Stall holders in Rotterdam’s award winning new Markthal are worried about their future, despite the success of the market as a major tourist draw, the AD says on Friday.

They have written to owner Klepierre urging the property investor to take ‘drastic action’ to save their businesses and have formed a lobby group to campaign for change in the market’s policy.

‘The fresh food market this building was intended for has flopped totally,’ stall holder spokesman Mark Kolster told the paper. ‘There are lots of food stalls and delicatessens which are making money from tourists… but people selling vegetables, fruit, bread, fish and meat cannot compete with them.’

The initial aim of the development, Kolster points out, was to provide a covered market for everyday food shopping.

High rents and service costs are an added problem, Kolster said, and three stalls are already empty. ‘Many stall holders with a two-year contract are considering pulling out,’ he said. ‘The costs have to go down otherwise it will turn into a giant cafe.’