During the first corona wave, almost every sector reviewed itself and sought digital solutions. The Antwerp markets as well didn’t shy away from this challenge. When the number of plots reduces due to the corona measures, the market vendors were assigned a plot via online draw. During the second corona wave, this digital trend continues. The ‘bolling’ for individual market vendors (non-subscribers) is now temporarily done digitally for some markets in Antwerp.
What is ‘bolling’?
Most market vendors have a market subscription. As a result, they have the same plot every week and their customers find them quickly. On every market, there also a few places reserved to market vendors without a market subscription. These vendors show up early in the hope of still being able to get a place. When there are more candidates than free plots, lots must be drawn by the market supervisor of the City of Antwerp. This draw for vendors without a market subscription is popularly known as ‘bolling’.
Why does the City of Antwerp opt for a digital ‘bolling’?
The corona crisis has had a severe emotional and financial impact on market vendors. Due to the closing of the markets and the only partial reopening, they lost a lot of income. Market vendors without a market subscription in particular experience an even higher threshold, even today. Their financial reserves have often shrunk due to the corona crisis. As a result; it is no longer self-evident to purchase merchandise without assurance that they may actually have a spot on the market. To limit both the risk of contamination and the financial risk of these market vendors, the City of Antwerp is temporarily organizing a digital draw for a limited number of market vendors without a subscription. This draw only applies to the markets Oudevaartplaats (and surroundings) and the Vrijdagsmarkt at Sint-Jansplein
How does such a digital ‘bolling’ work?
As a vendor without a market subscription, you can register for the Antwerp market(s) of your choice. This can be done via the website of the Business Information Desk (‘Bedrijvenloket’). Between the 15th day of the month (deadline for registration) and the 25th of the month, a digital draw takes place. This way, the participants know in advance who can take place on the market and who cannot. This way, not everyone has to make an investment and only the effective participants have to provide merchandise. Therefore, the traditional risks for market vendors without a subscription have been limited.
The first results are here!
How does Modero help with this?
Last summer, Modero already organized all draws for the Antwerp markets that were allowed to continue under stricter corona measures. From 21 January 2021, Modero organizes the digital ‘bolling’ for the market at Oudevaartplaats (and surroundings) and the Vrijdagsmarkt at Sint-Jansplein.