Within the Netherlands, it has become fashionable to order your groceries on the internet and have them delivered at home. I don’t do this. Mostly because I actually enjoy the ‘short walk to the supermarket’ exercise, but also because I like supporting local entrepreneurs instead of spending my money at large supermarket chains. Inspired by my love for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, I ended up at supermarket Firat, located on Weimarstraat in The Hague city district Segbroek.

Firat Supermarkt has everything the average supermarket has to offer and more: an extensive fresh department, an infinite-looking selection of herbs and spices, a very handy selection of household items and things that can’t be found in the average Dutch supermarket, like preserved grape leaves for making homemade dolmades, which were the reason I stopped by at Firat in the first place. Also not unimportant, Firat Supermarket is not too expensive.

One street, two locations
Firat has actually two grocery stores on the Weimarstraat. There is the larger supermarket at number 268 and the smaller one at number 84. Walking from one location to the other offers you a full impression of the once very classy, but nowadays somewhat declined nineteenth-century Weimarstraat. In the part between the Koningsplein and the Regentesseplein, you’ll find many nice, artistic shops and restaurants, while on other parts of the street you can clearly notice the struggle against shady, vacant property. Still, I enjoy walking through the whole of the Weimarstraat every time.