There are plenty of markets in the city, but a market dedicated entirely to Italian products, with vendors from the Italian community itself: that's Zì Camì. Every first and third Saturday on the Bosboom Toussaintplein in Oud-West, you'll find stalls full of homemade products, from fresh pasta to handmade cakes. Everything is deliberately put together, nothing is just put there.
The vendors are the heart of the market. They are local Italians who bring what they make or know themselves: fresh homemade pasta in various forms, Italian bread that still smells like the baker's, and homemade pesto that has little to do with what comes in a jar at the supermarket. They are not only sellers, they are also the curators of the offerings. What's on the market is what they think is good.
The square is compact, surrounded by stores and cafes, and that works to the market's advantage. You don't have to walk through a vast market area to see everything. Doing a lap takes a few minutes, but you soon find yourself stopped at a stall because someone hands you something. Taralli, those crunchy Italian crackers you find at every aperitivo in Italy, are just such a moment. Small, inconspicuous, but once you taste one you understand why they have a separate stall for them.
They are not only sellers, they are also the curators of supply. What's on the market is what they think is right.
Bosboom Toussaintplein is one of those places in Old West that is easily overlooked, but on Saturday mornings it turns into something lively. Zì Camì fits the neighborhood exactly: not too big, not too commercial, but with enough character to make you consciously go there. The market connects the city's Italian community with the rest of the neighborhood, and you can tell by the atmosphere. No flyer market. Just people taking pride in what they bring.