Bazaar du Sud

Sophie studied Visual Communication and works as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. She primarily creates illustrations for museums and cultural institutions. Dagmar studied Communications and Multimedia Design at and fell in love with illustration during her studies. In 2017, she founded her illustration brand, Dots+Ink, known for its signature “dotwork” or “stippling” style ink illustrations.

'' We met a few years ago through mutual friends. It’s funny how everything came together. We were both considering joining another creative concept that didn’t materialise. A few years later, we launched the Bazaar du Sud markets and the SUD shop together! ''

How did it start?
''The first Bazaar du Sud was in 2021 with its first appearance in December at Brandweerkantine. It all began with Dagmar and former co-owner Chloe van Hout, who were both active in the creative field and wanted to showcase their work in a physical space. We had multiple people in our close circle who make beautiful products so we wanted to join forces and present the different brands together during this first market. This 3-day market with 9 participants turned out to be a success so for the next edition in the spring of 2022 we posted an open call for other creatives to join.

By spring 2022, we had our second edition at Lutherse Kerk – a cultural stage in Maastricht – this time featuring 22 participants. From that moment on, Bazaar du Sud continued to grow into a thriving creative community.
Chloe went in another direction at the end of 2023 and Dagmar continued building and expanding the Bazaar du Sud concept. Over the course of 3 years, she organised 13 events and more than 140 creatives have joined the journey along the way. Since 2024, we (Sophie Pammler and Dagmar Boijens) have been running Bazaar du Sud and the SUD shop together.

For each event, we curate a group of creatives from the Maastricht Region. Our goal is to create the perfect mix of entrepreneurs and creatives, as we believe they strengthen each other. The market allows entrepreneurs to test their concepts, receive direct feedback from visitors, and connect with fellow creatives. The markets are usually 2 or 3 day events. This creates an opportunity for participants to really connect and spend time together besides selling products. Our summer markets are usually held outside and last just 1 day. We try to give every event something extra, such as having live music at our outdoor markets, fun workshops that people can join and even massages or nail treatments. We want to challenge ourselves each time by trying new locations or activities.''

Who is welcome to submit their work for exhibition/sale?
''We focus on handmade products and craftsmanship, but we also welcome art. We strive to curate a group of people who fit within our vision and have the same values.

We curate our participants based on an assessment of creativity, originality, product quality, overall aesthetic, and (online) presentation. Aligning with our vision is crucial in this process. We value sustainability and craftsmanship. Our aim is to achieve a diverse mix of creatives and entrepreneurs, avoiding an overabundance of similar products. This means that applying for Bazaar du Sud does not guarantee a spot.''

How does Bazaar du Sud contribute to the creative community in the Maastricht region?
''We want to encourage people to create and experiment. Bazaar du Sud is more than a market—it’s a space where creatives can showcase their work, exchange ideas, and grow together. By offering a supportive platform for artists and creatives, we aim to strengthen the creative ecosystem in Maastricht.

But it’s not only about the creatives: we want to encourage everyone to have a creative outlet or to go after that one business idea that has been laying on the shelf for years. We want to support those who take the leap, just like we did ourselves. This can also be just experimenting with a new medium or getting creative with friends without having an end result in mind. Just start!

Over the years, many international students and expats have participated in Bazaar du Sud. We also welcome long-term Maastricht residents with roots both in and outside the EU. The market has proven to be a wonderful way for creatives to meet, collaborate, and build a community in Maastricht."

You are expanding your floorspace on the Boschstraat?
"Yes! We just opened our new shop: SUD, an extension of our pop-ups, offering a permanent space where creativity and community come together. SUD combines a curated retail area with a cozy café, giving visitors a place to relax, connect, and be inspired.

A key part of our mission is to encourage more people to get creative, which is why we also  sell handwork tools and materials in our shop, alongside carefully selected products from talented creatives. We’d love to have visitors who come to our cafe with their current creative project or people who want to try something new with their friends. We also have some art supplies that can be used free of charge while having a drink."

How did this come about?
"SUD is the natural evolution of Bazaar du Sud – born from its success but reimagined as a permanent hub. We wanted a space where creativity and collaboration can flourish, both artistically and professionally.
Throughout our Bazaar du Sud events, we noticed a desire within the community to gather, exchange ideas, and learn together. While the markets offered fantastic networking opportunities, many creatives, especially those working solo, lacked a consistent space for sharing knowledge and receiving feedback. We realised that beginners could benefit greatly from connecting with more experienced creatives, learning valuable insights on everything from marketing and selling online to pricing and product development.

For years, Dagmar dreamed of creating a physical space where the Bazaar du Sud community could come together year-round. However, finding the right location and partners was tough – until last year, when Sophie joined the business and Lynn Henderiks from Wonderwoud approached us with an exciting opportunity. Lynn was planning to close her shop and offered us the chance to take over her beautiful space. It felt like the perfect moment to bring our vision to life!

We feel incredibly fortunate that Lynn had already built such a strong relationship with the local community, with many loyal customers whose interests align closely with those of the Bazaar du Sud audience. This seamless transition allowed us to establish SUD as a place where creatives can not only shop but also connect, learn, and grow together."

Is there that much demand for this type of setup in the Maastricht Region?
''Absolutely! There is a clear demand for unique, artisan-crafted goods and a space where creatives can connect, collaborate, and showcase their work. Especially since there is a need for real life connection and moving away from the digital world. Third spaces are more needed than ever in our opinion. That’s why we like to say that SUD is more than just a shop and Bazaar du Sud is more than a market. We offer an experience, through workshops, networking opportunities, and creative events.''

How can artists/creatives contact Bazaar du Sud?
''Artists and creatives interested in joining Bazaar du Sud (pop-ups) can apply using the application form on our website or in the link in our Instagram bio. We don’t open our applications for the full year, so when there are no applications open on our website you have to wait until they open and we upload the application form.

We’ll announce on our Instagram page when new applications are open so you can follow us there. We’re also working on a newsletter to keep the community more up to date with our plans. If you have questions you can contact us by email at info [at] sudmaastricht.nl (info[at]sudmaastricht[dot]nl)

Artists and creatives interested in joining SUD (shop) can apply for a spot soon. All the current participants of the shop were curated from the Bazaar du Sud community. From 1 April we’re very happy to expand and welcome more creatives into our space. More information will be soon posted on Instagram and our website.

Of course you're always welcome to visit SUD and introduce yourself! Whether you want to exhibit work, host a workshop, or collaborate on an event, we’re always looking for creative concepts and we’d love to hear from you.''