?
Pauline Triplet : The first plan of Lille dates from the 16th century, but we know that medieval Lille extended roughly over the current districts of Old Lille, the Grand’Place, the Place du Théâtre, Rihour, Saint-Maurice and the Porte de Paris (site of the current town hall).
15th century illumination depicting a fair in an ideal city, kept at the BNF.
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© National Bank of France
How long did the sale last?
Pauline Triplet : Between 5 days and a month. The time interval varied depending on periods of crisis, decisions of the count, epidemics. During the Hundred Years’ War in the 14th century and during the Black Death epidemic in the 14th century, the rent – that is to say the cost of a place at the Lille flea market – evolved and today informs us about the interest in the Lille fair. The cost could be multiplied or divided by 5 or 6.
Are there any other documents that still tell us about what the Lille flea market was?
Pauline Triplet : In 1419, Lille no longer depended on the County of Flanders, but on the Duchy of Burgundy, and this had been the case since 1384. At that time, the Grand’Place or rather the market square was three times larger than it is today. There is a Saint-Etienne church at the level of the current Meert house. (Esquermoise street) and they sell off even in the cemetery, at first the furriers, then other sellers. Consequently, a document prohibited selling off in the cemetery.
With Emmanuel Pall
