Urban markets as public places

Rotterdam is one of the largest and diverse cities in The Netherlands. With more than 170 nationalities living together and a rising middle class, Rotterdam super-diversity (or hyper-diversity for some authors) has become a fundamental aspect of the city and its citizens' identity. The super-diversity condition has enriched Rotterdam from a social, economic and cultural dimension, but it has also brought new challenges to coexistence, tolerance and recognition in today’s society. One of the public spaces where this super-diversity is visible and generally perceived as an asset is the street market. In Rotterdam, street markets are part of the local culture and identity. Depending on the market's location, it can show diversity layers, going beyond ethnic group or nationality to reveal the many aspects that can influence the individual and collective identity. This thesis aims to understand super-diversity influence in Rotterdam's markets using John Montgomery (1998) place components framework. Two marketplaces' dynamics, meanings, and roles were analysed to see how Rotterdam diversity is manifested in those places and how do the marketplaces contribute to the Rotterdammers' identity. Afrikaanderplein, located in the south of the city, and Rotterdamse Oogstmarkt, in the north; were selected since both are distinctive markets (regarding scale, products and target clients) situated in districts with cultural, economic, and social diversity above the city average. The data was collected between June and July 2021 using qualitative research strategies: fieldwork observations, semi-structured interviews with customers and sellers and secondary data review. Among the main findings is that, on the one hand, diversity is essential to the market’s “place” condition, as it directly affects their identity. On the other hand, the markets' diversity constantly influences the customers and the neighbourhood identity, becoming a constant feedback process. Nevertheless, this process seems to have many nuances: markets' diversity can generate personal and collective recognition with the place but can also be an exclusive experience, only for those who have the resources to access it.