Market Trader Kokadorus 

With his arms raised high, he’s either praising his wares or delivering a sharp observation on the political stage. On the Amstelveld stands the bronze statue of Kokadorus, born Meyer Linnewiel (1867–1934), a remarkable Jewish-Amsterdam street performer and natural entertainer. He rose from selling matches as a child on Kalverstraat to become one of the city’s most famous market traders, beloved for his humor, flair, and razor-sharp wit. His performances began with a bang on a gong, followed by storytelling and social commentary  only then would he move on to selling his goods. In 1906, he celebrated 25 years as a market showman, needing a police escort to reach his stall through the crowds. The statue by Erica van Eeghen, a 1977 gift from the Amsterdam Women’s Student Association, captures that theatrical moment. Originally, it held a bronze necktie which broke off shortly after the unveiling.