For all flea market lovers, collectors, bargain hunters, insiders or casual visitors, this is the Sunday not to miss.

Every second Sunday of April since 1909, the Grande Réderie d’Amiens brings together around 2,000 exhibitors spread over 15 kilometres of sidewalks and nearly 100,000 visitors.

After the Lille Braderie, it is the second-largest street market event in northern France. Some people arrive as early as 3 a.m. to hunt for hidden treasures before trading is even officially allowed.

We follow private individuals who set up stalls hoping to sell what they no longer need, as well as those who come purely to find great deals. We also meet professional vendors and restaurateurs for whom the Réderie is the most important Sunday of the year.

A must-try local specialty: the famous ficelle picarde.

To bring some order to this giant chaos, Hélène Vasseur — the event coordinator and “placer” — works a 36-hour marathon shift, assigning stall locations, managing visitor safety, and handling every possible issue that arises.