The Buurderij is up and running

De Ceuvel’s latest project, a sustainable enclave in Amsterdam-Noord, is called De Buurderij. Not a typo, but an initiative to introduce city dwellers to locally sourced food. From neighboring farmers.

Even if you live in one of the most densely populated areas in the world, that’s no excuse to consume food from far away and well outside its season.

Farmers’ market+

Within a 10-kilometer radius, the Ceuvel activists searched for farmers, brewers, beekeepers and other artisanal producers. From now on, they will sell their products directly to consumers every week, just as they would at a traditional farmers’ market.

The customer gets to know their farmer; the farmer produces to order.

Less traditional is the fact that shoppers purchase Karel Goudsblom’s MAMA bread, organic cheese from De Groene Griffioen farm, the honey from Hortensius apiary and vegetables from Osdorp urban farm online in advance, for example. They then receive their order directly from the relevant farmers/producers on Tuesday evening.

Efficient

That is efficient for the latter, who only have to harvest or produce what is guaranteed to be purchased and, on top of that, do not have to spend an entire day shivering at a farmers’ market. And it is good for the customer, who gets to know the people who make their food.

It has been attempted before: short supply chains, fair prices for producers and combating food waste. Sometimes with more, sometimes with less success. But this appealing format is already doing very well in France, for example, so why not here?

How it works: You join the Buurderij, order online and collect your order every Tuesday between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.; it is handed to you directly by the farmer. Coming soon to Sloterdijk station as well.