Page 42 of A New Life in Amsterdam

When I arrive at the market, the stall manager, Fabien, is waiting in the office for my pass, along with the other documents he has requested.

I have been quite impressed by how easy it is to get all the required documents in the Netherlands, whether it has been for the houseboat or setting up a market stall.

The country is so efficient compared to other places.

Beatrix comes with me to meet Fabien for moral support and to ensure there are no hiccups.

Fabien is a jolly man. He is friendly but doesn’t beat about the bush when it comes to the rent.

‘So, you must pay by the first of every month, or the stall comes back to us. There are no excuses.’

‘I understand, that’s okay. I’ll make sure you get the rent.’

‘And if you want to give notice, you have to give one month.’

‘Okay. No problem.’

‘Good. This is your contract. It’s in Dutch, are you okay with that?’ says Fabien, handing it across the table.

‘It’s fine. My Dutch isn’t too bad, although I can speak it better than I can read it. I’m sure Beatrix can help me if I get stuck.’

‘Good. Okay. If you can read and sign it by tomorrow, then you’re good to go. Shall I take you to see where the stall is before you sign? I want you to be satisfied with your pitch.’

I am so excited at the prospect of having a stall that its positioning hadn’t occurred to me. It could be somewhere with terrible footfall. I can feel myself doing it again; rushing in feet first, just as I did when I bought New Beginnings.

‘Oh, of course. I think that would be a wise idea.’

Beatrix and I follow Fabien out of the office towards the stalls, although the market is now closed and they stand empty.

The tables have tarpaulins pulled over them but, come Sunday, it will be busy here again.

A Sunday market will be perfect for me as it will give me time to replenish my stock during the week.

Even with the coverings over the tables, I recognise the layout from when I have come here with Abe.

As Fabien races along, I pass the place where my favourite organic wine stall usually is, and then we stop near the woman who sells the teddies.

I guess this must be the crafts section.

‘This is yours,’ says Fabien, pointing to a stall.

I can’t believe my luck.

‘This is great. It’s exactly the area I wanted to be in. It couldn’t get any better than here.’

Even though the market is now like a ghost town, I picture what it will be like when my stall opens amid the crowds, and it is once again the usual busy atmosphere. I wonder if there is any camaraderie with the other traders, or if it gets competitive?

It isn’t long until I find out. The following Sunday, with all the paperwork completed, I am allowed to open my stall.

It is early, and a frosty morning. Abe helps me bring the stock down on our bicycles.

With both our baskets loaded up, we arrive to find the other traders busy setting up.

I notice the woman with the teddies and smile at her.

She gives me a friendly greeting and busies herself arranging her bears.

Other traders nearby say hello and I start unloading the baskets until Abe leaves me to set up while he dashes back home for more stock.

The only problem with not having a car is transporting stuff.

One of the other traders whistles to himself as he sets up a stall selling home-made candles, and another sings a Dutch song.

I needn’t have worried about the other traders welcoming me as the newbie; everyone is helpful and the guy on the stall next to mine introduces himself as Jose and asks if he can get me a coffee.

I gratefully accept as I desperately need something to warm me up.

As I display the felt animals and some of the knitwear I have managed to finish in time, I find myself humming a tune too.

By the time Abe returns with the final bits of stock, I am grinning like a Cheshire cat.

‘You look happy,’ he says.

‘I am. This is just what I’ve always wanted. I was born to be a market trader. It’s so much better than being stuck indoors in an office. I should have done this years ago.’

‘It does seem to suit you. You need one of those market trader’s aprons you can tie around your waist to keep money in. Where will you keep the cash?’

‘Oh, no. I knew I’d forgotten something. My float!’ I start to panic. I had so much to remember, I knew I would miss something.

‘Okay. Don’t worry. I’ll go back and get it for you.’

‘Are you sure? You don’t mind all these trips back and forth?’

‘Of course not. Keeps me fit. I’ll cycle over and walk back with Ted. I’m sure he’d love to see you on your first day here. It’s a big day, for all the family.’

Abe’s words warm my heart.

‘Thank you.’ I hug him and find it hard to let go. His embrace is so comforting. I could have chosen to snuggle in bed with him on a Sunday morning, but there is plenty of time for that later. Now I have a big day ahead of me.

My first customer arrives just as Abe returns with Ted.

It is a woman with two children, who adore the felt animals.

She excitedly tells me that she has never seen them before.

Perhaps felt animals aren’t a trend here yet.

So far, I have no idea whether the knitwear will do better, or the felting.

It’s hard to judge this early on but it seems to be the felting that everyone is attracted to.

At least it works to draw in the crowds and then perhaps they might see some knitwear they like.

Isn’t that how luring customers in works? I should know this more than most.

The woman takes two pink and white unicorns for her daughters, and I work out how many euros in change she needs.

At first, I find it hard to work it out.

I promise myself by next week I will set up a card machine.

It is all a lesson. I thank them for their custom and, once they leave, I finally have a moment to chat to Abe and Ted.

‘Great start,’ says Abe.

‘Thanks.’ There is no time to chat as a man immediately comes up and admires one of the stripy scarves that hang on the side of the stall.

‘I’ll take this one,’ he says, in Dutch. Proudly, I manage to answer him in his own language, and I have another happy customer.

Ted starts getting bored hanging around the stall, so Abe heads off in search of breakfast, with promises they will be back soon.

It is so busy, however, that I forget I left home before breakfast. I don’t even notice my stomach grumbling.

By mid-morning, crowds of people are milling around and many head over in the direction of my stall.

I want to pinch myself as another family comes along and buys matching jumpers for their twins.

By lunchtime I am almost sold out. When Beatrix arrives to see how I’m getting on, there are only two scarves and a couple of felt dogs left.

‘I’d say this was a sell-out. Looks like a great morning,’ she says.

‘It’s flown out. I can’t believe how much has gone, and so quickly,’ I say, as I stamp my feet up and down to try and stay warm. Now that the crowds have dispersed a bit, I realise how cold I am.

‘Have you had a fun day? That’s what’s important.’

‘So much fun. It’s brilliant here. The other stallholders have been so kind, and we keep an eye on each other’s stalls when we have to pop to the loo or grab a coffee or whatever.

I feel like I’ve made so many friends in one morning.

Customers are saying they’ll be back next week.

I even had someone ask me to knit them something bespoke! ’

‘I knew they’d love your stall, and your knitting is perfect for the Dutch weather. So, what time are you going to pack up?’

‘Not long. The crowds are thinning out a bit, plus I’ve only got these items left. I’ll give it another ten minutes, and I think I’ll call it a day.’

‘Great. Then perhaps we can go somewhere to celebrate your success?’

‘That would be lovely. Although I may need a shower to warm up a bit first.’

Once I pack up the stall after its successful inauguration, I cycle back home, with only four pieces of stock left in my basket.

I feel as though I am a fledgling Dutch resident now.

I’ve learnt enough of the language to get by, I have a proper Dutch bike and I am cycling back home to my houseboat with a smile on my face. I am living the Dutch dream!

I dump my bike on deck and rush inside for a warm shower, which slowly defrosts me and makes me grateful for my shiny new boiler. Then I go over to Abe’s so that we can meet Beatrix at a pub for a bite to eat.

Willem is meeting us there and is already sat down, waving over to us as we walk into the busy bar.

‘Hi, I heard you cleaned up at the market today.’

‘Ah, I wouldn’t say that, but I didn’t do too badly,’ I say, as I think of the 200-euro profit I made.

‘So, you’ll be back there next week then.’

‘Oh yes, and I can’t wait. Although I’m going to be busy trying to restock everything and making a bespoke jumper for a customer. Who’d have ever thought I’d end up getting requests like that?’

‘You’ll be opening your own store next,’ says Willem, as Beatrix returns from the bar with some drinks for us.

‘Well, I don’t know about that. I am supposed to be in retirement, after all. I was supposed to come here to chill a bit. But, if I’m honest, I love it. I could never sit still all day. Everyone needs some kind of mission in their lives.’

‘What’s that you’re talking about?’ says Beatrix, sitting down with us.

‘We were just saying about me opening a shop. I think that would be a bit too much for me right now. Once a week at the market is good enough.’

‘Too right. Who wants to work all the time? You’ve got to have some work/life balance. That’s the good thing about being your own boss.’

‘Yeah, but it also means you work harder than ever for your business,’ says Abe.

‘True, but you know what they say about choosing a job you love – you never work a day in your life. I think that’s what we did with the coffee shop, Abe,’ says Beatrix.

‘Yeah, now that is true. It’s hard work, but so rewarding.’

I watch Beatrix and Abe as they chat about the cafe and smile at Willem.

I love how close everyone is. Since I arrived here, they have opened their arms and welcomed me into the community, and now their circle of friends.

Although I miss Hannah every day, I suppose this is how she feels when she is with her dad and his family.

For her, Melbourne is where she belongs.

The longer I stay here, the more I feel as though this is where I belong. This was my destiny.

I think back to the very first time I came here with Nicky and fell in love with the place.

It felt so relaxed, yet also buzzing with life, and there are so many things to do.

It mesmerised me right from the beginning and, today, having started at the welcoming market where everyone embraced me, I love it even more.

I adore the culture and the Dutch people, and most of all I love Abe and his family. Perhaps it’s time I told him that.

When we finish our evening with Beatrix and Willem, I ask Abe if he would like a nightcap back at mine.

‘Why not. One for the road, as you always say.’

‘Great. I wanted to have a little chat with you, and since it’s been such a long day it would be good to unwind a bit. I think I’m still on a high from the market.’

When we return to New Beginnings, Abe pours me a small glass of stroopwafel liqueur and I take it from his hand, putting it down beside me. I stop and look him in the eye.

‘Abe, I wanted to tell you something. I know it’s only been a few months, but I think I’ve fallen in love with you.

I never expected to find love a second time around, I didn’t even think I wanted it.

But how could I stop myself when I met someone as wonderful as you?

I love you, your family and everything in Amsterdam.

I am so happy and content. My life here really is a dream come true, and you’ve helped to make it that way. ’

‘I’m glad to hear that. I was worried for a moment about what you wanted to say. I love you too, and I want you to know that this isn’t something I would ever say unless I really mean it. So, I want you to know that I really, really mean it.’

Abe takes hold of my hand and kisses it.

‘You know, it’s like we were made for each other. You are the yin to my yang,’ he says.

‘I love that. We were made for each other, and you are my yang. Goodness, everything is so perfect. I never imagined things would fall into place like this. It’s incredible.’

‘Maybe it’s this houseboat. I always felt like it had a nice energy.

Henrik had many happy years here. He was ninety-eight when he died, and that was on holiday.

Nothing bad ever happens here. I know this sounds strange, but I believe this houseboat chose you.

It knew you needed a new start in life and now you have it. ’

I look around at the houseboat and almost start to believe Abe’s theory. It did pop up at the strangest moment, and everything started changing from then.

‘Yeah, at the time it felt too good to be true, how it found me all the way over in Wales. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.’

‘If it did choose you then I want to thank it. The best thing you ever did was move in next door.’

‘Isn’t that the truth? I can’t even imagine what I would have missed out on if that advert hadn’t popped up. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’

‘It’s quite spooky how it’s all worked out. There had to be some luck involved.’

‘Abe, maybe you’re right. This is a lucky home.’

I take my glass from the table and make a toast to Abe and thank him for everything he has done for me. Then silently, I make a toast to the houseboat too.

‘Thank you, little houseboat, for everything.’