Real food lovers can't live without street food

In Asia, it has been a normal street scene for centuries: street stalls selling all kinds of local delicacies. A colorful and fragrant collection of traders with mobile stalls from where they sell their homemade specialties. Bangkok alone has 20,000 street vendors.

Over the past 10 years, this phenomenon has undergone a global revolution and has spread to all continents. Previously, we only saw a chip shop, fish stand or hot dog truck on the street; nowadays, every self-respecting city has several food markets or festivals. Food trucks, food caravans, food stalls, food mopeds and, above all, many food lovers can now visit all over the Netherlands all year round. Street food has also become extremely popular here.

Mobile kitchen

The food festivals have been around in our country for about 10 years now. In America, they have been watching the art of hip street sales for a long time, where the idea of the hip mobile kitchen originated. In the Netherlands, it started at the many festivals, where visitors were no longer satisfied with the food on offer. More and more food trucks were coming to the festivals and they liked it so much that the idea arose to give this food culture its own festival.

The big advantage of a food market is that everyone gets their money's worth. One person wants a nice piece of meat and the other wants a light vegan snack. At a food market, everyone buys what they want, while you can still eat together. For that reason, the food market concept has also become popular in catering. After all, it is not easy to satisfy everyone with a large group. But with all kinds of different hip snacks at different stalls, you can keep everyone happy. And it also looks very festive.

Street food trends

Trends for 2020 are the cuisines of India and Japan. Indian finger food is a hit with light snacks such as scallops with sweet and sour ginger or puris with chutney. It's nothing like the Indian cuisine we know. From Japan, snacks come to share together on the street food menu, such as chicken skewers and fried tofu. The appreciation for plant-based protein is also rising. So expect products containing soy, grains, algae and beans on the menu. In London, the fluffy, filled pancake from Taiwan is a hit. Expect them at the Dutch festivals too soon.

Eating and traveling

Most street food trends come from the country of origin. It is therefore not surprising that half of the travelers want to visit a food market during their vacation. According to research by a major booking site, many travelers choose their destination based on local cuisine anyway. A whopping 41% of travelers want to discover new destinations in 2018 because of local cuisine. That's an increase of more than 10 percent compared to 2017: a quarter of travelers don't see anything in a destination without a foodie culture at all.

For street food lovers, the top of the list are Bangkok in Thailand, Taipei in Taiwan, Hanoi in Vietnam, Istanbul in Turkey and George Town in Malaysia. Here, too, you can still see that the real street food culture comes from Asia.

‍‍Food markets
‍You can find the best food markets and festivals in the Randstad this summer here:

Rolling Kitchens, Amsterdam
During the Ascension weekend from May 20 to 24, the Rolling Kitchens will park on the grounds of the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam for the 11th time. As they say, here you'll find everything “from gourmet food trucks to rolling kitchen princesses”. And of course, the whole thing is graced by mobile music. Free entry. Watch on www.rollendekeukens.nl

Pure market, Amsterdam
An Amsterdam monthly, Sunday food market that is held alternately in the Amstelpark, Park Frankendael and the Amsterdamse Bos. Producers sell their own artisanal products here, which you can enjoy on the spot at one of the tables. Free admission, Sunday, March 29, 2020. www.puremarkt.nl

Toost Food Truck Festival, Multiple locations
Throughout the summer, you will find Toost at various locations (to be announced soon), where you can find delicious snacks prepared in authentic food trucks. www.toostfoodtruckfestival.nl‍

The Parade, Multiple locations
The traveling festival where food and culture go hand in hand. You can see over 60 shows here, but some people only come here for delicious snacks. From May 29 to August 30 in Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam. Admission €7.50. www.deparade.nl‍

Haarlem Experimental Park
From August 28 to 30 in the Kenaupark in Haarlem with a nice food line up, music, theater and entertainment for young and old. Free entry. www.proefparkhaarlem.nl

De Hallen, Amsterdam
A permanent indoor food market in Amsterdam in an old tram depot with food trucks, restaurants and a cinema. www.foodhallen.nl

The Market Hall, Rotterdam
A daily Rotterdam indoor market and food market with food from all over the world. www.markthal.nl

If you have something to celebrate from 30 people, Alvida Catering & Events can offer a complete food market provide on-site food stands with scaffolding wooden food stands. Fully provided with catering, decoration and staff. For individuals and companies. Request a free quote or call 023 822 3113.