Opendoor night Mabru draws a lot of attention

On Saturday 28 September was opendoor night in Mabru, the wholesale market in Brussels. From 1 am the 'Buik of Brussel' was in a festival mood. The wholesalers presented their products in the best way possible. The party was to celebrate 40-years of the early market at this location. The early market has been in existence for more than a century and moved from the centre of town to the covered hall on the Werkhuizenkaai 40 years ago. There were various animations and tastings of products on the market. When entering it was already clear that something special was happening. Visitors were warmly received and at many traders they could enjoy something to eat or drink.

Enormous cabbage at the entrance of the area

"Our market is alive!"
Marcel Verbelen, the director of the early market, mentions that the opendoor night was very successful. "We literally opened the doors wide. Everybody could enter freely and discover what we are doing. All traders and visitors I have spoken are satisfied with the evening. Everybody invited their clients and acquaintances and showed the best of their products." Verbelen has been director since 1989. "A few years ago we held an opendoor night as well and we noticed that nights like that go very well. People see that our market is alive! At the start of the night there were politicians from Brussels also. They were positively surprised about the way of working here."

Mabru, the belly of Brussels

A warm welcome

A complete Cibel-presentation at Bollaerts.
Various cycling outfits are also shown

All kinds of things could be tasted

Mark Bollaerts shows the strawberries from Cebon

The Mabru cart drew a lot of attention

A look in hall D

Wim Vandepoel of Fruit Vandepoel had brought a special old cart from long
ago and on that presented products of his new brand 'Lowie'. The
brand 'Lowie' was introduced in the middle of this year and is meant
for products grown on a small scale in an authentic manner.

Basket with fresh fruit

Freddy Van Vreckhem of De Vulder Fruit amongst his apples

Special flags in the halls

Erwin Verhaegen of Horeca 2000 (r) is still enjoying his business

Erwin offers his visitors soup with lovely forest mushrooms

Mix

Growers association New Green has a stand near large clients:
family Vrijders. l to.r.: Theo Vrijders, Tony Derwael, Gerrit Vrijders,
Nele Albert and Aniek Vrijders

Part of the top fruit on offer from Vrijders

Various lettuce varieties at Marc Goessens

Marc Goessens, Goessens & Fils, proud next to his beautiful display

Frank and Marcel Valckenier of Valckenier Fruit are specialized in
top and soft fruit

Ludger Nollet of Nollet Fruit next to his pears

Vader and son Michel and Stefan Bosmans of Michel Fruit

The strawberries of Michel Fruit were beautifully presented

Director Marcel Verbelen is very enthusiastic about the opendoor night